Fair Night

The next couple of days passed in a blur, each one bringing a mix of mundane lessons and fleeting glances that Elara tried to ignore. The rumors surrounding her miraculous survival from the tower had started to die down, though the occasional whisper still followed her through the hallways.

Today, however, the air in the academy was different. The usual quiet hum of scholarly activity had been replaced by an electric buzz of excitement.

Elara walked into the common room to find Kaelen practically bouncing on the balls of his feet. "What's going on?" she asked, curious.

Kaelen's face lit up. "It's escape day!" he exclaimed, as though the very words were magical.

Elara blinked. "Escape day?"