Rhea stopped joining field assignments.
At first it was fatigue. Then it was recovery. Then it was permanent reassignment to barrier research—safer, controlled, distant.
"I'm not running," she told Kael one evening, forcing a smile. "Someone has to make sure the walls don't collapse."
He nodded. It made sense.
Tovin Kel was gone entirely. Early retirement after nerve damage finally caught up with him.
Elian remained.
He didn't say much anymore. He didn't need to.
They walked the academy grounds together sometimes, neither leading.
"You're shrinking your world," Elian said once.
"I'm defining it."
"Same thing," Elian replied.
Kael didn't argue.