He reached to a drawer, removed a small, rune-sealed envelope, and placed it on the desk.
"This is for you," he said. "A neutral gesture. No House allegiance. Simply… information."
Coren didn't take it.
"Not a trap," the Archivist assured. "If Adelphi wanted to manipulate you, Coren, we would not hand you something so obvious."
Valenna hissed with private laughter.
He has no idea who he's speaking to.
Coren finally picked up the envelope.
The Archivist bowed—not deeply, not formally, but with the respect given to an equal whose threat is not yet understood.
"You may go," he said. "And Coren… whatever you are becoming—become it carefully."
Coren turned.
As he stepped out, Valenna whispered to him, low and certain:
He fears you more than Feldren does. That is… interesting.
Outside, Mira and Atrius practically collided into him.
Mira grabbed his sleeve. "Are you alive? Did they peel open your brain? Did they ask you for blood? Did they make you solve riddles? Did they—"
