(??? Perspective)

  It was night at Celestia Academy.

  The biggest magical academy in the world, or so they called it. The stone buildings loomed in the darkness, their facades cold and imposing under the pale moonlight. Most windows were dark at this hour, though scattered lights still glowed from a few occupied rooms.

  The corridors were completely empty, and no sound could be heard besides my own quiet steps on the polished marble floors. Each step echoed slightly in the vast hallways.

  No one noticed me walking. No one noticed me looking around, peering through windows and doorways. No one seemed to bother.

  Good.

  I'd been walking for nearly twenty minutes now, searching the eastern wing. Getting a feel for the place. The hallways all looked the same: polished floors, tall windows, doors leading to classrooms I couldn't identify. A few students' silhouettes were visible through lit windows, bent over books or pacing in their rooms. None of them what I was looking for.

  I needed to find someone. Someone specific. Someone who could give me what I came here for.

  The problem was I didn't know where to look. The academy was massive, a maze of corridors and wings and buildings.

  As I walked, I heard voices. Low whispers and soft laughter.

  I slowed my pace, moving more carefully. Around the next corner, I spotted them: a couple sneaking into one of the smaller courtyards through a side door. The boy pulled the girl by her hand, and she giggled quietly. They disappeared into the courtyard together.

  I stopped, considering.

  Should I use them?

  No. They'd been wearing gold colors, which meant they were B-rank. Hardly worth considering.

  I continued making my way through the eastern wing, my footsteps resuming their quiet rhythm. My mind focused on only one objective, one clear goal.

  The hallway opened into a wider intersection where several corridors met. A large window showed the academy grounds stretching out below. Training fields, fountains, distant buildings I couldn't identify. So many places to search, and I was running out of time.

  I needed to find them soon. Before dawn. Before the academy woke up and the hallways filled with people.

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  I turned down another corridor, this one darker than the others. Fewer windows here, less moonlight. My eyes adjusted slowly to the dimness.

  Then I saw it: a classroom with the door half-opened, warm light spilling out into the dark hallway.

  I froze, pressing myself against the wall.

  Making sure to not be seen, I listened carefully. Papers rustled inside. The scratch of something on parchment. Someone was working late.

  Perhaps there was a teacher there? Would it be worth the risk?

  There were only two S-ranked teachers. Greystar and Emberheart. What were the chances one of the two would be there?

  But what if it wasn't them? What if it was someone else? Someone weaker, less prepared?

  Still, it was too risky without knowing for certain. I couldn't see inside from this angle, and getting closer would expose me to whoever was in there.

  I opted to just continue walking forward, past the classroom, without looking back. My footsteps remained quiet, controlled. If someone was in there, they gave no indication they'd heard me pass.

  I'd gone maybe ten more steps when the voice spoke behind me.

  "You shouldn't be walking around at this time."

  I froze.

  The voice wasn't accusatory or aggressive. It was outspoken and excited, almost amused.

  "Sorry... I'm just lost," I said, trying to play innocent. I turned around slowly to face the woman, keeping my expression confused and apologetic.

  She had messy black hair that fell past her shoulders. She wore casual clothes instead of formal robes, a white button-up shirt with the top three buttons unbuttoned, and black pants.

  A teacher, most likely. But which one?

  "Bzzzzt." She made a theatrical X with her hands in front of her face. "Wrong answer! Want to try again?"

  She took a step closer, and I noticed her eyes were sharp despite her playful demeanor. She was studying me, reading me.

  Was this one of them? Was she Greystar? If she was, my best option was trying to run away, but would Greystar look so… Fragile?

  "Hey, don't ignore me," she said after I took too long to answer. Her voice was still light, but there was an edge underneath now. "What are you doing here? If you give me a good answer I might forgive you."

  Her expression was still completely unbothered, almost playful. Perhaps I could trick her into thinking I was supposed to be here, make her believe I belonged. A student who'd lost track of time, wandered too far from their dorm.

  But she was a teacher. She was probably stronger, more knowledgeable than any student here.

  I weighed my options quickly. Run? No, she'd already seen me.

  Which left only one option.

  "You..." I let my expression change, dropping the innocent act. "You are good enough."

  She smiled, a confident, irritating smile. Like this was all some amusing game to her. "Oh, good enough for what?"

  The smile didn't last long.

  Behind me, the corruption began spreading through the corridor. Purple tendrils crawled across the walls, across the floor, filling the hallway with an otherworldly glow.

  Her eyes widened, the playful expression vanishing in an instant.

  Perfect.