The silence in the plaza dragged on, heavy and awkward.
Dozens of eyes were locked on us. Second-years with bloody bandages, third-years leaning on their shields, and Professor Veyra herself, all staring at us like we had dropped out of nowhere. I slowly stood up straight, brushing the dust off my coat.
My coat was covered in dirt, and my legs ached from all the running.
I cursed inwardly. Damn it, I should have never listened to that bastard Roan.
Ten minutes ago, he had told us with absolute confidence that he knew a shortcut around the blocked streets. According to him, going through the second floor of a building and dropping through the roof would save us time and help us avoid some monsters.
Instead, he misjudged a wooden post, brought down part of the ceiling, and forced us to run across a cracked walkway before we crashed straight through the roof into the plaza. That was his idea of a grand entrance. A complete, chaotic mess.
