Chapter 185 - 184- Departure
Adrian and Ariana were still in the office when the Tower Master arrived.
Albec stepped inside, flanked by two Tower members. The room’s warm atmosphere shifted instantly—replaced by the quiet chill of their presence.
Though Albec seemed slightly tense, it was the two men standing beside the door—one on either side—who brought with them a heavy nervousness that settled in the air like fog.
"Mister Albec," Adrian greeted, extending a hand.
Albec took it with a firm shake, and they all sat down—Ariana beside Albec, Adrian across from them. The two Tower members remained standing, unmoving, as if guarding something more than just the doorway.
"Apologies for arriving on such short notice," Albec began, his tone both hurried and sincere. "The situation is urgent, so I took the liberty of imposing."
He knew Adrian was not only a teacher but also a researcher. And after everything that had happened recently, the man probably needed time to rest and recover. But the matter couldn’t wait. Courtesy had to come second.
"So... what’s going on?" Adrian asked, cutting to the chase.
Albec reached into his coat and pulled out a folded sheet of parchment, then slid it across the table.
"This is a report we received from the east."
Ariana’s brows knit together. "You mean... the Barren Lands? Who would send a report from there?" Her voice held disbelief—no one in their right mind wandered that far out.