The Union Academy of Sandigsal was vast—larger than anything Judio had ever imagined.
For five days, he had walked its marble corridors, observed its towering spires, and traced the labyrinthine paths of its courtyards and libraries. There was order here—strict schedules, rigid social structures, a hierarchy woven into the very air. It was a world built on status and legacy, where one's bloodline carried more weight than their merits.
Judio had spent those five days alone, not by force but by choice.
For Judio, the days had been quiet.
He had spent them observing, moving through the academy like a ghost, slipping between lecture halls and the vast archives of the Grand Library.
Listening, he remained silent. He learned. He studied alone, absorbing every bit of knowledge available, keeping his head down, letting his presence fade into the background.
