"That's him. He did this to us."
The muffled sobs of three girls echoed through the wide corridor of the academy's open base floor.
Students had gathered quickly, forming a loose circle around the scene. Whispers spread like wildfire as more and more people stopped to watch.
Elion stood lightly at the front of the crowd with his hands in his pockets. His brows were slightly raised, but his expression remained mostly calm despite the gravity of the situation he was in.
Three familiar girls were huddled together on the floor. Their uniforms were messy, wrinkled, and torn in some places. Their hair was disheveled. There were bruises on their arms and small cuts along their legs. They looked shaken and distressed.
Eveline knelt beside them, gently patting their backs.
"It's okay," she said softly. "Take your time."
