As the blast sent guards from the walls rushing toward the source of the explosion, Cassandra hurriedly joined them, sprinting across the vast, chaotic grounds. The closer she got, the more certain she became—Cassian was there. Her suspicions deepened as she caught sight of numerous children emerging from the swirling dust, some clearly mages, others warriors, all running in panic. Amid the chaos, some were even fighting the guards in a desperate attempt to escape the prison-like facility.
"What the hell is happening here?" Cassandra muttered to herself, her tone a mix of confusion and shock. The sight before her was overwhelming, but pieces of the puzzle started falling into place. These children, she realized, were likely participants in the Valtross Academy exams. And while their frantic flight suggested a clear reason to escape, the infighting among them added a layer of confusion.