Anna stepped forward.
Then—
A voice carried through the courtyard.
"Anna."
She stopped.
Not Princess.
Not Your Highness.
Anna.
Kaelen froze.
Lara's excitement vanished instantly.
All three recognized that voice.
Slowly—
They turned.
Kael Draven stood near the academy steps.
His black coat moved faintly in the spring breeze.
Hands behind his back.
Posture straight.
Expression unreadable.
The master of the Obsidian Circle looked exactly as he always did.
Calm.
Controlled.
And somehow capable of making three exhausted first-years feel as though they had just been caught attempting to flee a crime scene.
Kaelen's face fell.
"No."
Lara glanced at him.
"Kaelen—"
"No."
He looked toward the open imperial carriage.
Then toward Kael.
Then back toward the carriage.
"We were right there."
Anna pressed her lips together.
Kaelen pointed toward the step.
"One foot."
He held his thumb and forefinger barely apart.
"I was this close to freedom."
"Stagwood."
Kael's voice carried across the courtyard again.
Kaelen closed his eyes.
"…He knows."
Lara almost laughed.
Anna turned fully toward Kael.
He was already walking toward them.
Students moved aside instinctively as he crossed the courtyard.
Kaelen leaned toward Anna.
"Get in."
Anna blinked.
"What?"
"The carriage."
"Kaelen."
"Tell the driver to move."
"We can't just leave."
"We absolutely can."
Lara whispered—
"He'll find us."
Kaelen looked at her.
"We'll be in Viremont."
Lara gave him a flat look.
"You genuinely believe distance matters to that man?"
Kaelen considered it.
His shoulders dropped.
"…No."
Kael reached them.
His eyes passed over the luggage being loaded.
Then the waiting carriage.
Then—
The three first-years standing suspiciously close to its open door.
His gaze settled on Kaelen.
Kaelen smiled.
It was the most obviously fake smile either girl had ever seen.
"Master Draven."
Kael stared at him.
"Stagwood."
"Wonderful weather."
Lara immediately looked away.
Anna bit the inside of her cheek.
Kael's expression did not move.
"So it is."
Silence.
Kaelen nodded.
"Excellent traveling weather."
Another silence.
"Yes."
"Four weeks of it, apparently."
Anna's shoulders started shaking.
Kael's eyes shifted toward her.
"Princess."
Anna immediately regained control.
"Master Draven."
Then Lara.
"Grayson."
"Sir."
Kael looked at all three.
For several seconds—
He said nothing.
Kaelen finally broke.
"Are we in trouble?"
Kael raised an eyebrow.
"Should you be?"
"No."
Too fast.
Far too fast.
Lara looked at him.
Kaelen corrected himself.
"…Probably not."
Kael's gaze lingered on him.
Then—
To their surprise—
He reached inside his coat.
And removed three sealed black envelopes.
The silver insignia of the Obsidian Circle gleamed upon each one.
Kaelen stared at them.
His expression became one of pure horror.
"No."
Kael held out the first envelope.
Kaelen didn't take it.
"What is that?"
"An envelope."
"I can see that."
"Then why did you ask?"
Lara made a strangled sound.
Anna turned away, coughing into her hand.
Kaelen stared at Kael.
Kael stared back.
Finally, Kaelen reluctantly accepted the envelope.
Kael handed another to Lara.
Then Anna.
Anna turned hers over.
Her name had been written neatly across the front.
She looked up.
"What are these?"
Kael clasped his hands behind his back again.
"Your spring recess assignments."
Kaelen's soul left his body.
Silence.
Absolute—
Devastating—
Silence.
Lara slowly looked down at her envelope.
Then toward Kaelen.
Kaelen stared into nothing.
Anna blinked.
"…Assignments?"
Kael nodded.
Kaelen whispered—
"No."
Kael looked at him.
"No?"
Kaelen immediately straightened.
"I said… oh."
Lara's lips disappeared between her teeth.
Anna's face was turning red.
Silence.
One second.
Two.
Three.
Kaelen slowly lowered his gaze toward the black envelope in his hands.
Four weeks.
Four beautiful weeks.
Gone.
Lara looked at her own envelope as though opening it might somehow make the situation worse.
Anna finally managed—
"Master Draven, how much are we expected to—"
A sound interrupted her.
Small at first.
Barely more than a breath.
"…Heh."
Anna stopped.
Lara blinked.
Kaelen slowly raised his head.
Kael's mouth twitched.
Once.
Then again.
His shoulders moved.
Kaelen's eyes narrowed.
"…Sir?"
Kael broke.
A deep—
Loud—
Completely unrestrained laugh burst from him.
"HAHAHAHAHA!"
All three stared.
Kael threw his head back, one hand pressing against his stomach as a hearty laugh rolled across the courtyard.
Students nearby turned.
Several members of the academy staff stopped what they were doing.
Even the imperial servants loading the carriage glanced toward him.
Because Kael Draven—
The composed, severe, perpetually unreadable leader of the Obsidian Circle—
Was laughing.
Not chuckling.
Not smiling.
Laughing.
Hard.
"HAHAHA—!"
Kaelen stared at him in absolute disbelief.
Lara's mouth had fallen open.
Anna looked as though she'd just witnessed one of Celestara's towers stand up and walk away.
Kael tried to compose himself.
Failed.
He looked at Kaelen's expression—
And immediately started laughing again.
"Oh, gods—"
He wiped at one eye.
"Your face."
Kaelen's jaw dropped.
"My—"
Another laugh escaped Kael.
"Your face!"
Lara looked at Kaelen.
That was a mistake.
Because Kaelen genuinely looked devastated.
She broke too.
A snort escaped her.
Then another.
"Don't."
Kaelen pointed at her.
"Don't you dare."
Lara turned away, shoulders shaking.
Anna was beginning to understand.
Her eyes dropped toward the envelope.
Then slowly lifted back to Kael.
"…There aren't assignments in these."
Kael finally managed to get himself under control.
He drew in a long breath.
"No."
Kaelen froze.
"What?"
Kael smiled.
Actually smiled.
A broad, thoroughly satisfied smile.
"I'm joking."
Silence.
Kaelen stared at him.
Lara stared at him.
Anna stared at him.
Kaelen's voice came dangerously quiet.
"…Joking."
"Yes."
"You…"
He pointed at Kael.
"…made a joke."
Kael nodded.
"I occasionally do."
"No, you don't."
"I just did."
"You don't get to do that!"
Kael raised an eyebrow.
"Apparently I do."
Lara burst out laughing.
Kaelen spun toward her.
"This isn't funny!"
"It absolutely is!"
"I thought my recess was gone!"
Anna finally lost the battle too.
She covered her mouth as laughter escaped.
Kaelen looked between both girls.
"Traitors."
Kael chuckled once more before nodding toward the envelopes.
"Open them."
Kaelen looked suspicious.
"No."
Kael blinked.
"No?"
"I don't trust you anymore."
That earned another laugh from Lara.
Kael folded his arms.
"There is no assignment."
"You just lied to me."
"I made a joke."
"Using deception."
Anna wiped at her eyes.
"Kaelen, just open it."
Kaelen looked down at the envelope.
He narrowed his eyes at the silver Obsidian Circle insignia stamped into the seal.
Then—
Very cautiously—
He broke it.
Lara and Anna followed.
The black wax seals cracked.
Anna slipped two objects from inside.
The first was a folded piece of thick parchment.
She opened it.
At the top rested the silver insignia of the Obsidian Circle.
Beneath it—
Her name.
ANNA CRESTWOOD
Followed by several lines of formal script recognizing her induction as an official member of the Obsidian Circle of Celestara Academy.
Anna's expression changed.
The humor faded.
Not because anything was wrong.
Because suddenly—
This felt real.
Beside her, Lara had gone quiet too.
Her eyes moved slowly across her own certificate.
LARA GRAYSON
Official.
Written there.
Not provisional.
Not invited guest.
Not scholarship student allowed into a place beyond her standing.
Member.
Her thumb brushed carefully over the lettering.
Kaelen unfolded his.
He read the first few lines.
Then looked at Kael.
"This is our membership certificate?"
Kael nodded.
"Officially entered into the Circle registry this morning."
Kaelen looked back down.
Some of the suspicion finally disappeared.
Anna reached into the envelope again.
Her fingers touched fabric.
She pulled it free.
A patch rested in her palm.
Black.
Circular.
Small enough to fit neatly upon the upper sleeve of an academy uniform.
Silver thread formed the Obsidian Circle insignia across its surface, the embroidery so precise that faint warding runes could be seen woven between the larger lines.
Lara drew hers out.
Her eyes widened slightly.
"The Circle patch."
"Yes," Kael said.
He gestured toward their uniforms.
"You'll have them sewn onto your academy coats before returning from recess."
Kaelen examined his.
"Where?"
"Upper left sleeve."
Kael indicated the position on his own coat.
Only now did Anna really notice it.
The same insignia.
Subtle.
Easy to overlook unless someone knew what it meant.
Kael continued.
"Members of the Circle recognize one another by the patch. Most students will recognize the symbol, though very few understand what membership actually entails."
Lara turned hers carefully between her fingers.
"So we wear these openly?"
"Yes."
Anna looked at the patch in her palm.
Something warm settled in her chest.
Kael's expression settled back into its usual composure.
Almost.
There was still amusement hiding behind his eyes.
"These aren't given casually."
His gaze moved between them.
"You earned them."
Lara looked up.
Kaelen did too.
Kael nodded toward their certificates.
"Keep those somewhere safe. If either certificate is lost, replacement requires registry verification through the Circle."
Kaelen immediately tucked his into the envelope.
"Understood."
"And the patches?"
"Have them properly sewn."
Kael's gaze settled specifically on Kaelen.
"Not pinned."
Kaelen frowned.
"Why are you looking at me?"
"Because Grayson will sew hers correctly."
Lara nodded.
"Absolutely."
"Princess Anna will have someone at the palace who knows how."
Anna smiled awkwardly.
"Probably."
Kael looked back at Kaelen.
"You will attempt to attach yours five minutes before returning to the academy."
Lara made a choking sound.
Kaelen looked offended.
"I know how to sew."
Everyone stared at him.
Kaelen paused.
"…I could learn."
Anna laughed.
Kael shook his head.
Then stepped back.
"That is all."
Kaelen blinked.
"Really?"
"Really."
"No secret assignments?"
"No."
"No cultivation schedule?"
"No."
"No fitness regimen?"
Kael paused.
Kaelen's eyes widened.
"Why did you pause?"
Lara immediately started laughing.
Kael's mouth twitched again.
"Enjoy your recess, Stagwood."
"Sir."
"Rest."
Kaelen nodded eagerly.
"Yes."
"Spend time with your family."
"Yes."
"Recover."
"Absolutely."
Kael turned away.
Kaelen visibly relaxed.
Then Kael stopped after two steps.
He glanced back over his shoulder.
"And perhaps run occasionally."
Kaelen's happiness vanished.
"Why?"
"So you don't collapse during your first training session when you return."
Kaelen stared at him.
Kael smiled.
"Four weeks, Stagwood."
Then he walked away.
Kaelen watched him disappear into the crowd.
For several seconds—
Nobody spoke.
Lara looked down at her certificate.
Then her patch.
Anna did the same.
Kaelen finally sighed.
"…I genuinely thought he ruined spring recess."
Lara grinned.
"I know."
"That was cruel."
Anna smiled.
"You have to admit it was a little funny."
Kaelen turned toward her.
"No."
A beat.
Then he looked down at his new Obsidian Circle patch.
His expression softened despite himself.
"…Maybe a little."
Lara laughed.
Behind them, the imperial servant remained beside the open carriage door with the patience of a man who had witnessed the entire exchange and was professionally committed to pretending he had heard absolutely none of it.
Anna carefully tucked her certificate back into its envelope.
Then placed the patch inside with it.
"Come on."
She stepped toward the carriage.
"This time we're actually leaving."
Kaelen immediately followed.
"Don't say that until the wheels are moving."
Lara laughed and climbed in behind them.
The moment she stepped through the doorway—
She stopped.
Again.
Kaelen, directly behind her, nearly walked into her back.
"Lara."
She didn't move.
"Lara."
"Give me a second."
"We have been looking at this carriage for five minutes."
"Looking at it and being inside it are completely different things."
Anna slipped past them with a laugh.
The interior was spacious enough that none of them had to crowd together.
Two long cushioned benches faced one another, upholstered in deep crimson fabric with gold stitching worked subtly along the edges. Dark polished wood framed the walls, broken by broad windows that gave an unobstructed view of the academy courtyard.
Small aetherglass lamps rested within recessed fixtures overhead.
A narrow cabinet had been built beneath one window.
Brass vents sat almost invisibly along the lower walls, carrying the climate enchantment throughout the cabin.
And beneath everything—
A faint hum.
Soft.
Constant.
Nearly impossible to notice unless someone was deliberately listening for it.
Lara was deliberately listening for it.
She stepped farther inside.
Her eyes moved everywhere.
The seats.
The windows.
The runes.
The lamps.
The ceiling.
The floor.
Kaelen climbed in behind her.
"You're doing it again."
"Doing what?"
"Staring."
"I'm appreciating."
"You're inspecting the ceiling."
"There are runes in it."
"There are runes everywhere."
"Exactly."
Anna dropped into one of the seats.
She sank comfortably into the cushion.
Lara watched.
Then cautiously sat beside her.
The cushion gave beneath her weight.
Her eyes widened.
Kaelen saw it.
"Don't."
Lara bounced once.
Just slightly.
Kaelen closed his eyes.
"Please don't tell me you're impressed by the seats too."
"They're really comfortable."
"They're seats."
Anna giggled.
Kaelen dropped onto the opposite bench.
Then paused.
He shifted.
Once.
Twice.
His expression changed.
Lara caught it immediately.
"Oh?"
Kaelen looked at her.
"What?"
"Nothing."
"Don't."
Lara smiled sweetly.
"Comfortable?"
Kaelen refused to answer.
That was answer enough.
Anna leaned back, thoroughly entertained.
Outside, imperial servants continued moving between the carriage and the luggage coaches.
Their travel cases disappeared one after another into secured storage.
Kaelen's abused case went last.
The same shirt sleeve was still sticking out.
Lara spotted it through the window.
"Kaelen."
"No."
"They haven't even loaded yours yet."
"I don't care."
"They're looking at the shirt."
"I said I don't care."
One servant carefully pushed the sleeve inside before securing the luggage.
Lara started laughing.
Kaelen sank deeper into the seat.
"I already miss the Obsidian Circle."
Anna stared at him.
"No, you don't."
"No."
He sighed.
"I really don't."
Lara settled back against the cushion.
For the first time since entering, she actually relaxed.
Then—
She noticed something.
Her brow furrowed.
She looked toward the carriage door.
Then at Anna.
"Wait."
Anna glanced over.
"What?"
"Where are your sisters?"
Anna opened her mouth.
Footsteps approached outside.
She smiled.
"Right there."
Elara appeared first.
The middle imperial princess climbed inside carrying a small leather satchel over one shoulder.
Her red hair fell loosely around her shoulders, catching the afternoon sunlight as she stepped into the carriage.
Kaelen immediately straightened.
"Princess Elara."
Lara followed.
"Your Highness."
Elara's expression flattened.
"No."
Both froze.
Kaelen blinked.
"…No?"
"We are about to spend hours inside the same carriage."
She pointed between them.
"If either of you calls me 'Your Highness' every time you speak to me, I am going to throw myself out of that door before we reach the city limits."
Lara stared.
Kaelen slowly nodded.
"…Elara?"
"Much better."
Anna laughed.
Elara tossed her satchel onto the bench beside Kaelen and sat down opposite Anna.
She immediately stretched her legs out.
Kaelen had to move his boots.
"Comfortable?" Anna asked.
"Getting there."
Another figure appeared at the door.
Unlike Elara—
Talia entered with considerably more composure.
The eldest princess ducked beneath the doorway and stepped inside, her dark academy-style traveling coat immaculate despite the chaos outside.
Her gaze swept across the compartment.
Anna.
Lara.
Kaelen.
Elara already occupying far more seating than necessary.
Her eyes settled on her sister.
"Elara."
Elara looked up.
"What?"
"Move."
"There is plenty of room."
"You are using half the bench."
"I was here first."
Talia stared at her.
Elara stared back.
A beat passed.
Elara sighed dramatically and pulled her legs in.
"Fine."
Talia sat beside her.
Kaelen immediately found himself positioned between two imperial princesses.
He noticed.
Very slowly—
He looked across the carriage at Lara.
Lara noticed too.
Her lips twitched.
Kaelen's eyes narrowed.
Don't.
Lara's smile widened.
Anna looked between them.
"What?"
"Nothing," they answered simultaneously.
Anna narrowed her eyes.
Before she could question either of them further—
The carriage door swung shut.
Click.
A thin line of golden light traced around its frame.
Lara's attention immediately snapped toward it.
The ward completed a full circuit around the doorway before fading into the polished wood.
Then another pulse moved through the carriage.
Soft.
Almost imperceptible.
The aetherglass lamps overhead brightened.
The climate wards hummed to life.
And somewhere beneath their feet, the gravitic stabilization array awakened with a low—
Hmmm.
Lara looked down.
Kaelen saw her.
"Don't."
"I didn't say anything."
"You're about to."
"I was merely observing."
Elara looked between them.
"Is this going to be the entire trip?"
Anna smiled.
"Probably."
Talia sighed.
"We haven't even left the academy."
Outside, a command rang through the courtyard.
"Forward escort ready!"
Another voice answered from farther ahead.
"Imperial convoy prepared!"
The horses shifted.
Harnesses tightened.
The carriage remained perfectly still.
Lara leaned slightly toward the window.
Outside, mounted Phoenix Crest knights moved into formation along the road. Palace servants stepped away from the carriages after completing their final checks, while academy transportation officials cleared the central lane.
Students gathered near the courtyard edges to watch.
Some whispered.
Others pointed discreetly toward the imperial procession.
Then—
The driver gave the reins a controlled snap.
The horses moved.
Lara waited for the familiar jerk.
The pull that always came when a carriage's weight caught up with the horses.
It never came.
The courtyard simply—
Started moving past the window.
Lara blinked.
She looked down.
Then out the window.
Then down again.
Kaelen noticed.
"Oh, no."
Lara turned toward him.
"What?"
"Please don't."
"I haven't said anything."
"You have that look."
"What look?"
"The carriage look."
Elara frowned.
"The carriage look?"
Anna immediately explained.
"Lara's fascinated by the suspension."
Elara looked at Lara.
Lara straightened defensively.
"They're gravitic stabilization runes."
Talia nodded.
"Fourth-generation imperial arrays."
Lara's head whipped toward her.
"Fourth-generation?"
Kaelen groaned.
Talia continued, apparently unaware of the monster she had just unleashed.
"The older systems only compensated vertically. These account for lateral movement as well."
Lara leaned forward.
"So cornering force is redistributed through the entire frame?"
"Yes."
"And the axle arrays communicate with the cabin wards?"
Talia nodded.
"Continuously."
Lara's eyes practically sparkled.
Kaelen stared at Talia.
"Why?"
Talia blinked.
"Why what?"
"Why would you encourage this?"
Elara laughed.
The carriage turned onto the main avenue.
Lara immediately looked toward the window.
Again—
Nothing.
No sway.
No shifting weight.
The world outside curved gently as they turned, but inside the cabin, a cup sitting within one of the built-in holders didn't move so much as a fraction.
Lara pointed.
"Look!"
Kaelen refused.
"The cup isn't moving."
"I don't care."
"You should."
"I truly shouldn't."
Anna giggled.
Elara leaned toward Lara conspiratorially.
"Wait until we reach the bridge."
Lara looked at her.
"Why?"
"The road stones are uneven."
Lara's expression brightened.
Kaelen stared at Elara in horror.
"You too?"
Elara grinned.
"I want to see how excited she gets."
Lara folded her arms.
"I am not that excited."
The carriage rolled across the academy gates.
The wheels crossed the raised threshold.
Nothing.
Lara smiled.
Kaelen pointed at her.
"That."
"What?"
"That smile."
"I smiled."
"Because the carriage crossed a stone."
"Without bouncing."
Elara burst out laughing.
Even Talia's lips twitched.
Anna leaned back into the cushions, watching her friends with quiet amusement.
Outside—
Celestara Academy slowly fell behind them.
Its immense towers rose above the surrounding district, sunlight catching against enchanted windows and silver-lined rooftops. Students crowded the pickup grounds beyond the gates, still boarding carriages and saying their goodbyes.
Anna turned toward the rear window.
For a few seconds, she simply watched.
Celestara had become something different over the past months.
When she'd first arrived, it had been an academy.
A place she was supposed to attend because that was what came next.
Now—
It held friends.
Secrets.
The Obsidian Circle.
Her grandmother's teachings.
Alistar.
Danger.
Growth.
And more questions than she'd had when she first stepped through its gates.
Her fingers brushed the black envelope resting beside her.
Four weeks.
Then she would be back.
But for now—
Anna settled deeper into the seat.
The academy disappeared behind the buildings.
Aeloria City opened around them.
The imperial convoy moved along one of the broad avenues leading toward the heart of the capital.
Citizens stepped aside as the Phoenix Crest riders approached.
Merchants paused beside their stalls.
Carriages yielded the central lane.
Some people bowed as the imperial procession passed.
Others simply watched.
Lara's fascination with the carriage gradually gave way to the city outside.
She had seen Aeloria many times since beginning at Celestara.
But never like this.
From the center of an imperial convoy, the capital seemed different.
The streets opened before them.
Guards at major intersections already had traffic held back.
Phoenix banners fluttered overhead.
The Crestwood Spire rose beyond the rooftops, gleaming beneath the afternoon sun.
And farther ahead—
The Imperial Castle dominated the skyline.
Lara stared through the glass.
"We're going to the castle first?"
Anna nodded.
"Yeah."
"I thought we were leaving for Viremont."
"We are."
Talia answered this time.
"The main convoy is assembling at the palace."
Elara stretched comfortably against the seat.
"Mother refuses to begin a month-long trip without checking everything herself."
Anna smiled.
"Twice."
"Three times," Talia corrected.
Elara nodded.
"Three times."
Kaelen glanced between them.
"How much luggage are we talking about?"
The sisters went quiet.
Kaelen immediately became concerned.
"…How much?"
Elara looked toward Talia.
Talia looked toward Anna.
Anna suddenly found the window fascinating.
Kaelen's eyes narrowed.
"Anna."
"We're staying four weeks."
"That wasn't an answer."
Elara shrugged.
"We're the imperial family."
"That also wasn't an answer."
Talia finally said—
"Several luggage carriages."
Kaelen stared.
"Several?"
Lara laughed.
"How many is several?"
Talia maintained perfect composure.
"We'll see when we arrive."
Kaelen looked toward the approaching castle.
"I suddenly feel much better about my one suitcase."
Lara raised an eyebrow.
"The one with your shirt trapped in it?"
His expression flattened.
"…I was beginning to like you again."
Anna laughed.
The carriage continued onward.
Street after street passed beneath them.
And gradually—
The Imperial Castle grew larger.
Its towers rose above the capital walls, banners flowing from their heights. Sunlight gleamed against pale stone and aetherglass windows while the enormous Phoenix Crest above the main entrance caught the afternoon light.
The convoy turned onto the final imperial avenue.
Ahead—
The palace gates were already opening.
Anna smiled.
Home.