Evaline:
Rowan’s brow furrowed, but he stayed silent, listening.
"It started with the Academy entrance exams. You know how I got in?"
"Top of the camp," he said.
"Not just that," I explained. "Professor Kieran... helped . He arranged for to apply. And in exchange, I promised him I would help investigate a secret group inside the Academy."
Rowan’s lips parted in surprise, but I pressed on. "That group was tied to a Soul Death case of a senior from last year. His na was Carson. He was found unconscious, just like Naira. No wounds, no poison. At first, it’s believed to be an isolated case, but... when new term began, a group of warriors went missing and were later found Soul Dead."
Rowan’s throat bobbed as he swallowed hard.
"I coincidentally managed to identify a couple of students tied to that group," I continued. "And Professor Kieran followed up on them, but... they didn’t know much. Barely scraps, and nothing about what caused Carson’s condition. The trail went cold. There haven’t been any new leads since then... at least, none we knew of. Until Naira."
Kieran leaned forward now, his tone level but heavy. "Which ans Carson wasn’t the first case. Naira was. That makes three such incidents in total - Miss Naira, Mr. Carson, and the patrol team of three warriors who collapsed in the beginning of previous term."
Rowan’s hands tightened into fists on the table.
"And the warriors..." Kieran’s voice dropped lower. "I don’t think they were the targets. I think they were in the wrong place at the wrong ti."
My stomach tightened at his words as this was the first ti he had shared this insight.
"That leaves us with the sa questions," Kieran went on. "Why Naira? Why Carson? Was it random... or was there a reason they were chosen?"
The silence that followed was heavy. Rowan finally broke it, his voice firm. "Then I want in. On this investigation."
Kieran’s eyes snapped to him. "Rowan-"
"I can help, Professor," Rowan pressed. "I can look into the group from inside. I can help Eva."
Kieran’s gaze shifted to . I didn’t say anything, but my eyes held his steadily, silently telling him I wasn’t against it.
His jaw tightened, and for a mont, I thought he would say no. But then, slowly, he exhaled. "Fine. But officially. If you are going to be involved, it’ll be under my watch. Not on your own."
Relief softened Rowan’s expression, and when he looked at , there was a quiet smile of contentnt on his lips.
I returned it with a faint smile of my own. I didn’t tell him what I was really thinking... that maybe it was indeed better this way. If I couldn’t stay at the Academy during the coming term because of my pregnancy, then soone needed to carry this on. Rowan could. I knew he would.
The lunch was delicious. Kieran paid for the al in his usual wordless, efficient way, and half an hour later, the three of us were filled and ready to head out.
The sunlight outside was muted, heavy clouds swallowing the brightness, leaving the world in shades of gray. Snow still hadn’t fallen since last night, but the air carried its sharp promise.
"I’ll give you both a ride," Kieran offered, his gaze shifting between Rowan and .
Rowan shook his head almost imdiately. "Thank you, Professor, but I have sothing else to do. Could you send Eva back safely?"
I glanced at him, curious, but didn’t ask what it was that pulled him away. He had already given so much of himself today. Prying would only add to his burden.
"Of course," Kieran said with a soft smile.
Rowan leaned in for a quick hug. His warmth pressed against for only a second, but I clung to it quietly, nodding against his shoulder. "Take care," he murmured before pulling away. He left with one last glance over his shoulder, his figure swallowed quickly by the crowd outside.
Kieran and I headed to his car. The leather seats were cold when I settled into them, the silence stretching between us, not heavy, but thoughtful. My fingers twisted in my lap until I found the courage to break it.
"Can I co with you to the Academy?" I asked softly. "Help you with work if there’s any for ?"
His hands stilled on the wheel for a heartbeat, a flicker of surprise breaking through his usually calm expression. He turned just enough to look at , as if making sure I wasn’t joking.
"You want to accompany ?" His voice was low, careful.
"Yes," I answered, eting his gaze. "I want to do sothing useful. And if it eases even a little of your burden, then I want to."
Sothing unreadable passed over his face before he nodded once. "Alright."
The rest of the drive was quiet, the hum of the car blending with the winter winds outside. By the ti we pulled into Silver Moon, snowflakes had begun to fall, soft and pale against the stone walls of the Academy.
The courtyards, usually filled with students, lay hushed under the early snowfall. Warriors were patrolling with muffled steps, and I noticed a few faculty mbers crossing the corridors with scrolls and parchnts in hand. The silence felt strange, but comforting.
Inside his office, warmth greeted first - the steady crackle of the fireplace, the scent of ink and parchnt filling the air.
"Make yourself comfortable." Kieran told while he made his way to his desk. He moved with practiced ease, removing his coat, rolling up his sleeves, and imdiately imrsing himself in work. His pen scratched across paper, the crease in his brow deepening with focus.
I drifted to the couch near the fire, where a stack of docunts waited. I picked one up - his latest report on herbs and potions - and began reading. The words were dense, full of details and observations, but I was completely imrsed in it.
Sohow, it felt right... being here in this quiet, being part of his world in this small way.
Halfway through the report, sleep began to tug at . The fire’s warmth, the rhythmic sound of his pen - it all made my eyelids heavy. I curled onto my side on the couch, tucking my legs in. I managed two more pages before the parchnt slipped from my hand and my eyes closed.
Just as the last threads of awareness unraveled, I felt it - his presence, steady and familiar.
A soft weight draped over ... a blanket.
And then, a touch. Fingers brushing strands of hair from my face, so gentle it sent a bloom of warmth through my chest.
Even as sleep claid , I couldn’t help the faint smile tugging at my lips.
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