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"And I've answered." No. He hasn't.

Caelen steps beside me. "Does it have anything to do with the Hollowborn?"

Father looks at him. "No." Immediate. Clean. Certain.

Something in me tightens.

"Then why are we being told to stop researching it?" I ask.

"Because you have limited time and an active threat."

Father's voice remains calm. "You are preparing for examinations, ward defense and the possibility of renewed attacks. Spending nights chasing archaic phrases through incomplete records serves no purpose." Annoyingly reasonable. I hate reasonable lies more than bad ones.

"We're not under attack." Cassian says. Every head turns toward him. He looks briefly like he regrets existing. Then continues. "Currently." Good correction.

Father's expression doesn't soften. "That is precisely when preparation matters." Also reasonable. Damn him. Rhyven has said nothing. He's standing slightly behind Caelen. Watching. Father notices. "Something to add, Corvell?"

Rhyven's expression remains neutral. "Yes." Of course. "Professor Vayne told us to stop looking." Father waits. Rhyven continues. "If it's irrelevant folklore, why does anyone care whether we research it?" Silence. There. Better question.

Father's jaw tightens. Barely. "Because Professor Vayne is responsible for preparing you to survive an active military threat."

Rhyven doesn't move. "And?"

"And wasting four hours of sleep investigating historical language makes you less effective."

Rhyven considers. Then nods once. Not agreement. Storage. He's filing the answer away.

The Headmaster finally speaks. "The Council's position is simple." I look toward him. "The Heart of Varethia is not relevant to the present Hollowborn investigation." Nyra opens her mouth. He raises a hand. "You have been given considerable freedom to pursue historical information because some of it has proved useful." Considerable freedom. Generous description. "That freedom does not make every unanswered question meaningful."

I look at Father. "Is it real?"

He meets my eyes. "What does that mean?"

"You know exactly what it means."

"No, Eirea. I don't."

"Is the Heart of Varethia an actual thing?" Silence.

Then— "It is an expression."

My jaw tightens. "That wasn't my question."

"It is the answer you're getting." There. Finally. Something honest. Caelen exhales beside me. Not loudly. Angry. Father notices. "Both of you will drop this."

Caelen's head lifts. "Both?"

"Yes."

"And them?"

Father's eyes move toward Rhyven, Nyra and Cassian. "All of you." Nyra looks like someone has personally insulted every book ever written.

"Fine." I say. Everyone looks at me. Even Father. I smile.

"Anything else?" He knows me too well. His expression becomes tired. "Eirea."

"What?"