The way back to St. Celeste took two hours, and Lucian didn't say a word the entire time.
Raziel never asked for this connection, but here it was, another chain linking him to someone else's fate.
The academy halls looked exactly the same as they had before.
Students complained about assignments, laughed at jokes Raziel couldn't hear, went about their lives like the world hadn't tilted on its axis three days ago.
He watched them and felt the distance between himself and normal life stretch wider.
'They have no idea what's coming. None of them.'
The next few days passed in a blur of tension and silence.
Marius wasted no time making his move, transferring Raziel to a single room in the oldest wing of the dormitory.
The official reason was "a need for spiritual reflection."
The real reason was obvious: it was easier to watch someone when they were isolated.
At least Elijah was out of the line of fire. His old roommate had done nothing to deserve being caught up in this mess.
The new room was small and cold, with stone walls that seemed to sweat moisture and a single window that looked out at a blank courtyard.
Raziel locked the door behind him and sat on the floor with his back against the bed.
He raised his hand and called the light.
It came, but it wasn't the same. The golden glow that had erupted in the Crypt, pure and overwhelming, now flickered in his palm like a candle in a draft. And at the edges, clinging to the light like oil on water, something dark. Something wrong.
A sharp pain shot up his arm and he gritted his teeth, forcing his will against the power.
It fought him, wild and unstable, and for a moment he thought it might tear free entirely.
Then it stabilized. The light held steady in his palm, but the taint was still there, dark threads woven through the gold.
He cut the flow and let his hand drop.
'Something broke in the Crypt. Something fundamental.'
He needed answers, and there was only one place in St. Celeste that might have them.
The library became his refuge over the following days.
He buried himself in old texts, working his way through the forbidden sections one dusty tome at a time, searching for anything that might explain what was happening to his power.
The other students gave him a wide berth, which suited him fine.
The fewer people paying attention to him, the better.
He was halfway through a complicated passage about the first Paladin orders when a voice pulled him out of his concentration.
"Raziel?"
He looked up.
Lara, the Baron's daughter, stood by his table with that expression people wore when they were working up the courage to ask for something.
'What does she want? Did Marius send her?'
"I noticed you've been spending a lot of time here alone," she said, her voice hesitant.
"I know we haven't talked much, but I was wondering if you might be willing to help me? I failed the Priestess test again, and the Scribe material is really difficult."
Raziel studied her for a moment, looking for any sign that this was something other than what it appeared to be.
He didn't find one.
Just a girl who was struggling and looking for help from someone who'd demonstrated he knew what he was doing.
Part of him wanted to say no.
He had enough problems without adding someone else's failures to the list.
But the loneliness of the past few days pressed down on him, and there was something in her honesty that made it hard to refuse.
"I'm not sure how much help I can be," he said. "My own situation has gotten complicated."
"I understand but I could really use a friend right now. I feel lost."
The word 'friend' hit harder than it should have.
He gestured to the empty chair beside him. "Sit down."
They'd barely gotten started when footsteps echoed in the hall, and Lucian burst through the library doors with all the subtlety of a thrown brick.
His walk was trying to project confidence, but Raziel could feel the nervousness underneath.
"Well, well." Lucian's voice was too tight, trying too hard to sound casual.
"The two biggest bookworms in St. Celeste. Don't mind me."
"Wasn't expecting to see you in a library," Raziel said. "Thought you were allergic."
"Very funny." Lucian dragged a chair over and sat across from them, his eyes moving between Raziel and Lara with obvious interest.
"New study partner?"
Lara straightened up. "Lord Lucian, Raziel has been kind enough to help me prepare for the Trials."
"How generous of him." Lucian leaned back, but his eyes stayed locked on Raziel.
"So, how have you been since our little trip to the capital? Figured out what that power of yours actually is?"
'He's fishing. He's scared and he wants answers I don't have.'
"Still working on it," Raziel said carefully.
Lucian lowered his voice.
"Don't play dumb with me, Raziel. I saw what you did in that crypt. That wasn't normal. That wasn't anything I've ever seen before."
"I know." Raziel met his eyes. "I don't have answers yet. When I do, you'll be the first to know."
Lara shifted uncomfortably in her seat. "Maybe we should get back to studying?"
Lucian held Raziel's gaze for another long moment, then stood abruptly.
"Fine. We'll talk later."
He paused at the door, and there was something vulnerable in his expression. "We need to talk, Raziel. Soon."
Then he was gone, and Raziel was left staring at the empty doorway, feeling the echo of Lucian's fear.