A Warning

From the edge of the viewing terrace atop Mystic Academy, Professor Gertrude narrowed her eyes at the flicker of unnatural fire spiraling into the night sky from the Garden of Echoes.

"That's not part of the Midnight Games," she muttered under her breath. "I knew that the place is off limits, but we know that the games were held every year. But not this dangerous…"

Within seconds, she turned on her heel. "Darenn. Irving. With me."

The two professors had already noticed the anomaly from their own corners of the academy. Without hesitation, they followed Gertrude in long strides, descending the marble staircases and cutting through the forested paths toward the sacred garden.

Their urgency caught the attention of a few wandering nymphs, who, sensing the disturbance, glided beside them.

"Something's wrong," Darenn said, tone sharp. "Those flames… they were too wild."

"And too real," Irving added grimly. "Irving does not like this. Not at all."