章 67: Fortifying the Front

The academy's quiet halls belied the urgency that pulsed through Valen's every step. He, Lian, and Aylara had assembled a group of carefully selected allies in a hidden study room, each one an individual who had either suffered at the hands of the Black Vow or held a deep-seated grudge against their overbearing influence.

Valen addressed the room with his usual calm authority, his gaze steady as he scanned the students. "The Black Vow has set a deadline," he began, his voice carrying a weight that silenced the low murmurs. "In three days, they intend to make their move, and they'll target those of us who resist them. We won't let that happen."

Kael, standing near the front, nodded, his face set in grim determination. Others murmured their agreement, expressions hardened by their own histories with the Black Vow's oppression. This was no longer just Valen's fight—it was their fight, and for the first time, they felt they had the power to challenge their oppressors.