The first thing anyone noticed was the blood.

Fresh crimson stained the sleeve of Aren’s academy uniform, smeared across one glove and dried along the edges of his coat.

The second thing was the fang. A massive black tooth nearly the length of a forearm hanging loosely from his hand.

The third was the Shade Hound.

The creature’s corpse sprawled across the academy gates like a fallen siege beast, dark fur matted with dirt and battle wounds. A deep trail carved through the ground behind it revealed exactly how it had arrived.

Aren had dragged the entire thing here himself.

Three professors stood nearby. One looked exhausted. One looked furious. The last appeared to be reconsidering their profession entirely.

Around them, students had abandoned classes, training schedules, and common sense to gather around the spectacle. Everyone was staring.

At the center of it all stood Aren. Silver hair windswept. Uniform stained with blood. Storm-gray eyes calm as ever. Completely unbothered.

While the professors argued around him, he merely shifted his grip on the fang and glanced between them and the enormous carcass as though he genuinely couldn’t understand the issue.

To Aren, the matter seemed simple. A dangerous predator had attacked him. He had killed it. Evidence had been requested. Evidence had been provided.

Perhaps a little more thoroughly than necessary. The professors clearly disagreed. Aren did not appear concerned.

He only adjusted his grip on the massive fang and looked over the corpse blocking half the academy gates with quiet satisfaction.

As far as he was concerned, he had followed instructions perfectly.