The White Forest fell silent. Not the silence of peace, not even the silence of fear.
It was the silence of a world that had forgotten how to breathe.
Snowflakes drifted like butterflies between the pale branches, yet not a single flake dared touch the figure floating above the frozen ground.
The creature's cloudy lower body hovered without disturbing the snow.
Its seven horn-like fins framed its head like the broken crown of some forgotten god or… devil.
Thane stood alone before it. Behind him, twenty-three students remained frozen, and an instructor.
No one moved. No one spoke.
Even the wolves that had surrounded them moments earlier had disappeared into the depths of the forest.
Animals understood danger better than humans ever could.
Garret inhaled deeply, his chest rose once.
He rolled his shoulders, causing several joints to crack.
Then he spoke without turning around.
"...No one." His voice remained calm. "No one moves until I tell you."
