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I feel Nyra become very still beside me. The Headmaster continues.

"Attendance is mandatory." No threat. No raised voice. Just certainty. He inclines his head respectfully toward Professor Aldren. Then turns. And leaves. The doors close behind him. Silence. One heartbeat. Two. Three. Then— The room erupts.

"What qualities?" The question comes from somewhere behind me. No one answers.

"What does that mean, remain at the Academy?" Still nothing.

A wolf near the windows turns toward the student beside him. "My brother said the First Trial was psychological."

A siren across the aisle shakes her head. "My cousin said it involved the cliffs." That answer silences several people. Only briefly. Then the room erupts again. Questions overlap. Rumors form before anyone has enough information to create them.

"Last year, they had to cross the northern bridge blindfolded." A siren says.

"There is no northern bridge." Someone farther answers.

Professor Aldren remains near the front of the room, watching us with the expression of a man observing a predictable natural disaster. He does not interrupt. Not immediately. Perhaps he enjoys this. Perhaps all professors do. Eventually, he lifts one hand. The classroom quiets with visible reluctance.

"Page eighty-seven." No one moves. Professor Aldren waits.

A student near the back raises his hand. "Professor?" He asks.

"Yes?"

A pause. "What is the First Trial?"

Professor Aldren looks almost thoughtful. Then— "Page eighty-seven."

A few students groan. He turns toward the board.

"Today's discussion concerns the political reconstruction following the Age of Silence." No one opens a book. He glances over one shoulder. "Every minute you spend speculating will become one additional paragraph on your next assignment."

Books open immediately. Nyra leans closer to me.

"I don't think he's joking." She says.

"He doesn't look like someone who jokes." I answer quietly.

"He smiled earlier." She says.

"That may have been indigestion."

Her lips twitch. Professor Aldren's gaze shifts toward us. We both look down at our books.

The lecture continues. Technically. Professor Aldren discusses the formation of early alliances, the first territorial agreements, and the systems created to prevent another widespread collapse.

I write everything. Almost everything. Several lines in my notes trail into incomplete thoughts. The first joint council included representatives from— What qualities required to remain? The earliest sanctums were established to protect— Why before sunrise? The eastern territories resisted centralized rule because— Cliffs? Psychological assessment? Both? Beside me, Nyra's handwriting has become smaller with every page. That is probably not a good sign.

Professor Aldren asks a question about the First Council. No one answers. He looks disappointed. "Miss Valenne?"

Nyra's head snaps up. "Yes?"

"What was the original purpose of the Council?"

She blinks once. Then twice. "To prevent regional disputes from weakening Varethia's collective defenses."

Professor Aldren nods. "And did it succeed?"

Nyra hesitates. "Not completely."