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Someone catches me before I hit the floor. Rhyven.

Of course. One arm around my waist. The other braced behind my shoulders.

"Eyes." I blink. "Eirea."

"I can see."

"Look at me." I do. His face is too close. Not like last night. Nothing warm about this. Fear. Contained badly. "How many fingers?"

"Two."

"Again."

"Rhyven."

"Answer."

"Three."

Professor Vayne checks my pulse. Another specialist watches the instruments. "No reaction from the residue." Someone says. "Magic readings stable."

Good. Probably. I barely hear them.

Rhyven doesn't release me until I push lightly against his chest. "I'm fine."

His eyes remain on mine. "Are you?"

"Yes."

Eventually he lets go. Slowly. Like he hates the idea.

I straighten. My legs hold. Good.

Professor Neris steps closer. "What did you see?"

I look toward the staff. My throat feels dry. "Nothing." Everyone waits. I shake my head. "No. That's what I saw." Silence.

Professor Vayne frowns. "Explain."

"There was no attacker. No person. No creature. No manifestation." I close my eyes briefly. Remembering. "The sound disappeared first." Nyra's quill starts moving. "The wardlight lost color. Aelindra couldn't reach her magic."

My father asks, "Then?"

I swallow. "Something pulled."

"Her?"

"No." I look at him. "Her magic." The room goes still.

Professor Neris looks toward Nyra. Nyra already understands. I continue. "It felt like..." I struggle.

"Like whatever was there wasn't taking her body. It was taking everything that made the space..." I stop. Alive? Magical? Whole?

"Full." Nyra whispers.

I look at her. Yes. Exactly.

Professor Vayne walks toward the crystal instrument.