Chapter 56: Vyse

Vyse pushed away from the wall, her eyes narrowing. "Are you suggesting one of our students is-"

"I'm not suggesting anything," Kris cut her off. "I'm saying we need to ask better questions. The Shadow Walkers are expensive. Someone paid a fortune to send them after a specific student, and they didn't care how many others died in the process."

A young healer approached their group, bowing slightly. "Seniors? We've managed to stabilize the poison in most of the wounded, but... Ernest's case is different. The corruption has spread too deep. We can't..."

Derek's face hardened. "Make him comfortable. And send word to his family."

After the healer left, silence fell over the group. Finally, Sara spoke what they were all thinking.

"We failed them," she whispered. "We were supposed to protect them."