The first arrow struck the wall beside Greg's head. The second carried a screaming student through a window. For one terrible heartbeat, Greg couldn't move.Glass rained across the courtyard. Beyond the shattered window, flames crawled up the academy's eastern tower, devouring curtains and wooden beams. Students stumbled through the smoke, some calling for friends, others shouting names that received no answer.Then the bells began to ring. Not the measured chimes announcing lessons or the evening curfew.These were deeper, harsher, and relentless—the ancient alarm bells reserved for an attack on the capital itself.Greg tightened his grip on his practice sword. Find the boy. Kill anyone who protects him.The masked commander's words still echoed in his mind.Beside him, Mira stared at the ruined courtyard, her face drained of color. "Greg, we have to leave!"An explosion interrupted her.The ground buckled. A wave of heat swept across the courtyard, knocking Greg sideways into a ston