It wasn't just curiosity; it was a need to know. If that woman knew Gronk’tar, Miyu and her brother weren't the only "anomalies" in the school. But she couldn't ask her directly. Yesterday's scream—that "NO!" loaded with panic—still echoed in her head. Asking her in public would be like shouting to the F.O.W. that she was a threat; in her father's words, the F.O.W. were the ones who should know the least.

  Then, she saw her again a few meters ahead. The woman walked with a firm step, but Miyu noticed that, unlike the other teachers, she didn't greet anyone. Her hands clutched more books than the day before, one of which stood out from the rest: a giant volume, bound in leather with an intense red frame that seemed more common than the others.

  Miyu stood on her tiptoes, moving through a group of freshmen to get a bit closer. She managed to read the title on the cover, written in impeccable English: “History of Loryenna: The Runic War.” A common textbook, the kind stacked by the hundreds in the library.

  ?Wait... I don't recognize that design,? Miyu thought, furrowing her brow. ?I've been here for months and I've spent hours in the library... Could it be new material that just arrived? It doesn't look like an official school edition, though it looks pretty.?

  However, when the woman turned to enter a less-traveled hallway, Miyu noticed on the back of the book a trace of runes that seemed to point to something specific; even below the engraving, there were red marks identical to the ones the woman had under her eyes.

  —L… e… e… —Miyu tried to read. They looked like four letters forming a name, though failing to see the last one due to the distance, she almost fell in front of everyone by leaning too far. She regained her balance just as the woman turned the corner.

  ?There are more books with Gronk’tar! Even that one... I think it has the same marks... Am I hallucinating?? Miyu thought, feeling her breath escape her. ?I don't recognize that history book; I'd swear it's new to the school. Maybe she does know the same language, and that's why she has material no one else can read. What if she’s like me? What if her parents taught her the language too, and that's why she's hiding??

  Decided to seek answers, but without daring to confront her directly for fear of the unknown, Miyu began to follow her, maintaining a prudent distance as she ventured into the less-traveled areas of the academy.

  The blue-haired girl moved through the hallways with a calm that Miyu found insulting. Attempting to be a shadow, Miyu leaned behind lockers, pretending to inspect locks or chatting with the air when someone passed by. Upon reaching the teachers' lounge, the stranger stopped and turned her head to inspect the hallway. What she saw was a most common scene: groups of students laughing and, on a nearby bench, a little girl analyzing a giant newspaper, wearing dark glasses and an unusually large cap that covered her face. Miyu, from the other side of the newspaper, held her breath.

  ?I’m an expert at this,? she thought with determination. She had secured the disguise from a lost-and-found locker in record time. ?It’s incredible to be on a real mission. I’m a heroine, like in that episode where Wind-Breaker defeats Mr. Vile...?

  The blue-haired girl let out a sigh, as if the eccentricity of children were too exhausting for her patience, and continued on her way.

  Miyu followed her to a narrow corridor leading to the back of the building. She was surprised to see the girl ignore the main door leading to the garden and opt for the emergency exit. Looking through the newly opened door, she saw the stranger chatting with one of the gardeners.

  —Darn, I can’t hear anything from here; people will start to get suspicious —Miyu whispered.

  She noticed several students looking at her with a mix of pity and amusement at her "cartoon spy" look. Quickly, she stripped off the cap and glasses, hiding them behind a fire extinguisher, and stepped through the door with the agility of a cat, closing it slowly to avoid any noise. She dove headfirst into a nearby bush, just in time to see the gardener leaving.

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  —I’ll go check it out, thanks! —he shouted as he walked away.

  Miyu pulled out her phone, trembling with excitement. If she managed to get a photograph of the girl’s face, Seiyi would have no choice but to admit she’s a better heroine than him. However, a metallic crash made her jump: the emergency door swung wide open, nearly hitting Miyu’s bush. She shrank behind a trash can, covering her mouth with both hands.

  —Excuse me! —a teacher's voice rang out with authority—. This is the emergency exit. Are you looking for something?

  Miyu peeked out barely a centimeter. The teacher was looking suspiciously at the blue-haired girl.

  —Oh... I... —the stranger hesitated for a second, but her face immediately recovered a threatening calm—. I was looking for the garden door, but I think I got a bit lost.

  —You passed right in front of the teachers' lounge —the woman replied, crossing her arms—. The main entrance is to the right of here.

  —Yes, you’re right. Thank you. —the girl pointed toward the back of the yard—. It’s just that I came to let Thomas know. I found some waste near the dragon area and wanted to help him clean up before I left.

  —Well... try not to use these exits; it’s for security. —the teacher seemed to relax a bit at the young woman’s apparent goodwill—. See you later, Miss...

  —Hurdson —the blue-haired girl replied with a mechanical smile.

  —A pleasure, Hurdson!

  The metal door closed with a heavy click, and the echo of the bolt sliding indicated the teacher had left. Hurdson remained motionless for a few seconds, her eyes fixed on the closed door, ensuring the silence was absolute. Her expression changed instantly: the kindness vanished, giving way to a sharp, dark gaze. Without looking back, she ventured into the thick of the woods surrounding the campus.

  ?Hurdson, huh?? Miyu thought, feeling a tingle in her channeling ring. ?She must have a huge secret. If I manage to discover it, I’ll be a sensation!? A malicious smile formed on her face as she prepared to follow her into the shadows of the trees.

  Miyu kept her distance, using the trunks of the oldest trees as improvised shields. As they ventured deeper into the giant training forest, the air grew heavier, and the sound of people disappeared.

  ?Why is she going in so far?? Miyu wondered, feeling a drop of cold sweat run down the back of her neck. This was the sector reserved for university students, an area where classes on dangerous species and high-rank spells left marks on the landscape. ?If we keep going like this, lightning is going to strike her head... or a manticore is going to fall on me from the sky.?

  Miyu was about to give up. The idea of being suspended or, even worse, of Seiyi finding out about her recklessness, began to weigh on her more than her curiosity. But just as she was about to turn back, Hurdson stopped in her tracks.

  The blue-haired girl took an object from her pocket: a thin metal instrument, similar to a flute, but with no visible holes. She brought it to her lips and blew. Miyu sharpened her hearing but heard no melody; only the echo of empty air, a sound that seemed to vibrate in the bones more than in the ears.

  —You should pay attention to the initial position of the door —the girl said suddenly, speaking into the void—. That was your first mistake.

  Miyu froze. ?Is she talking to the air?? she thought, hiding more behind an oak tree.

  —The second was emitting magic so close to me —Hurdson continued, turning her head slightly—. That ring says much more than you think. Its essence trail is like a scream in a library.

  With her heart about to jump out, Miyu realized the spy game was over. She took a deep breath, jumped from her hiding place, and landed in front of her in a pose that intended to be heroic, even though her legs trembled slightly.

  —I see you discovered me! —she exclaimed, trying to emulate Wind-Breaker’s voice with a wide smile—. Do you happen to know a forbidden language, Mrs. Hurd—?

  She couldn't finish. The wind around Hurdson exploded with unnatural force. Before Miyu could process the change in pressure, something immense and heavy impacted the ground right in front of her. The shockwave threw her backward like a rag doll, sending her rolling through the dirt and moss.

  Miyu opened her eyes and her breath caught. She had seen dragons before, but this was different. In front of her rose a specimen with scales black as coal, a color that didn't fit the common species she saw daily. Its degree of maturity was evident: it was much taller and more robust than the young specimens used for classes, and the glow of its red eyes betrayed a power that made the air vibrate.

  —A… dragon! —Miyu screamed, backing away desperately as the animal's heat began to burn her cheeks—. A... fire one!