The moment Victoria stepped closer to the passage, the air around her changed again.
It wasn’t just cold anymore.
It felt sealed, like reality itself had been locked and was only now remembering how to breathe.
Selene tightened her grip on Victoria’s arm. “Victoria… I really think we should go back.”
Victoria didn’t answer immediately.
Because the pull she had felt all day was no longer pressure.
It was direction.
Clear. Certain. Unavoidable.
Luca stood slightly behind them, his posture tense now, his attention locked on the corridor like he was reading something no one else could see.
“Once you cross that threshold,” he said quietly, “you won’t be inside the academy anymore.”
Selene frowned. “That makes no sense. It’s literally a hallway.”
Luca didn’t look at her. “Bloodright d
