Ken finished dressing, his mind preoccupied with the impending meeting with Sam at the second-level building. As he exited his room, he noticed that Emily had already left. However, Memories of their previous encounter had lingered, prompting a flush of embarrassment to rise to his cheeks.
Shaking off the distraction, Ken made his way to the second-level building. The walk was brief, and soon he stood before the structure, its imposing facade a testament to the academy's hierarchical layout.
Upon entering, Ken was immediately struck by the unusual commotion. The building was more crowded than usual, with students and faculty milling about, their conversations hushed but heard by him.
His gaze drifted toward the basement floor, where the stairwell seemed to be the focal point of the gathering. People were emerging from the depths, their expressions ranging from concern to curiosity.
