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"Continuous dragon patrols. Triple ground patrols. Restricted civilian movement during predicted high-risk hours."

"Predicted?" Nyra looks up. "We don't know the hour."

"No." Neris answers. "But all four disappearances occurred between late afternoon and night."

I hadn't noticed that. Nyra had. Judging by her face, she's angry at herself for not saying it first.

"Another pattern." I whisper.

"Potential pattern." Nyra corrects automatically. Good. Still careful.

Professor Neris gathers the papers. "The Council will announce the measures tonight." Then she looks at me. "Do not confuse preparation with certainty."

My father's voice echoes in the memory. Preparation is responsibility.

"I won't."

She leaves.

Cassian returns with three names. One matters. A bartender at The Place remembers Jonas staying behind after most students left. Not alone. Talking to a fourth-year human. Nothing strange. Nothing secretive. The fourth-year left first. Jonas apparently said he was going to finish his tonic. Then no one remembers seeing him again. Nyra adds it. Jonas had become temporarily unobserved. Again. Opportunity. Not proof. But another weight on the scale.

By dinner, the Council announcement is posted.

No assembly. Apparently we've had enough speeches.

SUNDAY SECURITY ORDER. Students remain inside assigned Academy sectors unless scheduled for training, exams, patrol, or Council duty. Civilian businesses operate reduced hours. No person travels alone. Dragon patrols begin before dawn and continue until midnight. All ward stations staffed continuously. All corridor transitions logged.

Every residence conducts hourly accountability.

Cassian reads the notice. "They're going to make it impossible." Nobody answers. Because that's exactly what everyone wants to believe.

After dinner, Caelen walks me back. Not because I need him to. Because arguing requires more energy than I have. We cross the central courtyard. Students move in pairs everywhere. A group of first-years waits outside the library for a third friend before leaving. No one cuts across the gardens alone. Even the Academy's habits have changed.

"I can walk eighty feet unsupervised." I say.

"Congratulations."

"I'm serious."

"So am I."

"You're ridiculous."

"I've been told." I look sideways.

"You've been talking to Rhyven too much."

"Unfortunately."

We reach the eastern stairs. Caelen slows. I do too.

Something about him has been off all day. Not bad.

Just quieter.

"Are you scared?"

He looks toward me. Straight answer. No brotherly deflection. "Yes." The honesty stops me. Caelen rests his forearms against the stone railing. For once he doesn't look like Chief of Dawn Wing. He looks like my brother. Tired. Young.