CHAPTER NINE: THE TRIAL LOOMS (Part five)
The lecture ended without ceremony.
No bell.
No dismissal phrase.
Just Liraen closing her hands behind her back and turning away.
The glyph lights in the walls dimmed.
Students filed out—some in silence, some in low, excited murmurs.
Zephryn didn't move.
Kaelen stood first.
Then paused.
He looked down at Zephryn.
His mouth opened slightly—
but no words came.
He just let out a quiet breath and walked past him.
Yolti gave a half-nod.
Not cold.
Not warm.
Just tired.
Selka lingered.
She didn't say anything.
But as she walked past, she placed her fingers on Zephryn's desk.
Just for a moment.
Then followed the others out.
The room emptied.
And Zephryn sat there—alone,
in a circle meant for resonance.
Only now, it felt like a barrier.
Not a seat of belonging.
A ring that was always meant to keep him out.
His pulse didn't flare.
His mark didn't burn.
But the pendant at his chest?
It vibrated.
Once.
Like it was holding him together in place of anyone else.
Outside the classroom, down the hall,
Bubbalor waited.
Head low.
Tail still.
It didn't hum.
But when Zephryn finally stood and passed under the archway—
The glyph above the door flickered.
Just once.
Like the Lyceum itself
had just realized
what it tried to forget.