The meeting chamber deep in the Academy's west wing was ancient—older than most knew. Walls lined with forgotten runes and a circular table carved from a single obsidian stone.
It wasn't a place for students.
But Evelyn stood at its center now, flanked by Alexander and Caelan, while Headmaster Aldren reviewed the torn remnants of the stolen tome.
"You say a page was removed," the headmaster murmured. "One tied to the barrier itself."
Caelan nodded, stepping forward. "The original sigil sequences for the northern quadrant. If tampered with, it could collapse the wardline between the Academy and the outside."
Aldren's fingers drummed once against the obsidian. "And you believe this isn't just curiosity or mischief?"
"No," Alexander said flatly. "This was surgical. Deliberate. Meant to go unnoticed."
Evelyn remained quiet, but her thoughts were loud.
Isabella. Or worse—someone we haven't seen yet.
She could still feel the trace of that cold magic in her room, in the air that night. Whoever had left that whisper in the woods wasn't done.
The headmaster nodded slowly. "Then I'll authorize a sweep. Quietly. If word of this reaches the other houses, it'll ignite panic."
Caelan spoke again. "I'll handle the research side. Go through the faculty keys, logs, even charm residue."
Alexander's mouth tightened, but he said nothing. Instead, he reached for Evelyn's hand as they turned to leave.
But just before they stepped out, Aldren added, "Valerius—your father sent word. He's heard rumors of a breach and offered to recall you home."
Alexander paused.
"I declined," he said, gaze flicking to Evelyn. "I'm not leaving."
And when they stepped into the corridor, Caelan lingered a step behind.
He didn't miss the way Alexander's thumb brushed along the back of Evelyn's hand. The silent protectiveness. The quiet affection.
But he also didn't miss the tension between them.
Later that night, Caelan returned to the lower vaults—alone.
He unlocked the third archive chamber with a charm only the inner circle had access to. The one few knew he still possessed.
Inside, amid the shadows and sealed scrolls, he withdrew a letter hidden deep within his coat.
It bore the same sigil Evelyn had seen once before.
A serpent, coiled around a sword.
Caelan lit the paper with a flick of his wrist, watched it burn to ash, then whispered to the empty room:
"They're getting close."