7

Two days had passed since the chaos in the academy hall, and the atmosphere within the confines of Esmeray’s cell had grown increasingly stifling. The weight of uncertainty pressed down on her like a physical force, each passing moment only serving to deepen the sense of isolation and fear that had taken hold of her.

As she sat in the dim light of her cell, her thoughts were consumed by questions and doubts. How had everything spiraled out of control so quickly? What was the true extent of her abilities as a Vaugnt, and how did that tie into the dangerous game that Caleb and his followers were playing?

Just as despair threatened to overwhelm her, the heavy silence was shattered by the sound of footsteps echoing down the corridor outside her cell. She rose to her feet, her heart pounding with a mix of apprehension and hope. Could this be the end of her imprisonment, or was it the beginning of something even more ominous?

The door to her cell creaked open, and Calliyah stepped into the