Professor Raukher Myr—Head of Dominion Academy and Echo bearer of Domination—rarely summoned students to her private office.The last time she did, an entire noble family publicly apologized the next morning.
So when Saphine and Eris were brought before the black-iron door engraved with binding sigils, even Saphine felt a ripple of unease.
The moment they stepped inside, the air changed. Heavy. Sharp.A presence pressed against the skin—like standing inside someone else's heartbeat.
Raukher stood behind a wide stone desk.She was tall and lean, with iron-gray hair tied into a low knot and eyes like polished obsidian. Her uniform was plain—but every fold of fabric seemed obedient.
She didn't raise her voice.
"You've been… very active lately," she said, fingers lightly resting atop one another.
Saphine opened her mouth, but Eris calmly stepped forward first.
"We've remained within formal trial guidelines."
Raukher's eyes slid to him. A faint smile.
"I'm aware of the rules, Mister Vale," she replied. "And yet… I still felt the need to ask you something."
She moved around the front of the desk and approached them, one step at a time—as if measuring the space between thoughts.
"What do you see, bearer of the Grand Gaze?"
Her tone was calm, but the air tightened. Every syllable landed like a hand upon the shoulder.
She glanced briefly at Saphine. "And you… I know the nature of your Echo. The Far Ca—"
"Headmaster," Eris said.
He didn't raise his voice—but the word cut the room in half.
Even the wards hummed as if startled.
Raukher paused… and then smiled, a slow, knowing curve of her lips.
"…Very well," she said. "We shall leave that name unsaid."
She studied the two of them for a long moment—eyes unreadable, footsteps silent on the stone.
At last, she turned her back. "That will be all. For now."
Elsewhere – Northern Courtyard
Aerin Valmont had never seen his shadow shaken.
Not when they survived the Echo Raid of Torn Expanse.Not when they stood within ten paces of a Peak.Not when Aerin's Echo almost killed them both in its first awakening.
But now Meline stood with her back pressed against the courtyard wall, arms crossed pretensively — trembling.
"Meline," he said quietly, stepping closer, "what did you see?"
She didn't answer immediately.Her eyes were far away — as though still staring into the moment.
Finally, she spoke — barely a whisper.
"If I even try to say it… we won't live another second."
Aerin's jaw tightened. "He did something to you?"
She shook her head quickly—not in denial, but in sheer fear.
"It wasn't directed at me," she breathed. "That's what makes it worse. He saw me watching."Her voice cracked."He's already… watching us now."
Aerin remained still. The wind passed between them.
He slowly placed a hand on her shoulder — calm, gentle.
"You've handled worse than most Echo-bearers. If your instincts tell you to stay silent… then we stay silent."
She stared at him… and slowly nodded, the fear easing only a little.
"…Understood."
Aerin offered a faint smile, just enough to steady her."We'll proceed more carefully. One step at a time."
Back in the Headmaster's Office
Raukher stood by her window now, hands folded behind her back.
"You wonder why I've left the wandering Echo untouched."
Neither Eris nor Saphine answered… but their silence spoke loudly.
"It has been moving through the Academy for almost a year," she continued. "Draining blood from students. Small amounts. Nothing lethal. Just enough to remain unseen."
Saphine's eyes widened. "A year…"
Raukher nodded.
"It appeared immediately after an intruder breached the wards. No signature. No flare. A perfect silence. I let them enter."
"You let them?" Saphine asked.
"One does not turn away a knife," Raukher replied, calm and unbothered. "One watches where it chooses to strike. I wanted its motive."
She turned slightly so her eyes caught the lamplight — unblinking, heavy with age and authority.
"But instead of the knife… something else walked in. An Echo without a bearer. A memory looking for a voice."
She looked directly at Eris as she said the next line:
"And now the catalyst has awakened."
Eris remained silent.
Saphine didn't quite understand.Only that the Headmaster had just confirmed everything was far worse than she imagined.
Raukher stepped back behind her desk and nodded toward the door.
"You have one month until the Second Trial. Until then, Mister Vale… Lady Ka'tarel… do as you must. You have my permission to act—within reason."
They turned to leave.
"Ah… Mister Vale."
Eris paused.
Raukher's voice softened… but somehow became heavier.
"Be mindful of what you show.Not all eyes watching you… are human."
A long silence.
"…Acknowledged," Eris said — and stepped out into the hall.
To be continued…