🖤Alec Lightwood 🖤

The Institute was more agitated than usual. Clary walked through the stone corridors, trying to absorb everything: the runes glowing on the walls, the ancient weapons displayed like relics, the strange weight of the place. Simon was practically glued to her. I still think this whole thing is a mix of a museum and a horror movie. Izzy walks past them with elegance. Relax, mundane. If you survive the first month, it starts to seem normal. "I don't want this to look normal," Simon murmurs. Jace appears, twirling a blade, smiling. "It's too late. "Alec observes the scene without smiling. His posture is straight, his arms crossed, his gaze attentive to every detail . "Enough. We have a mission. And it's not tourist drill. "The corridor falls silent. Hodge appears, leaning on his cane *. Main room. Now.

• As the door opens, the metallic sound of clashing swords fills the room. *
• In the center of the room, a Japanese girl moved with frightening precision. *
• The runes on her arms were ancient, some different from those Clary had seen before. Hodge could barely touch her. *
• Clary falls silent, mesmerized. * Who… is she?
• Izzy answers in a low voice *. Hana. One of the oldest Shadowhunters still active.
• Jace stops joking immediately *. She trained before I was born.
• Simon's eyes widen. * Before everyone here was born?
• Alec takes a few steps forward, serious, almost solemn. *
• Hana has faced things that aren't even in the Institute's records.* *If she says a mission is dangerous… then it is. Clary watches Hana take down Hodge with a clean move. And why would someone like that still fight personally? Alec responds in his dry and honest way. Because she doesn't trust anyone to protect what matters. Hana stops, finally realizing she was being watched. Her eyes meet Alec's for a second, a silent respect between two war veterans. Clary swallows hard. So… is she coming with us? Alec states without hesitation: She leads. We follow.