The metallic scent of burnt runes still tickled his nose when William entered his room. Checking his collar, he saw a message from Lia that read: "Don't be late, it's almost time. Don't forget to bring the provisions we prepared; who knows, maybe it'll be a nice picnic."
"Two days…?" William murmured, smiling as he realized his advancement had devoured the entire weekend, but happy as always to have someone who cared about him.
Without wasting a second, he stepped into the shower, let the icy water clear his mind, and, with distrust already gnawing at his chest, threw almost all his belongings into his storage bag: two changes of uniform, silk bandages, coagulating powder, mana reserve amulets, and the dry rations he had been accumulating for months. As he closed the bag, he felt that something was very wrong; no matter how much he tried not to think about it, his heart screamed at him to run.
