Punishment did not arrive as fire.
It arrived as paper.
Mira learned that early, power rarely burned its enemies publicly. It buried them under procedures, signatures, and decisions made behind closed doors. It erased without blood. Without noise. Without guilt.
The notice was waiting for her when she returned to her room.
Official. Crisp. White.
She stared at it for a long time before opening it.
By order of the Aristella Council, effective immediately, Mira Lawson is suspended from all academic activities pending review.
No explanation.
No timeline.
Just suspension.
She exhaled slowly.
"So this is how you do it," she murmured. "Quietly."
A knock sounded at her door.
Before she could answer, it opened.
Leo stood there, pale and furious, clutching his own notice.
"They froze my accounts," he said. "Family assets. Everything tied to academy sponsorship."
Mira closed her eyes briefly. "I'm sorry."
"No," Leo snapped. "Don't you dare apologize. This is on them."
