Spring arrived with an urgent message that shattered the fragile stability Aria had been maintaining. The letter came from Redstone territory, written in Magistra Helena's precise hand but with uncharacteristic urgency evident in the script.
Master Healer Aria,
I write with grave news requiring immediate attention. Thomas, one of the healers you trained here two years ago, has been arrested for performing illegal extractions. Three victims. All for profit. He claims you taught him extraction techniques alongside restoration. That continental protocols secretly include extraction training for research purposes. These are lies, but they are damaging lies that threaten the entire restoration program. Luna Sera requests your presence to testify at formal proceedings. Alpha Thorne has already seized on this as evidence that continental coordination facilitates extraction rather than preventing it. Please come with all speed. The integrity of everything we have built is at stake.
Helena
