Eclipse stood motionless for a moment, his cloak billowing faintly in the cool night breeze as he surveyed the towering walls of the Academy behind him.
The barrier—a shimmering veil of mana that usually detected even the slightest anomaly—had failed to register his presence entirely.
He exhaled slowly, feeling an odd mix of triumph and unease.
"Well," he muttered under his breath, adjusting the hood of the cloak draped over his shoulders, "that was easier than expected. Almost like I'm invisible to them."
From within the folds of his pocket, a small figure emerged with a dramatic flourish, stretching her tiny arms above her head.
Cyan, now compressed into what could only be described as a chibi version of herself, blinked up at Eclipse with wide cyan eyes.
Her hair glowed faintly in the moonlight, casting a soft hue around her diminutive form.
"Fweh… it's so stuffy in there!" she whined, plopping down onto his shoulder without permission"
