Chapter 1: The Cataclysm
In the bustling Imperial Capital, 18-year-old Alice was studying ancient texts in the Royal Academy's library as she did every day. She was a girl with a deep interest in history, especially fascinated by mysterious legends buried by the passage of time. Sunlight streamed through the tall arched windows, casting dappled patterns of light across the wooden floor. Immersed in a sea of books, Alice was completely unaware of the bizarre changes quietly taking place in the outside world.
Suddenly, a piercing alarm shattered the library's tranquility. Alice jerked her head up, seeing the terrified expressions of her fellow students as they rushed toward the exit. A wave of unease welled up in her chest; hastily closing her book, she followed the crowd out of the library.
Chapter 172