The next morning arrived with clear skies and a cool breeze that cut through the stone alleyways of Eldrath. Inigo stood in front of a massive wrought-iron gate wrapped in ivy and guarded by twin statues of roaring dragons. Above the arch was a silver crest—seven stars encircling a single flaming tower.
The Royal Magic Academy of Eldrath.
He adjusted his coat, double-checked the confirmation scroll Elowen had left him, and approached the gate.
As if on cue, the heavy doors creaked open on their own.
Waiting just inside the courtyard was Serina.
She looked different today—still in her pristine academy robes, but her platinum hair was no longer tied in a formal ribbon. Instead, it fell softly over her shoulders, catching the sunlight like strands of silk. Her large, almond-shaped eyes brightened the moment she saw him. There was something inherently gentle about her—an aura of calm in a city of chaos.
