“And then I got pulled into a room filled with glowering professors and had to explain everything to them. Then they said they’d talk it over, led me here, and then you showed up.”

Arenya sat on the bench at the far end of the room, Daniel on the ground near the open door. Professor Kazurist sat outside out of sight - he simply nodded when Arenya mentioned she needed the door open if a man was inside with her for Follower rules, and promised he’d do his best not to listen in.

Still, the first few minutes were spent going over information Professor Kazurist likely had already heard, even though he wasn’t on the council. Daniel had insisted on knowing why she was under watch.

Daniel grinned, though it looked a bit forced. “Sounds like the kind of crap I would get into, except I really would have tried to mess with that creep Zander.”

Arenya sighed. “Why are you here, anyway?”

Daniel took the hint and changed the subject. “I was passing through the city because my clan needed me to do some stuff here. Your parents insisted I had to visit you - not that they had to, since I would have anyway.”

“You were talking to my parents?” Arenya wasn’t sure whether she should be concerned or just confused.

“They said they could use some help around the farm now that you were gone, and that normally they’d ask your older friends, uh… I can’t remember their names, but they were funny. Your parents said they called you Tagma or something like that. Anyway, they found me and offered to pay me a bit to tend the trees.”

Arenya groaned, eliciting a chuckle from Daniel. “Mom and Dad knew about the nicknames? The one thing I tried to hide from them. But yes, Bachshesmatz and Tzegas. Anyway, I’m surprised my parents weren’t worried about backlash from other Followers having a demon helping them out.”

“They knew a demon and Follower working together would look weird, but said that nobody they cared about would call them on it.”

“So how are the trees doing?”

Daniel shrugged. “Your parents say they’re doing well, but I don’t know what to look for. They gave me a bunch of apples to bring you, and a letter they made me promise not to read, but the school made me hand in my bag when I entered this building. Once they let you off the hook I can get them to you.”

“You think they’re going to let me off the hook?”

“Of course they are - you don’t do the kind of crap they’re accusing you of. And even if they don’t, what are they gonna do, expel you?”

“They might.” Arenya stared at the floor.

Daniel’s smile faded. “Oh.”

“Not for a first offense, they won’t,” boomed a voice from outside. “Disbarment from being a lab assistant is the worst they could do, and if they try to go that far, I’ll fight it.”

“Didn’t you say you weren’t listening? And are you allowed to tell me that?” Despite her slight annoyance, Arenya couldn’t help but smile at Professor Kazurist’s words.

“I wasn’t, until your friend said ‘expel’. And if I hadn’t been listening, how could I ever answer your second question? No, I am not supposed to tell students what their sentence will be, but this is an exceptional investigation. But since you asked, I will go back to ignoring your words.”

There weren’t many words to ignore for the next minute or two, though, as Arenya sat glumly worrying nonetheless.

“So what do you want me to tell your parents when I get back?”

Arenya started. “I hadn’t, uhh… I hadn’t thought about that. Just tell them I’m doing well in my classes, please. Don’t breathe a word about my getting in trouble or the heavy metal band or -”

The “what?” shouted Daniel.

Professor Kazurist coughed loudly outside - Arenya was pretty sure he’d not been making good on his promise not to listen and needed to mask his own surprise.

Arenya wished there was a mirror in the room, as she wasn’t sure if she’d just gone deathly pale or beet red. “It’s, uhh… Cartalis and I ended up stumbling into a handful of musical students on campus who are into some kind of music called that. I’d never heard of it before. We agreed to help them out with one of their shows and they helped test out my new martial focus in return. I’m not playing with them, of course.” The thought of playing an instrument in the background with them had begun to hold some slight appeal to Arenya, but she could tell that now was not the right time to own up to that.

Daniel sat there, hands covering his mouth. He started to quiver. It took Arenya a moment to realize what was happening.

Arenya bit back a retort and said, “It’s okay, you can laugh.”

“It’s not you, it’s just -” At that moment, Daniel lost it and sprawled on the floor in a fit of giggles. Arenya thanked The One Above that she didn’t need to hold anyone’s skirt down like the last time someone laughed this hard in front of her, though Daniel took a humiliatingly long time to compose himself.

At last, he managed to sit upright. “Just, you know, that’s our kind of music - demons’, I mean. I never in a million years would have thought a straight-laced Follower like you would have had anything to do with it.”

“Me neither,” she admitted. “It was kind of an accident. Just, please don’t tell my parents. I don’t want them worrying I’ve gone apostate.” Arenya shuddered.

“You, apostate? Never.”

Arenya heard footsteps outside, followed by a knock on the doorframe. “Miss Azural, you are to be escorted to the council room for further investigation. Guests are not permitted in during the proceedings.”

Arenya felt immensely thankful that she was saved from explaining anything more to Daniel while Professor Kazurist was within earshot. “We should talk more when this is done,” she said as she stood and smoothed out her skirts. “You can tell me what your clan sent you here for, too.”

Daniel flinched at that. “It’s confidential. I’m not allowed to say any details.”

Arenya frowned. “I… see. Well, I look forward to seeing you when this is done.” If it ends well, she thought to herself as she and Daniel were each escorted in an opposite direction.