The Academy met us halfway, and Celeste stayed tucked close to my side. Stella drifted a step behind us, and Skonk looked like a man bracing for a lecture he hadn’t technically earned yet.
Twobble popped into view from behind one of the columns, arms full of something crumbly and suspiciously powdered with sugar. He froze mid-step when he saw us, eyes lighting up.
“Well, look who survived a trip into town without triggering a magical incident,” he said cheerfully. “Should I be impressed or disappointed?”
“Give it a minute,” Stella replied. “There’s still time.”
Twobble grinned and hopped closer, his gaze darting behind us, then to the hall, then back again.
“So,” he said casually, “Details please.”
Skonk coughed, and Twobble’s grin slipped.
He folded his arms over his chest and scowled. “That pause felt loaded.”
I took a breath. “Gideon isn’t at the cottage anymore.”
The silence that followed lasted exactly one second.
“Oh,” Twobble said. “Oh.”
Celeste winced, and Stella’s mouth twitched like she was trying not to smile.
Twobble turned slowly to Skonk.
“I’m not saying this is your fault,” he said, pointing one sugar-dusted finger. “But I’m saying you were the one officially assigned to watch him.”
Skonk lifted both hands. “Before you say anything, I want it on record that I didn’t blink, nap, snack irresponsibly, or wander off.”
“Strong opening defense,” Twobble muttered.
“The Stone Ward kicked him out,” Skonk continued. “Full rejection. The cottage shoved him onto the porch and locked the doors behind him. Miora and Elira didn’t hesitate.”
Twobble blinked. “The Stone Ward? As in, ancient, grumpy, zero-tolerance Stone Ward? The cottage where I’ve humbly spent decades?”
“That one.”
Twobble rocked back on his heels. “Well. That explains the absence. And here I was ready to accuse you of losing a fully grown menace behind a shrub.”
“I resent that,” Skonk said. “There were no shrubs involved.”
Stella stepped forward, smoothing her shawl. “So the cottage disagreed with the Academy’s plan.”
“Yes,” I said, my chest tightening as I finally voiced the worry that had been riding with me since Skonk’s announcement in thetea shop. “And that’s what concerns me. The Academy made it very clear it wanted Gideon nearby.”
Twobble’s expression shifted from playful to thoughtful.
“Ah,” he said. “So this isn’t just a he-wandered-off problem. This is a two-bickering magical-authorities problem.”
“Exactly,” I said.
Bella and Ardetia had joined us, with curiosity written across their faces.
“Is the Academy… upset?” Bella asked.
I hesitated. “I don’t know.”
Before the uncertainty could spiral, Nova appeared at the edge of the hall, as calm and composed as if she’d been standing there the entire time, waiting for the conversation to catch up to her.
