Eirian jolted awake to the sound of frantic shouting outside his room. Rubbing his eyes, he tried to shake off the grogginess that clung to him. The commotion was unusual—his room was in a quiet wing of the academy, far from the usual hustle and bustle.
"Come quick! Please, I beg of you!"
Ignoring it at first, Eirian buried his face back into the pillow. He assumed it was a false alarm, perhaps a minor scuffle or a prank.
Until...
"Call the headmaster! Call the professors, call anyone!"
A different voice this time, sharper and more urgent. The noise outside grew louder, mingling with the sound of sobbing and desperate pleas. Eirian's eyebrows furrowed as a sense of dread settled in his chest. He pushed himself out of bed, his head still feeling fuzzy from sleep, and headed towards the door.
