[Southern Road — Travel Day 2 — 10:00 AM]
The Celestial Academy appeared sooner than Alex expected.
The towers visible above the tree line when the southern road made its final curve before the last stretch.
The Temple's symbol carved into the central structure — visible from kilometers away, designed to be visible from kilometers away.
Alex stopped.
Just stopped.
The girls behind him stopped by reflex too, because when Alex stopped there was a reason.
They looked in the direction Alex was looking.
The towers.
The symbol.
The walls that Alex had seen his whole life from the inside and now saw from the outside for the second time — the first had been the night of his expulsion, when leaving had been the only move available.
No one said anything.
Emily put her hand on Alex's arm.
Without words. Just there.
Alex looked at the towers for ten seconds.
Then he resumed walking.
---
Kira walked two steps behind Alex.
Without her ears.
