By the next morning, Titan Academy felt different.
Not louder, not quieter, Just heavier, as if the walls themselves were holding their breath.
Word of the emergency staff meeting hadn't reached the students yet, but something always leaked through the cracks. Tension was contagious. Whispers carried. Looks lingered.
And Blaze felt all of it.
He walked into the training hall with his brace hidden under his jacket. His steps were steady, but his expression wasn't. He kept his head down, his hands in his pockets, and his answers short.
His teammates noticed instantly.
Scarlet was the first to frown. She'd known Blaze long enough to tell when his mood shifted, and right now his aura felt like a locked door.
Aya nudged her. "Is it just me or… he looks different today."
Scarlet shook her head. "It's not just you."
Lionel joined them with a quiet sigh. "He came in without making a single joke. That's when you know the world is ending."
