Caelan set the scroll down on Evelyn's desk, smoothing it out with deliberate care.
Alexander stood silently beside her, arms crossed, eyes narrowed—not hostile, but unreadable.
Evelyn leaned forward. "What is it?"
"A partial transcription," Caelan said. "Recovered from one of the restricted archives—buried under false categorization. I wouldn't have found it if I weren't tracing the magical residue left behind from the theft."
Alexander's brows drew together. "You think the thief used Academy seals to hide it?"
"I think," Caelan replied evenly, "someone inside helped them do it."
The room chilled slightly.
Evelyn exchanged a glance with Alexander. "You have a name?"
Caelan didn't answer right away. He simply tapped the faded sigil etched into the margin of the parchment—worn, but not unrecognizable.
It was the same serpent wrapped around a sword.
Evelyn stiffened.
"We've seen this before," she whispered.
"Isabella," Alexander muttered. "Her hidden notes. The same crest."
Caelan nodded once. "But it goes deeper. This symbol is older than the Academy. It belongs to an order that was disbanded a century ago—or so history claims."
"And now it's resurfacing," Evelyn murmured. "With Isabella as part of it?"
"She's not acting alone," Caelan said. "She's being backed. Possibly manipulated. But she believes she's the one in control."
Alexander stepped forward. "Who's backing her?"
Caelan's lips pressed into a line. "I don't know yet. But whoever it is... they want something that Evelyn has."
He turned to her then, his expression gentler. "Something tied to your bloodline. Your mother's side."
Evelyn's breath caught.
"My mother died when I was young. I don't remember much."
"You remember more than you think," Caelan said softly. "Magic like yours doesn't appear by accident. Someone passed it down."
Alexander's gaze shifted, sharp and silent.
Caelan's eyes flicked to him, then back to Evelyn. "You're not just caught in this war, Evelyn. You might be the reason it started."
The words landed like thunder.
Alexander stepped closer to her instinctively, grounding her.
But Caelan—he took a step back.
And he smiled, just faintly.
"I'll keep digging," he said. "But be careful who you trust. Even among those who stand closest."
Then he turned and walked out, the door clicking softly behind him.
Evelyn stood frozen, her hand gripping Alexander's without realizing it.
And Alexander?
His jaw was tight. His eyes darker than before.
Not because he didn't trust her.
But because the past was no longer content to stay buried.