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"Are we allowed to leave?"

A pause. "For class."

"Excellent."

"Training."

"Less excellent."

"Meals."

"Improving."

"Assigned duties."

Cassian lowers his hand. "So no." Several people laugh quietly. Needed.

The new quarters change everything immediately.

Not in dramatic ways. In small ones. Nyra and I now walk to every briefing together. Cassian appears in our doorway without knocking because apparently Room Three-Zero-Three is too boring. Caelen steals my coffee at nine and denies it while holding the cup.

Dax and Soren argue through the wall. Maelis threatens to move to the roof. And Rhyven— Rhyven is everywhere. Not intentionally. That's the problem.

At ten twelve, I leave our room for Magical Structures. He opens his door at the exact same time.

We both stop. "Morning." I say.

"We spoke twenty minutes ago."

"Still morning."

He looks toward the books in my arms. "Class."

"Very good."

"You're late."

I check the clock. "I'm early."

"Not by my standards."

"Your standards are a psychological disorder."

He walks beside me toward the stairs. "I'll inform Vayne."

"Please do."

At eleven forty, I return for a missing notebook.

Rhyven is sitting in the common room with three patrol maps open. He looks up as I enter. Nothing.

I retrieve the notebook. As I leave— "Left pocket."

I stop. "What?"

"Your dagger." I look down. The hilt is sitting too high. Loose sheath. Damn it.

I adjust it. "Thank you." He returns to his map. No response. I stare at him for half a second.