Chapter 13. Grand Entry
In the morning, golden sunlight shone over the boys' dorms at Obsidian Academy.
Darius walked down the hallway, his uniform neat, the crest on his chest catching the light. He stopped in front of a door and knocked firmly. The sharp sound echoed in the quiet hallway. There was no response.
Frowning, he knocked again, this time harder. The door creaked open, revealing Prince Cassian in a messy state. His golden hair stuck out in all directions, and his half-closed eyes blinked against the light as he yawned.
"What's with the knocking, Darius?" Cassian muttered, leaning lazily against the doorframe. "It's too early for this."
Darius stepped inside without waiting for an invitation. "There's an assembly this morning," he said, his tone clipped. "You need to be there."
Cassian sighed and flopped onto a couch, his smirk lazy. "An assembly for what? Don't tell me it's about Leonhardt."
"It is," Darius replied, his tone sharp. "You should be there."
Cassian scoffed, rubbing his forehead. "Why bother? He's gone. Let them have their little event without me."
Darius's jaw tightened as he turned to leave. "Suit yourself," he said coldly. "But don't ask me what happened later."
—
The courtyard of Obsidian Academy was alive with chatter as students gathered for the morning assembly. Golden sunlight lit up the stone pathways, and the air buzzed with voices. Everywhere, groups of students talked about one thing—Leonhardt's death.