In the academy's second dining hall—the smaller one used by fewer students—a group of third-years gathered around a table, their lunch mostly neglected as they talked about recent events.
"Henrik's still in the medical wing," reported Sarah Vex, a serious girl whose older brother had graduated two years prior. "I visited yesterday. He's recovering but he's taking the whole Derek betrayal thing really hard."
"He should," said Thomas Crane, who'd been on the expedition. "It happened under his supervision. He feels responsible."
"It wasn't his fault though," protested Jennifer, a healer-in-training who'd been helping with expedition recovery. "How was he supposed to know Derek was planning coordinated assassination?"
