The academy halls gradually grew quieter as they climbed higher into the administrative levels. The walls changed here—less decorative, more ancient. Older stone. Older runes. Ley channels carved subtly into the architecture itself pulsed faintly beneath the surface.
Power lived here.
Old power.
At last, Secretary Davis slowed.
Ahead stood a pair of tall double doors wrought from dark polished wood threaded with silver resonance lines. The crest of Celestara Academy shimmered softly across the center.
The Headmaster's office.
The three of them instinctively straightened.
Even Kaelen.
Secretary Davis raised a hand toward the door—
And from the other side—
Anna heard a voice.
Warm. Familiar.
Gentle enough that her entire body recognized it before her mind did.
"…Thank you again for doing this, Elric."
Anna froze.
Her eyes widened instantly.
The doors opened.
The office beyond was less an office and more a private living chamber wrapped around a study. Tall shelves lined the walls from floor to ceiling, crowded with ancient books, scroll cases, and softly glowing artifacts. A fireplace crackled quietly near a seating area of deep chairs and low tables positioned beside wide arched windows overlooking the academy grounds far below.
Headmaster Fenmere sat in one of the chairs, teacup in hand.
And seated across from him—
Was Selene Crestwood.
Anna's mother.
The Empress looked up the moment the doors opened.
And Anna completely forgot how to behave.
"MOTHER!"
The word rang through the room as Anna broke instantly into motion.
All royal composure gone.
She crossed the room in seconds and threw her arms around Selene before anyone could react.
Selene laughed softly at the impact, already opening her arms to catch her daughter easily.
"There she is," Selene murmured warmly, holding her close.
Anna buried herself against her mother without a trace of dignity remaining. "You didn't say you were coming!"
"I believe that was the intention," Selene said lightly.
Behind them, Kaelen and Lara stood frozen near the doorway.
Because witnessing a princess sprint across a room yelling "Mother!" with absolutely no restraint whatsoever was not something either of them had mentally prepared for.
Headmaster Fenmere calmly sipped his tea like this happened constantly.
Selene gently brushed a hand through Anna's hair before finally pulling back just enough to look at her properly.
Then one elegant brow lifted slightly.
"Anna."
Anna blinked.
Selene's smile remained warm.
But there was unmistakable amusement in it now.
"You are still in public."
Anna immediately realized Lara, Kaelen, Secretary Davis, and the Headmaster were all watching.
Her soul attempted to leave her body for the second time this week.
Selene chuckled softly.
"My daughter," she said kindly, "you are not only a student of Celestara Academy."
Anna groaned quietly, already knowing where this was going.
"You are a princess," Selene continued gently. "You must maintain at least some composure in public."
Anna slowly stepped back, face warming. "…Yes, Mother."
"Mm." Selene nodded approvingly. "Better."
Kaelen looked physically injured from trying not to laugh.
Lara wasn't doing much better.
The nymph tilted her head curiously from Lara's shoulder, observing the entire exchange with bright green eyes.
Selene's gaze lingered briefly on the small nymph perched against Lara's shoulder, thoughtful warmth touching her expression.
Then, at last, she turned fully toward Lara and Kaelen.
The shift was immediate.
Not colder.
Not more distant.
But unmistakably royal.
Selene Crestwood rose gracefully from her chair, every movement smooth and deliberate, the soft fabric of her imperial gown catching the firelight as she stepped forward.
Lara and Kaelen straightened so fast it was almost painful.
Anna, meanwhile, looked like she wanted to disappear into another dimension entirely.
Selene stopped before them.
Then—
To their complete horror—
The Empress of Astoria gave them a graceful royal curtsey.
"It is wonderful," Selene said warmly, "to finally meet the honorary knights of Astoria…"
Her eyes softened slightly as she looked between them.
"…and my daughter's closest friends."
Lara's brain stopped functioning.
Kaelen's probably did too.
Because the Empress had just curtseyed to them.
Lara nearly dropped into a bow too quickly, clutching the nymph protectively at the last second before readjusting awkwardly.
"Y-Your Majesty," she managed.
Beside her, Kaelen bowed sharply enough to qualify as self-inflicted injury.
"It's an honor, Your Majesty," he said, somehow both formal and visibly panicking at once.
Selene smiled gently at both of them.
"At ease," she said kindly. "I promise this is not an interrogation."
"That somehow feels less reassuring when royalty says it," Kaelen admitted before his survival instincts could stop him.
Anna covered her face instantly.
Lara looked horrified on his behalf.
Headmaster Fenmere made a suspicious choking sound into his teacup that might have been concealed laughter.
For one terrible second, Kaelen seemed to realize what he had just said to the Empress.
"…I can explain that sentence," he offered weakly.
Selene laughed.
Not polite amusement.
An actual laugh.
Warm. Genuine. Completely unoffended.
"Oh, I like him," she said lightly to Anna.
Anna groaned louder. "Mother, please."
Selene's attention shifted toward Lara then—specifically toward the small Eldergloom nymph still perched against her shoulder.
The spirit blinked back at her calmly.
Selene's expression softened immediately.
"And you," she said quietly, "must be the academy's newest source of chaos."
The nymph tilted her head.
A tiny flower bloomed near Lara's shoulder.
Kaelen pointed immediately. "See? It's spreading."
Lara elbowed him again, though weaker this time because she was still trying to recover from being acknowledged by the Empress without collapsing entirely.
Selene looked amused beyond measure.
"I've heard quite a bit about both of you already," she said. "Anna's letters have become considerably more lively since arriving at the academy."
Anna froze.
"…Mother."
Selene ignored the warning completely.
"There are frequent mentions of market visits, class explosions, illegal pastries after curfew—"
"Those were one time," Kaelen said automatically.
Selene's brow lifted slightly.
"…Mr. Stagwood."
Kaelen slowly closed his eyes.
"…Okay, maybe a few times."
Even Fenmere laughed openly at that one.
Selene gave one last soft chuckle, the warmth lingering in her expression as the room slowly settled again.
Even Kaelen finally stopped looking like he was moments from spiritual collapse.
Then the Empress folded her hands lightly before her.
And the atmosphere changed.
Subtly.
Not colder.
But more serious.
"All jokes aside," Selene said gently.
The words quieted the room immediately.
Anna straightened a little.
Lara instinctively adjusted the nymph closer against her shoulder.
Even Headmaster Fenmere set his teacup aside.
Selene's gaze moved between the three students carefully before continuing.
"Spring break begins in less than three weeks," she said. "Ordinarily, the academy would begin authorizing student travel preparations shortly afterward."
Anna nodded slowly. "Yes, Mother."
Selene's expression remained calm.
"However," she continued, "recent developments within the kingdom have complicated matters."
At that, Fenmere's eyes narrowed slightly—not in surprise.
Recognition.
Selene continued smoothly.
"There has been increased bandit activity near the Kethril Pass."
Kaelen frowned immediately.
Anna felt something tighten faintly in her chest.
Because her mother was choosing her words carefully.
Very carefully.
"And beyond that," Selene added, "the mana disturbances in the Fenwild Plains and the Starglade Marshes have become increasingly unstable."
That made Lara look up sharply.
"Mire mentioned fluctuations in class," she said quietly.
Fenmere gave a slight nod. "More than fluctuations."
Selene continued before the conversation could deepen further.
"For that reason," she said calmly, "the three of you will be traveling south during the academy recess."
Her gaze moved briefly toward Anna.
"To Viremont."
Lara blinked.
Then again.
Selene's voice remained composed.
"You will be staying at the Southern Imperial Castle."
The room went quiet for a full second.
Then:
"…What?" Lara said faintly.
Kaelen looked equally stunned. "The castle castle?"
"There is generally only one imperial castle in Viremont," Fenmere observed dryly.
"That somehow does not help," Kaelen replied.
Selene's lips twitched faintly before her attention shifted toward Lara specifically.
"Miss Grayson," she said gently.
Lara straightened immediately. "Y-Yes, Your Majesty?"
"Your family resides in Viremont, correct?"
The question was polite.
Careful.
Though everyone in the room understood immediately that the Empress almost certainly already knew the answer.
Lara nodded quickly. "Yes, Your Majesty. Near the eastern harbor district."
Selene inclined her head once.
"Good."
Then, warmly—
"You may extend an invitation to your family on behalf of the imperial household."
Lara froze.
Selene continued smoothly.
"They are welcome to visit the Southern Castle during the recess."
A pause.
"And if circumstances require it… they may stay there as guests for the duration of the disturbances."
Lara's breath caught.
Completely.
"Y-Your Majesty, that's—"
"Perfectly acceptable," Selene said gently.
Lara looked utterly overwhelmed now.
The nymph sensed it instantly and pressed closer against her shoulder, tiny fingers curling lightly into her collar again.
A flower bloomed near Lara's neck.
Kaelen pointed automatically. "Stress gardening again."
"No one asked you," Lara whispered weakly.
Selene smiled softly at the exchange.
But then Kaelen's expression shifted slightly.
Thoughtful.
Concerned.
"…No offense intended, Your Majesty," he said carefully, "but my family lives near the Kethril Mountains."
Selene looked toward him immediately.
Kaelen hesitated briefly before continuing.
"What exactly does this have to do with me?"
The room quieted again.
Because unlike Lara's situation—
Kaelen's family was nowhere near Viremont.
Selene's expression softened.
And for the first time since the conversation began—
There was unmistakable gravity behind her eyes.
"As I said earlier," she replied gently, "the situation surrounding the Kethril Pass has worsened."
Kaelen's posture straightened slightly.
Selene continued carefully.
"The Emperor has already begun relocating civilians from several vulnerable settlements near the northern routes to safer regions within the kingdom."
Kaelen stared at her.
Realization beginning.
Slow.
Uncertain.
Then Selene said softly:
"Your family is already en route to the Southern Castle."
Complete silence.
Kaelen blinked once.
Then again.
"…They are?"
Selene nodded.
"The relocation caravans departed two days ago under imperial escort."
Kaelen looked like the floor beneath him had abruptly shifted.
"My mother hates traveling," he said automatically, like his brain had chosen the least important detail possible to survive the moment.
Even Fenmere looked mildly amused at that.
Selene's smile gentled.
"I imagine she was not enthusiastic."
"No," Kaelen said faintly. "She absolutely would not be."
But beneath the shock—
Relief was starting to surface.
Anna saw it immediately.
Because for all his sarcasm and dry humor—
Kaelen had been worried the second Kethril Pass was mentioned.
He just hadn't shown it.
Selene noticed too.
"They are safe," she said quietly. "And they will remain so."
Kaelen lowered his eyes briefly at that.
Then nodded once.
"…Thank you, Your Majesty."
This time there was no humor in his voice.
Only sincerity.
The room settled again after that.
Heavier now.
Because whatever was happening across Astoria—
It was no longer distant.
It was reaching families.
Homes.
Entire regions.
And the empire was already moving people preparing for the worst.