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"Continue."

"They looked for proof of war."

"Instead of?"

I think of Nyra's timeline. "Proof of escalation."

The room becomes very quiet. Professor Aldren studies me for a long moment. Then nods. "Good."

He turns back toward the board. "History rarely announces its turning points while they're happening."

Nyra writes that sentence down. So do I. This time for reasons having nothing to do with the exam.

After class, Professor Vayne is waiting outside.

Which is never encouraging. He stands with one shoulder against the stone wall, arms crossed, expression already suggesting I've disappointed him despite having done nothing yet. "Vaelith." I stop. Nyra and Cassian do too. Professor Vayne looks toward them. "Not you."

Cassian sighs. "Everyone says that."

Nyra grabs his sleeve and keeps walking."I'll see you at lunch." I nod.

Then Vayne gestures down the corridor. "Walk."

Apparently today everyone has decided conversation requires movement. "Tomorrow." He says.

My stomach knots."I'm aware."

"Are you?"

"Yes."

"You look distracted."

"I've had a busy week."

"So has everyone." Fair. We continue toward the Dominion wing. "The Council evaluation is not a demonstration."

"I know."

"No, you know there is an evaluation." He looks toward me. "You don't yet understand what they're evaluating." That gets my attention.

We enter an empty practice room. Three chairs. One table. No blood samples. Professor Vayne closes the door. "Blood Echo is unusual."

"Thank you."

"That wasn't praise."

"I assumed."

He ignores me. "Most manifestations are evaluated through output." He raises one finger. "Strength." Another. "Range." Another. "Duration." He lowers his hand. "Yours cannot be measured safely that way." I know. "Your evaluation will focus on judgment."

That surprises me."Judgment?"

"Yes."

He steps toward the table. "When do you enter? When do you stop? What do you report? What belongs to the person whose blood you're touching? And what belongs to you?" The last one lands harder.

I think of memories that stayed with me after Blood Echo ended. Fear that wasn't mine. Grief that took hours to leave. A childhood I'd never lived. Professor Vayne watches my face. "Power without restraint is useless."