The woman’s stylus pauses.
“We are not removing your classification,” Tomlinson says.
I wait.
“We are redefining it.”
The word sits in the room.
“‘Feral,’ as it has been applied to your file,” he continues, “will no longer indicate instability or unmanaged risk.” A pause. “It will indicate that you are operating outside established models. Not unsafe. Not uncontrolled.” His gaze holds mine. “Unclassified.”
The woman writes that down.
Len exhales once, slow.
Gavin looks at the table, then back at me.
“The system does not currently account for what you are,” he says. “That is a limitation of the system.”
Not an apology.
But it’s the closest thing he has.
Tomlinson inclines his head slightly.
“Your placement will reflect that adjustment,” he says. “You will remain at Frosthaven under a hybrid designation. Limited integration with the student body, continued oversight, and expanded academic access as appropriate.”
Not a full student. Not contained. Something in between.
“You will also retain access to Feral Academy resources and personnel,” he adds. “Coordination between the two institutions will continue.”
The woman looks up. “Dual placement.”
“Yes,” Tomlinson says.
He looks at me.
“This is not a final state,” he says. “It is the most accurate designation available with the information we currently have.”
A beat.
“Do you understand.”
I’ve sat in this chair before. I’ve heard decisions about me delivered like outcomes I had no part in shaping.
This isn’t that.
“Yes,” I say.
Tomlinson nods once.
“Then we’ll proceed on that basis.”
He closes the folder.
The session is over.
Chapter sixteen
