Chapter 178: Club Gather
Back at Thunderpeak Royal Academy, the early afternoon sunlight cascaded softly over the beautifully arranged central garden, casting gentle shadows beneath the grand cherry blossom tree.
Its branches rustled quietly in the breeze, scattering a few delicate petals across the stone pathways below.
Beneath the tree’s shade, Arya, Emilia, Nyss, Elias, Kale, Sylvia, and Felira had gathered. Arya and Emilia had arrived first, quietly discussing Orion’s remarkable tower ascension from the previous day, until they were soon joined by the rest of their friends.
Elias, however, was notably late, arriving with quickened steps and a grim expression. As he approached, Arya immediately noticed the uncharacteristically solemn look on his face, her bright expression shifting to one of immediate concern.
"What’s wrong, Elias?" Arya asked urgently, her amethyst eyes filling with worry as she stepped forward. She had been feeling something might happen today, and Elias’s expression just increased her worry.
Emilia, standing calmly beside Arya, also fixed Elias with a quiet, questioning gaze.
Elias took a slow, steady breath, clearly hesitant to speak, yet knowing the importance of his news. "It’s Orion. I just saw Instructor Viren carrying him out of the academy. Orion was completely unconscious."
A shocked silence instantly fell upon the group. Arya’s face paled immediately, worry etched deeply into her features. "Brother Orion... unconscious? How? What happened?"
Nyss’s usually calm expression turned unusually serious, her eyes narrowing slightly as she carefully listened, clearly concerned despite her outward calmness, as Orion was the only person even in their group who actually dared to stand close to her or talk with her.