Chapter 83
(The Morning After)
The underground had fallen silent.
The ancient ritual chamber stood in ruins.
Broken pillars leaned against fractured walls. Stone that had endured centuries now lay scattered across the floor beneath a thin veil of dust.
Only footsteps remained.
The guards of House Halvane steadily entered the chamber, lanterns illuminating the destruction before them.
Each man stopped for a brief moment.
No one had expected this.
The captain looked from the shattered altar...
To the unconscious boy resting in Professor Kaien's arms.
Then to Mireya.
"My Lady."
Mireya nodded.
"The remaining tunnels."
The captain straightened.
"We've already begun securing them."
"Good."
She looked back at the chamber one last time.
"No one enters this place until Father gives his permission."
"Understood."
The captain immediately turned toward the surrounding guards.
Orders spread quietly through the ruins.
No one questioned them.
Kaien remained where he was.
The mission was over.
What happened beneath House Halvane's land now belonged to its lord.
He had no reason to interfere.
Mireya stepped toward him.
"The estate is close."
Kaien gave a small nod.
"Let's go."
No one objected.
They quietly left the chamber behind.
The journey back was short.
Only a few minutes.
The underground passages that had seemed endless before now felt strangely empty.
Lucien finally broke the silence.
"...So."
No one looked at him.
"...That's all I had."
Nyra sighed softly.
"I figured."
Even Lucien didn't try again.
The atmosphere was too quiet.
Seris walked beside Kaien without taking her eyes off Pryan.
His breathing remained steady.
That alone was enough.
They emerged onto the surface.
Night still covered the land.
The collapsed street had been surrounded by guards, servants and physicians long before they arrived.
Relief spread through the gathering almost instantly.
"Lady Mireya!"
She raised a hand gently.
"I'm alright."
The words immediately eased the tension.
Then every eye shifted toward Pryan.
The estate physician stepped forward.
"He should be taken inside immediately."
Mireya nodded.
"Please."
The gates of the Halvane estate stood open.
Servants lined both sides of the entrance, making way as they approached.
At the top of the stone steps stood Lord Vaelric Halvane.
He looked first at Mireya.
Not at her clothes.
Not at the dried blood upon them.
Only at her face.
"...Are you hurt?"
Mireya smiled faintly.
"I'm alright."
He held her gaze for another moment.
Satisfied.
Only then did he notice the others.
His eyes settled briefly upon Kaien.
"Professor."
"My Lord."
A respectful greeting.
Nothing more.
Vaelric stepped aside.
"Please, come inside."
The servants immediately led them toward the guest wing.
The same room Pryan had occupied before had already been prepared.
Fresh linens.
Clean water.
Medicine.
The physician quickly began treating his wounds.
Everyone else waited quietly.
The room felt smaller than before.
Not because of its size.
Because no one wished to disturb the silence.
Several minutes passed.
The physician finally stepped away.
"There is no danger."
Mireya quietly released the breath she had been holding.
"He has several injuries."
The physician continued replacing bloodstained bandages.
"But none are life-threatening."
"He simply exhausted himself."
Kaien looked toward Pryan.
"...Yes."
The physician nodded.
"He'll remain asleep until morning."
No one questioned the conclusion.
Lucien leaned lightly against the wall.
"...He really overdid it."
Brann folded his arms.
"When doesn't he?"
"...Fair."
A faint smile appeared on more than one face.
Only for a moment.
Then it disappeared again.
Seris quietly walked toward the bed.
She looked at Pryan for several seconds.
"...Thank you."
No one asked who she was speaking to.
She simply stepped away.
Outside—
Vaelric waited in the corridor.
When Kaien stepped out of the room, the lord inclined his head politely.
"I appreciate your assistance."
"It was my duty."
"The physician tells me they will recover."
"They will."
A brief silence settled between them.
Vaelric looked toward the closed door.
"I won't ask what happened beneath my land."
Kaien met his eyes.
"...Thank you."
"I trust Headmaster Aldren Thorneval's judgment."
That was all.
Neither man continued the conversation.
Some questions were unnecessary.
The servants soon guided the remaining students toward prepared rooms.
Lucien looked almost ready to collapse.
"I don't think I've ever wanted sleep this much."
Nyra looked at him.
"You said that after the entrance exam."
"I meant it then too."
Jorn quietly shook his head.
"You complain consistently."
"I specialize."
Even Kaien almost smiled.
The estate slowly returned to its familiar rhythm.
Lanterns dimmed.
Footsteps faded.
Silence settled over the halls.
Inside Pryan's room—
Mireya remained seated beside the bed.
She had intended to stay awake.
Somewhere during the night...
She failed.
Morning arrived gently over House Halvane's land.
Golden sunlight slipped through the curtains.
Birdsong echoed faintly beyond the open window.
Pryan's fingers moved.
A slow breath followed.
His eyes gradually opened.
For several moments...
He simply stared at the ceiling.
The room felt familiar.
He remembered it.
"...So I survived."
His quiet voice stirred the sleeping girl beside him.
Mireya slowly lifted her head.
She blinked several times before meeting his eyes.
Relief quietly spread across her face.
"...You're awake."
Pryan turned toward her.
"...Seems that way."
She laughed softly.
Only once.
"...Good."
Neither of them said anything else.
Outside the room...
The Halvane estate welcomed another peaceful morning.