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  [ 39th Aquanis 1749 | Fardin | 13:47 | Dormitory Room 231 ]

  When I returned to my room, Catherine was already there. I allowed myself to nod at her, letting her know that I was alright, but I did not shy away from a conversation with her and told her in detail what Evelina, Nova, and I had discussed, except for mentioning the appearance of Gloria.

  About another half hour of casual conversation with Catherine passed when someone knocked on the door.

  “Come in, it’s open,” I said coldly, not expecting such an early arrival of guests.

  The door creaked, and Isa Lern entered the room. First, she looked at me, then at Catherine. She hesitated a little and wiggled all her fingers, as if warming up before saying something.

  “Artalis, the rector is waiting for you in his office,” she said in an even voice, with a clear emphasis on the word “rector,” emphasizing the supposed importance of this character.

  Catherine looked at me again with a look as if I were hiding everything in the world from her again, and, understanding that I did not want any more ambiguous interpretations, I said, looking at her, “I can’t even imagine what the rector wants from me again.”

  Isa did not let Catherine answer my remark and simply interrupted her, “Artalis, you know perfectly well why the rector is summoning you. Don’t pretend to be someone you’re not. I have been observing you for long enough to understand that you are too quick-witted for your age, a real prodigy.”

  Catherine, unable to bear it, looked at Isa angrily and answered for me, “And who gave you permission to observe Arta in the first place? Are you even aware that for such an admission, you face expulsion?”

  Isa grunted.

  “Catherine, you shouldn’t say anything at all. I am not only observing Arta. And I see that quiet and diligent girls like you always have the most interesting secrets. I would be more careful in your place. Within the walls of the Academy, even the most personal thoughts rarely remain secrets for long,” she answered with a note of threat in her voice.

  “And what can you tell that Arta doesn’t know?” Catherine answered in a cold tone, as if copying me.

  Isa did not respond directly to the challenge. She took a step back, creating a distance, and a cold, patronizing smirk touched her lips.

  “My dear Catherine, it is not about telling something. It is about what people already see.” She paused briefly, her gaze sliding over me and returning to Catherine. “When one girl so… selflessly looks after another, whispers begin at the Academy. Just a friendly piece of advice: be more careful. Not everyone is so benevolent, and some may misinterpret such… ardent devotion. Artalis would not want her assistant to have problems because of rumors, would she?”

  Catherine’s eyes flashed with something sinister, and her face turned pale, but before she answered, I intervened to interrupt this unconstructive conversation. “Isa, let’s go to the rector. There is no need to disturb the order of things that was established here before you.”

  Isa nodded. I approached her, and we went to the rector. The last thing I saw before leaving was Catherine’s face, which was too thoughtful for her usual state.

  The path to the rector was silent. We went down to the first floor and out into the courtyard, where, as always, there were many students. Aquanis was in full swing outside; almost all the snow had already melted, and only a light slush hinted that there had been snow here not so long ago. Reaching the main building of the academy, we entered it. Isa walked ahead with a self-satisfied air, as if leading me through the corridors, which, as she probably assumed, I did not know. I just followed her, observing her not-so-confident gait and the absence of her usual notebook for her notes.

  Reaching the rector’s office, Isa knocked on the door. A rough male voice and the phrase “Come in” came from behind the door, after which Isa opened the door, and we entered.

  The rector’s office had not changed much since the last time I was here. It still smelled of leather and wood, except that there were significantly more papers on his desk that did not relate to the educational process.

  “Good day, Rector,” I said dryly, giving a slight bow of my head.

  Isa seemed to want to slip out of the office, and the rector, instead of greeting us as a sign of minimal etiquette, answered rudely, “Isa, stay.”

  A mixture of confusion and slight fear was reflected on Isa’s face, and a light tremor ran through her fingers. Probably, all this time she had only been afraid that she would be asked to stay for this conversation. “Grandfather, what happened? Am I really needed?” she said uncertainly and with a slight stutter.

  “Yes, you are needed, I have already said. Stay and lock the door.”

  Isa reluctantly but obediently did as he said, but then said again, “Grandfather, you know that my father is against me being involved in politics?”

  “I know, but I am not interested in his opinion. I will speak with him personally. Matters of state importance require a firm hand, and Artalis… she obviously cannot cope alone, without the possibility of having an ally on the spot.”

  I understood where the conversation was going: they wanted to draw me into another game against Vespera, in which I did not want to participate. And most importantly, Terren was completely indifferent to the fact that I was going there with Nova and Evelina for Konrad Cross’s funeral, not on an excursion to the capital.

  Meanwhile, Isa obediently sat down in a chair opposite the rector. I followed her example and, pulling up a chair, sat next to her so I could see both her and the rector’s reactions at the same time.

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  Before speaking, Rector Terren looked out the window, then ran a hand over his left sideburn and, frowning, began to speak. “So, and now listen to me carefully. Konrad Cross—Queen Margaret’s husband—died yesterday.” Terren looked at me, as if checking if I was aware of this news, and then addressed me directly. “Artalis, you already know this news, don’t you?”

  “Yes, Her Highness informed me of this recently.”

  Hearing my comment, the rector sneered contemptuously but refrained from voicing his thoughts. It was obvious that he disliked Evelina and did not consider her the future heiress, but he did not allow himself such statements in a public space, especially in the presence of her mage-guardian.

  “For some reason, I did not even doubt it.” Terren looked at the portrait of Greyvan Valtheim, as if seeking confirmation of his opinion in it, and then continued. “So, Isa, in an hour a carriage will be waiting for you to go to Sumerenn. Artalis, as the mage-guardian of Evelina Valtheim, will go there a little later. As for…”

  “Grandfather, are you sure this isn’t dangerous?” his granddaughter interrupted Terren in a nervous voice.

  “Isa, I will speak with Olerna to have her explain to you what it means to interrupt your elders in age and rank,” Terren commented with a note of irritation. “First listen, then ask questions.”

  Isa, hearing the rector’s comments, blushed and clenched her hands into fists so tightly that her nails dug into her palms almost to the point of bleeding.

  The rector, shaking his head slightly, continued to speak, “So. Your task will be very simple and at the same time difficult. I have found a person who can help Frederik. I cannot reveal his identity, but he promises that literally one session will be enough to weaken the influence of this…” The rector paused, not wanting to swear in front of his granddaughter. “Vespera. You will only need to bring Frederik to the session.”

  He probably thinks that CD is so stupid that she does not watch over such a valuable asset as Frederik on a permanent basis? It is amusing that mortals are so foolish. Even without knowing that Vespera Tenemhbright is Chaotic-Darkness, one can see with the naked eye that she is a very powerful mage. And it would be good if the person the rector found was just an ordinary charlatan, because otherwise, the situation could develop into a catastrophic one.

  “Mr. Rector,” I addressed Terren politely, “may I ask a pertinent question?” I waited for the rector to nod and then continued. “It seemed to me that you and Frederik, despite all the difficulties, are on good terms. Why don’t you ask him to go to this session on his own?”

  The rector frowned and ground his teeth; he clearly did not like the question. “Because Vespera must not find out that I am playing against her. If I go to Frederik and ask him to go to the session, he will tell Vespera everything, and then big trouble awaits me. And don’t think that I am grasping at straws, Artalis. The person I have found… he is one of the few in Illumora who practices soul magic. A rare gift. I have been looking for him for years. He has already dealt with similar mental techniques and helped one of the generals get rid of the influence of the Anixian ‘Whisper Magic.’ I trust him. This is our only chance.” The rector jutted out his lower jaw and touched his clean-shaven chin with his right hand.

  The mention of whisper magic raised big questions for me; probably in Anix, they liked to use hypnotic techniques, although they could not be called magical directly.

  “I understand. So Isa and I are supposed to lure Frederik to the session?” I asked, understanding where the conversation was going.

  “Artalis, not with Isa. You yourself must lure Frederik. Isa’s task is to find a room and bring our man there.” Terren paused briefly to shift his gaze to his granddaughter. “And, of course, she will help with a number of nuances on the spot. Vespera and Frederik must not see her, so the main task is on you, Artalis.” He looked at me again; there was no smile or anything else in his gaze, only a cold calculation.

  “And you think I have the tools that will allow me to lure Frederik to this person, do you?” I continued to ask questions, understanding that the rector wanted to set me up in front of Vespera, not understanding what consequences this could lead to.

  “Artalis, you are a beautiful girl and Evelina’s mage-guardian. You have plenty of tools to get Frederik to the right place at the right time,” Terren answered with slight annoyance, hinting that his plan was not up for discussion.

  I decided to remain silent, understanding that further discussion was pointless.

  “Grandfather, so my task is just to provide the place and time? And what is my help to Artalis?” Isa finally asked, relaxing and unclenching her fists.

  Terren smiled at his granddaughter before answering. “Isa, if you think that Artalis is all-powerful, then I must disappoint you. Your task is no less important: you must ensure that everything goes perfectly, inform Artalis of all the necessary information, make sure that there are no extra eyes during the meeting, and in general be friendly and willing to help our foreign guest. After all, the matter concerns our country, not hers.”

  Isa frowned, almost like her grandfather, but said nothing.

  “Artalis, you may go. I still have something to discuss with Isa. And remember, do not try to get out of this. The order for your expulsion is already in my desk; I just need to sign it.” Terren smiled.

  “I understand you,” I replied dryly, rising from my chair.

  “Good, and now go and close the door,” the rector commented, shifting his gaze to his granddaughter.

  I left the rector’s office, understanding that the trip to Sumerenn did not bode well.

  『 ?? 』━━━???━━━『 ? 』

  [ 39th Aquanis 1749 | Fardin | 14:38 | Dormitory Room 231 ]

  Returning to my room, I began preparations for departure. Methodically, layer by layer, I donned the mage-guardian’s mantle. Only when I had fastened the last strap on the breastplate did Catherine enter the room. She froze on the threshold, as if afraid to disturb the ritual of my preparations.

  “You are leaving already, aren’t you?…” she asked, and in her voice was unconcealed sadness.

  “Yes. The matter does not allow for a delay,” I replied calmly. Going to my desk, I took out the pocket watch she had given me. The silver gleamed coldly in my hand in the rays of the sun penetrating the window.

  “Why doesn’t Evelina fulfill the condition you set for her?” Catherine came closer, her hands on her waist—a posture full of restrained disappointment. “I feel not like a mage-guardian’s assistant, but a useless element…”

  “I understand you,” I replied, looking at the watch one last time and leaving it on the table, next to the closed velvet box. “I will try to resolve this issue on subsequent trips.”

  Catherine came even closer, almost right up to me.

  “Just please, don’t conflict with her. Who knows what will come into her head.” Catherine shook her head, her gaze falling on the watch I had left behind. “And another thing, Arta… Why don’t you want to take it with you?”

  I looked her in the eye.

  “I don’t want to lose it. Who knows what will happen in the capital.”

  Catherine smiled anxiously, but the smile did not touch her eyes.

  “That is what worries me, Arta. I am very anxious. I don’t know what is happening to me, but…” She shook her head, as if warding off an unclear thought, a shadow from the past that had no name. “Just be careful, okay? Very careful.”

  “I will try, Catherine,” I nodded and, taking my small travel bag, which was standing by the bed, I headed for the exit.

  “Alright,” she whispered so quietly that I barely heard. “I will be… waiting for your return.”

  I nodded, already at the door, and, taking my traveling cloak, I turned for a moment. She stood motionless in the middle of the room, and in her eyes was something anxious, deep, as if a reflection of a long-forgotten nightmare.

  “Until we meet again, Catherine,” I said quietly.

  She nodded back to me, unable to utter a word. I went out into the corridor, quietly closing the door behind me, leaving her alone in the cold silence of the room, alone with her premonition and the silver watch that remained on the nightstand, waiting for my return.