We met up at the academy gates after school. The sun was low in the sky, casting long shadows across the ground as if even it was reluctant to deal with the nonsense that was about to unfold. Niao Chyou, our class rep, looked nervous as usual, her eyes darting around like a squirrel expecting a predator to pounce any second. Beside her, Revi was bouncing on her heels, practically buzzing with excitement like we were about to head to an amusement park instead of an alley where something sinister lurked.