Not far from Mr. Xiao

The other side of the lounge told a different story.

Students and staff had gathered in a loose cluster around Dean Sanchez, their composure slipping faster than the group Mr. Xiao had just addressed.

The Dean stood near one of the support columns, his back partially to it, as if grounding himself against something solid while the questions came in waves, his authority nowhere in sight.

They didn’t wait for answers.

They stacked over each other.

"What do you mean we can’t leave—!? There has to be a way out!"

"My brother’s still outside, I saw him on the feed—what are you doing to get them in!?"

"Is help actually coming or are we just sitting here waiting to die!?"

A staff member stepped forward, voice strained, trying to push through the noise and help the dean.

"The emergency lines aren’t connecting—Dean, we need to know if the city’s been locked down—"

Another student cut in, voice cracking.

"My parents are in the lower district, I can’t reach them—are they safe!? Someone tell me if they’re safe!"

A taller boy with faint scales running along the side of his neck slammed his palm against a nearby table—

THUD—!—Tipping it over.

"We should be out there helping! Sitting here isn’t doing anything!"

Others nodded.

Some shook.

One girl stood with her arms wrapped tightly around herself, her hands actually growing longer with every moment, soon passing her sleeves without her noticing, her breathing uneven.

Dean Sanchez raised his hands more than once—

Tried to respond—

But every attempt was swallowed before it could form.

His jaw tightened. His eyes moved from face to face, searching for a gap that never came.

The noise kept building.

Louder.

More frantic.

Edges breaking. His own heart pounding

Then—

"That’s quite enough."

Mr. Xiao’s voice cut through all the noise.

Calm.

And something else.

The moment the words left him—

The air shifted.

A low tremor spread outward—

Not visible—

But felt.

VMMMM—~

It rolled through the lounge like a pressure wave, passing through bodies rather than around them. The effect was immediate. Conversations broke mid-word. Hands flew to ears as a sharp resonance struck deep, not painful—but intrusive.

Several students winced, shoulders hunching as their expressions tightened.

"Ah—!"

"What—?!"

A few staggered a half-step, balance thrown off just long enough to unsettle them. Heartbeats kicked higher without warning, breath catching unevenly as the sensation passed through their chests and faded just as quickly as it came.

Then—

Stillness.

Not forced.

Not entirely.

But held.

All eyes turned toward him.

Fear sat plainly on some faces.

Respect on others.

A few watched him with narrowed eyes, measuring, cautious.

Mr. Xiao walked forward.

Unrushed.

Each step placed evenly against the polished floor as he crossed the distance between himself and the gathered students.

His gaze moved across them once, taking in the varied states—panic, anger, confusion—before settling into something unreadable.

"As students and staff of this prestigious university," he began, voice clear now without needing to rise, "I do not need to remind you of the terms you agreed to when you enrolled or accepted your positions here."

No one spoke.

No one interrupted.

"We have guidelines for situations such as this," he continued. "Failure to abide by them does not simply endanger you—it risks the lives of everyone present."

He paused. 𝒇𝙧𝙚𝓮𝙬𝙚𝓫𝒏𝓸𝓿𝓮𝒍.𝓬𝙤𝓶

Just long enough.

"For that... you will be expelled or dismissed."

The words landed clean.

No exaggeration.

No softening.

"And once this crisis passes," he added, "you will be blacklisted."

A shift rippled through the group. Shoulders lowered. Eyes dropped. One of the students who had been shouting earlier clenched his jaw, gaze turning to the side, avoiding direct contact.

Mr. Xiao’s expression didn’t change.

"And should you attempt to use force in any way that compromises the safety of those here..."

A slight tilt of his head.

"...you will be dealing with me. Personally."

That settled it.

Whatever resistance remained—broke.

He stepped into place beside Dean Sanchez, his presence immediate but not overbearing. His hand lifted, resting briefly on the Dean’s shoulder before giving it a firm, grounding pat.

"Follow your Dean’s instructions," he said. "Please... and thank you."

Dean Sanchez exhaled, a breath he hadn’t realized he’d been holding.

His posture straightened slightly under the contact, though the strain didn’t leave his face entirely. He adjusted his cuffs with a small, controlled motion, eyes flicking toward the students before returning forward as he cleared his throat.

"...you heard him," the Dean said, voice steadier now. "We maintain our position. No one leaves the building. We move only when instructed."

No one argued.

Some nodded faintly.

Others simply lowered their heads.

A boy with metallic veins faintly visible beneath his skin stared at the floor, hands trembling slightly before he forced them still.

A girl with faintly glowing irises blinked rapidly, trying to hold back tears as she turned away from the group. One staff member rubbed at his temples, eyes shut tight, repeating something under his breath as if trying to center himself.

The earlier defiance had thinned.

Replaced by restraint.

Or fear.

Across the room—

The cluster of high-profile guests had gone quiet as well. A few watched Mr. Xiao now with a different expression than before. Less demanding. More... careful.

Near the entrance—

One person hadn’t lowered her gaze.

Frostbite stood apart from the others, positioned near the wide glass panels that overlooked the outer perimeter.

The faint light from outside cast a muted glow across her figure, highlighting the thin layer of frost that clung along the edges of her sleeves and the floor beneath her boots.

Cold air moved around her in slow, uneven currents—

SSSS—~

Barely visible.

Her arms rested loosely at her sides, but her posture remained rigid, controlled in a way that didn’t match the calm of the room.

Her eyes stayed on Mr. Xiao.

Focused.

A faint line formed between her brows as her expression tightened, not in fear—but in disagreement.

Or doubt.

Outside, another distant impact echoed through the structure—

THUD—!

Her gaze flicked briefly toward the sound—

Then returned to him.

Unmoving.