The library was quiet.
Lucian sat at a corner table on the second floor, a book on advanced spell theory open in front of him. Morning lectures had started twenty minutes ago, but he was here instead.
He'd been waiting.
The main door opened. Footsteps on the stairs. Light. Measured.
Silver-white hair appeared at the top of the staircase.
Elira Frostveil scanned the library, her ice-blue eyes finding him almost immediately. She smiled—slight, knowing—and walked directly to his table.
"Lucian." She stopped beside his chair. "Skipping lectures?"
"Could ask you the same thing." He gestured to the empty seat across from him. "Sit."
She did, settling in with that elegant ease. For a moment, neither of them spoke, letting the silence stretch.
Then Elira's gaze dropped to the heavy book in front of him.
"Advanced Spell Theory." Her lips curved slightly. "Ambitious reading for someone at First Stage."
Lucian turned a page and gave her a slight smile.
"Gotta start from somewhere."
