The lobby of the central faculty building was chaos.
Dozens of terrified, bleeding cadets poured through the blown-out steel doors, slipping on the polished marble floors. The grand hall, usually reserved for formal academic assemblies, was instantly transformed into a makeshift triage center.
"Move the heavy oak desks!" Lucien barked, his voice carrying absolute authority over the panic. "Block the entrance! Bordon, get your shield on the left flank. Do not let them funnel in!"
The students didn't question him. The hierarchy of the Academy had completely dissolved. Seniority and noble titles meant nothing right now. The only thing that mattered was the teenager in the pitch-black suit holding a smoking hand cannon.
