Evaline:
We had set off from the Academy at seven sharp, and by the time the buses rolled into the small mountain town nestled near the base of the Halendor Ruins, it was ten in the morning.
Professor Aldric wasted no time. His voice rang out over the chatter of excited students, cutting through it like a bell.
"Lunch will be served in at one. After that, we'll head to the first circle of the ruins. Everyone, use the next few hours to settle in, rest, or explore the hotel. But don't wander off too far. Understood?"
A few cheers, a couple of groans, but everyone nodded or murmured acknowledgment. The real trip hadn't even started yet, but the energy was already buzzing.
Since the entire hotel had been booked by the Academy, things were moving fast. With twenty-one rooms set aside just for students, each one shared by two people, and even more for staff and instructors, we were practically the only guests in the whole place.
