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The morning passes through Magical History and Ethics before the final bell rings shortly after noon. Students pour into the central courtyard. Schedules appear magically across the stone notice boards.

Nyra scans ours. "Combat Theory?"

"No." Rowan points lower. "I've never seen that one." I follow her finger. DOMINION Location: Hall of Sovereignty Instructor: Professor Vayne.

Cassian's eyebrows rise slightly. "I've heard of him." "Good things?" Nyra asks.

He considers. "Depends who you ask."

"That is not comforting." Rowan sighs.

"No. It wasn't intended to be."

No one seems entirely certain where the Hall of Sovereignty is. Which becomes immediately obvious when half the first-years begin walking in opposite directions. Fortunately, Varethia has prepared for this. Bronze arrows appear across the stone floor. Students follow them through unfamiliar corridors beneath the western towers.

The Academy changes again. The polished academic halls disappear. The walls become older. Less decorative. More functional. The windows vanish. The air cools noticeably. Torchlight replaces enchanted crystal lamps. No paintings hang here. Only carved quotations in ancient stone.

Nyra slows beside one. "The first kingdom to fall is always the one within." She reads it twice.

Rowan points toward another. "A weapon obeys the hand. A leader obeys the consequence." She pauses. "Why does everything here sound like a threat?"

"Because we're underground," Cassian answers. "Threats echo better."

The Hall of Sovereignty waits behind enormous black doors. There is no classroom number. Only one symbol. A circle divided cleanly into two halves. One dark. One light. Neither larger than the other. Professor Vayne stands alone before the doors. He is younger than I expected. Perhaps forty. Dark hair streaked with silver at the temples. No visible weapon. No Academy robes. Only simple black clothing and leather gloves that conceal both hands completely. He studies each student as they arrive. Not critically. Carefully. As though memorizing us. Conversation fades naturally. No one tells us to be quiet. Professor Vayne waits until every student has entered. Then closes the doors himself. The sound reverberates through the chamber.

Unlike Professor Neris, he smiles. Only slightly. Enough to remind us that smiling and kindness are not identical. "Good afternoon." His voice is calm. Unhurried. "I hope you've recovered from Friday."

Rowan answers before anyone else can. "Optimism is admirable." A few students laugh.

Professor Vayne nods once. "It usually is." Then without changing tone— "Miss Hart." He adds.

"Yes?" Rowan answers.

"Stand." Professor Vayne orders. She does. "Close your eyes." She does. Professor Vayne walks slowly toward her. Stops. "Without opening your eyes tell me whether I am standing in front of you."

Rowan listens. A long pause. "No." Professor Vayne says nothing. He waits. Then— "You are now." Her eyes remain closed.

Professor Vayne smiles faintly. "I haven't moved." The room falls silent.

Rowan opens one eye. "I don't like this class."

"You've been here forty-three seconds." Professor Vayne arches an eyebrow.

"I've suffered enough."

Professor Vayne gestures toward her chair. "Sit."

She does. Still suspicious. He turns toward the rest of us. "What happened?" No one answers immediately.

Finally, a wolf raises his hand. "She guessed." Professor Vayne nods. "Perhaps."

Another student speaks. "She listened."

"Good."

A third. "She assumed."

Professor Vayne's smile returns. "Excellent."