When Kael reached the building that housed Professor Nora’s office, the sky burned in a distant blend of red and orange. The halls were eerily empty when he stepped inside. Only the soft rattling of the wooden floorboards accompanied him as he walked.

  On his way here, he had worried that another professor might see him and question why he was wandering around at this time. But, strangely enough, he encountered no one. Not a single soul until he finally stopped in front of a beautifully carved door:

  Professor Nora.

  A thin line of warm light glowed beneath it. He was inside.

  Kael raised his hand to knock, then hesitated. Should I even be here now? Is this the right moment? Before he could decide, a calm but resonant voice drifted through the door.

  "You may enter."

  Kael exhaled and pushed the door open.

  Professor Nora sat behind his desk with his eyes fixed on a stack of papers he was annotating. Kael stepped inside quietly and scanned the shelves lining the walls. They were filled with rare plants, dried roots, minerals sealed in glass, and artifacts he didn’t recognize.

  Something on the desk caught his attention:

  A small shard of Motarith, gleaming faintly in the dim light.

  Nora noticed his stare immediately.

  "It's the most valuable item I own," he said, still writing. "I acquired it on a mission ten years ago. A rather dangerous one.”

  Kael’s curiosity flared. He wanted to ask more questions, but before he could, Nora finally put down his pen and looked at him directly.

  "I thought you would come earlier," he said.

  Kael flinched, feeling embarrassed. Embarrassment and something heavier. He realized that he had only understood Nora’s message because someone dear to him had given up something precious just to avoid him.

  He opened his mouth to speak, ready to explain what he had finally understood. But before he could say a word, Nora raised a hand and shook her head.

  “You don’t need to tell me.”

  Kael blinked.

  Nora leaned back slightly, her expression unreadable yet strangely calm.

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  "My goal was never to teach you a specific lesson," he said. "Only to put you in a situation where you would be forced to discover what was truly holding you back. Whatever conclusion you reached is yours alone. The fact that you stand here now means you understood what you needed to.”

  Kael’s eyes widened at that. Then he let out a breath and shook his head softly. "You're as unpredictable as ever, Professor."

  For the first time, Nora allowed himself a small, deliberate smile.

  "If a chronicler wishes to survive, he must be unpredictable. Wisdom and strength matter. But unpredictability..." His gaze sharpened. "...is often what keeps you alive."

  Then Nora gestured to the chair beside Kael.

  "Sit. We have much to discuss."

  Kael obeyed, though he glanced uncertainly toward the door first.

  "Isn't this... conspicuous?" he asked. "Having lessons in your office?" I didn’t make the top three. I’m not supposed to learn from you at all.”

  “Don’t worry,” Nora replied in a measured voice, as though he had known exactly what Kael would ask.

  "It won't be conspicuous. After the evaluation, several professors and instructors complained that your fighting style and provocations were inappropriate for an academy student. Unrefined. Unacceptable.”

  His tone sharpened only slightly. “So I suggested a punishment. I volunteered to supervise you personally and give you rigorous private lessons to correct your behavior."

  Nora’s gaze slid over Kael, analytical and almost clinical, as if he were an unusual specimen rather than a student.

  "You have more enemies than you think, Kael. Many of them are powerful.”

  Kael frowned, irritation flickering in his eyes. Who exactly put me in that situation in the first place? he thought bitterly.

  "But that works in our favor," Nora continued, unfazed. It means no one will dare interrupt our sessions.”

  Kael exhaled slowly. He hated to admit it, Nora was right.

  "So," he said, leaning forward as tension rose in his chest. "What do we know? I have too many questions."

  His voice tightened with each word. "Why does Astra trust you? How do you know about my ability? And—” He hesitated, swallowing hard. "Are you helping me because you're part of the rebels?"

  His breath hitched. His pulse quickened. For the first time, he dared to hope that Nora would finally give him answers. Answers he had bled for.

  Nora remained silent throughout Kael’s barrage of questions. Her expression didn't change; not even a blink betrayed a reaction. He noticed that as long as he remained this agitated, she wouldn’t say a word. So he forced himself to breathe, to calm down, and to wait.

  Eventually, Nora rose from her chair and walked over to a shelf lined with jars, scrolls, and a simple porcelain teapot with two cups. He carried the set back to the desk with unhurried steps.

  He poured himself a cup of tea first, steam curling softly above it. Then he glanced at Kael. "Tea?"

  Kael nodded, still tense.

  Nora filled the second cup. Only then, as the stream of tea fell in a quiet ribbon, did he speak.

  "No, I'm not part of the rebels."

  His answer struck Kael harder than expected. Not only because it contradicted his assumptions, but also because Nora had actually answered him. Directly. Without evasion.

  "But you're clearly not against them either," Kael pressed, frowning. “So what’s your connection to them?”

  Nora lifted his cup, blowing across the surface with a composed, almost elegant motion. His eyes flicked to Kael briefly but long enough to unsettle him.

  "You."

  The word fell between them like a stone. Kael stared, his features tightening with confusion.

  Unbothered, Nora took a sip and set the cup back on the table. "I help them because our interests overlap." He pointed his finger at Kael with calm precision. "Because you are my interest."