Lord Terrace and Damon returned to Elderglow Academy in the same carriage that had taken them to the marketplace. The ride back was silent, the weight of the day's events settling over them like a heavy blanket.
Damon stared out the window, his mind replaying everything he had witnessed—the destruction, the brutality, and his father's words.
The sun had long since set, replaced by the glow of a reddening moon, a reminder of the war that would soon descend upon them all. Shadows stretched across the academy grounds as they arrived.
Stepping out of the carriage, Lord Terrace guided Damon back to his dormitory. The quiet of the evening was interrupted only by the rustling of leaves and the distant hum of nighttime insects.
Once they reached Damon's room, Terrace paused at the doorway, turning to his son with a rare softness in his eyes.
