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"That isn't about the forest." Rhyven says.

"No." She says quietly.

"Why is it important?"

"So I'd know if something frightened her."

Rhyven holds her gaze. "Good."

Not louder than before. Not more enthusiastic. Just...Good. Mira smiles to herself. One by one, students answer. Broken branches. Loose stones. Bird calls. Animal trails. Changing wind. Some observations are accepted. Others are gently dismantled. Not because they're wrong. Because they lack context. Then— "Eirea." I straighten. "What was your most important observation?"

Easy. "The boot prints." He waits. "They weren't ours."

"What else?"

I resist the urge to sigh. "They're approximately three days old."

"What else?"

"The rain didn't erase them."

"What else?"

I narrow my eyes. "The trail they're following."

"What about it?" Rhyven asks.

"It doesn't lead toward the Academy."

"What else?"

I scan my own notes. Nothing. Again. "There isn't anything else."

Rhyven looks at Tessa. "Miss Pyre?"

Tessa glances between us. Then quietly says, "The person was limping."

I freeze. "What?"

She points to the sketch she'd made. "The left print is deeper." I grab my notebook. She's right. I hadn't even noticed. Rhyven says nothing. He simply waits.

Heat crawls up my neck. "I missed it." My voice is low.

"Yes." Rhyven says.

"I was focused on the age."

"Yes."

I exhale sharply. "You knew." I look at Rhyven.

"Yes."

"You paired me with her because she would see it."

"Yes."

I stare at him. "You're incredibly irritating."