Chapter 615: Mysterious Language
Lira stopped before the barrier that ringed the villa and gestured toward Michael’s Edgeband.
She turned to him with a knowing smile. "The Edgebands also work like access cards," she explained. "They’re keyed to each student’s identification and clearance level. If I’m not mistaken, yours should already be registered—try holding it up to the post."
As he raised his hand toward the pillar beside the gate, the air in front of him gave a barely visible ripple. A thin, luminous line traced itself across the barrier like a hairline seam, before slowly parting down the center.
The edges peeled back in silence, widening until the opening was just large enough for a person to pass through.
They passed through. The seam closed behind them without a sound.
Inside, the villa grounds stretched farther than he expected. A straight path, paved in pale stone, led to a residence that could have been sketched from an old painting.
It had clean walls the color of cream, high rectangular windows with dark trim, and a roof of muted slate that looked heavy but immaculate.
A wide set of steps climbed to a shallow porch with square pillars, thick and simple, holding a modest balcony above.
"The core campus is older than people think," Lira said, noticing where he was looking. "Veraunt’s Edge has been around for about a century. These villas weren’t the first set, but they’ve stood a long time."
"It shows," he said.
The grounds were quiet. The only movement came from the breeze through trees that lined the sides of the property. There were no one in sight yet nothing looked neglected. Grass was trimmed. Paths were clear. The windows had the faint polish of recent cleaning.
"We have people who maintain the academy daily," Lira explained as they walked toward the door.