They came up before dawn
The academy hadn't stirred yet
Stars still hung above like scattered blades
Echo walked beside Azel barefoot skin pale eyes glowing
No chains no fear just hunger
Azel led him through the hidden garden path behind the potion dorm
The air here smelled like ash
He stopped near the fountain
Pulled a chalk piece from his pocket
Drew five lines across the stone edge
Echo raised an eyebrow
Old signal line
Means eyes are watching
Azel nodded
Then added a sixth line
That one means let them watch
They waited
Within two minutes someone stepped out from behind the hedge
A girl with black ribbons across her sleeves
No crest no rank just quiet movement
She wore a mask made of birdbone
Sera sent you Azel asked
The girl nodded
She handed him a small wooden token
Inscribed with a cracked mirror
Message
He flipped it over
On the back was one word
Tonight
Azel burned the token in his palm
The girl bowed then vanished
Echo sat on the fountain edge
Feet dangling
You trust this Sera
No
But I understand her rhythm
Echo smirked
You're colder than most killers
You're not wrong
That night the signal flared
Twelve windows again
But this time thirteen
A warning
They were onto Azel now
He didn't hide
He walked openly through the north corridor
Three masked students blocked his way
Weapons drawn
One of them spoke
You shouldn't be here
Azel smiled
You're right
That's why I brought someone who should
Echo stepped out of the dark
Didn't blink
Didn't speak
Just raised his hand
The nearest masked student fell to his knees
Screaming
No blood
No attack
Just raw mental collapse
The second tried to run
Didn't make it
His own shadow swallowed him whole
The last one dropped his blade
Backed away
Echo stared into him
The boy collapsed shaking
No contact
Just fear
Azel picked up the dropped blade
Examined it
Engraved with the same symbol as the scroll
Half crown
He handed the blade to Echo
Consider this your toy
Echo grinned
Then crushed it in his palm like paper
Azel looked down the corridor
Now they know I'm not playing anymore
Echo whispered
Let them come
Let them all come
We'll leave silence behind
Not a message
A scar