"There's a few rooms down that hall that aren't used."

Saryn led the group down the stairs toward the center of what looked like an old lecture hall.

The semicircular rows of seating rose around them, cluttered with crates, fabrics, and scattered supplies.

Dust hung in the air, catching the light filtering through the tall stained-glass windows. The air was dry and carried the taste of old stone.

Saryn stopped at the center floor, leaning against a scarred wooden lectern. For a moment, she said nothing, surveying the group before turning her gaze to Tal.

"You know I'll help, Tal—but what exactly am I helping with?" Her tone sharpened. "You just saw how Aldarath is pushing us. I never expected I'd be dealing with Cerus daily—"

"Who is Cerus?" Erith asked.

"Cerus Viceri," answered Maeric. "The head of King Veneroth's Illuminary."

Saryn's eyes lingered on Maeric before shifting back to Tal. "War comes walking down the steps of the Soliri," her tone was low, restrained.

"And on that same day, you all arrive with a ghost from the Morvathi camp," she continued, motioning toward Maeric. "What kind of trouble are you bringing?"

Maeric turned to the group, lifting a hand as if to steady the conversation. "It doesn't need to turn so dire if—"

"It's bad, Saryn," Rin cut in, stepping forward. "And it's nice to finally meet you. I'm not around as much as I should be—but knowing Tal has someone who looks out for her? I'm grateful for that."

Saryn's hesitation faltered. Her expression softened into a reserved grin as her eyes drifted between Erith and Maeric.

"There are whispers," she spoke with curiosity, "of a boy who was seen fighting Murasi at the camp. Handedly. Let's start there."

"He was the reason we escaped," Rin said, tilting his head toward Erith. "The Captain didn't make it."

Rin took a seat on the wooden semicircular bench, placing an arm against a crate stacked on the bench beside him.

"At first, we suspected the barrier carts didn't fail by accident—that it wasn't just coincidence, having that many Murasi appear... especially in daylight."

He ran a finger along the crates edge, watching the dust part from the wood.

"But when someone came after Maeric, it became clear this wasn't an accident.

Saryn's expression shifted—a subtle confirmation taking shape.

"The world speaks in fear of Loradun," she murmured. "As if we alone can wield Mura. As if we are the only ones who can lure Murasi. The Pining Frost leadership fallen in a Morvath camp—it's more than enough of a spark to ignite a fire."

A stretch of quiet passed between them. Amun stared at Saryn. "Lure?" He blinked. "You can... what? Have those things follow you?"

He caught the sudden change in Erith's face and tilted his head.

"Hey. You alright?" Concern edged into his voice as Erith turned pale.

Did I lure the Murasi... At the Narrows?

He felt sick.

Elian's lifeless gaze flooded Erith's memories—his body slumped among the broken stones, the weight of it pressing heavily against the pit of Erith's stomach.

The pain behind his eyes was unmistakable as they met Saryn's.

"How?"

The hollow echo of Erith's wavering voice carried softly against the forgotten lecture hall.

"How do you lure them?"

"Controlled pulses of Kaida." Saryn said evenly, one brow raised. "Rather large ones if you're drawing the kind of Murasi that hit the Morvath camp."

Erith exhaled sharply, trying to slow his racing heart. "I... I wasn't using Kaida at the Narrows... That climb... I didn't even think to... It couldn't have been me..." his voice trailed off as relief washed over him.

Maeric placed his hand firm on Erith's shoulder. "But.. Hadn't you known? In the forest, I thought you were ready to sic those Murasi on me."

Erith shook his head, his breath finding rhythm again as tension drained from his chest. "I figured Murasi are curious about Kaida. They've shown up before. Thought it was just lucky timing they came when they did."

With a small chuckle, Maeric leaned back. "You had me quite fooled, then. You don't hold back when you think you're in danger, do you?"

"How are you just realizing that?" Amun sneered, sitting cross-legged against his pack on the stone floor.

"The trouble," Rin interrupted, "came with who the assassin was associated with. They had a connection with the Morvathi diplomats in the city... And Erith here paid a visit to their estate next to the Morvathi Embassy to find out why someone was after Maeric."

"One of the diplomats said it was as you said." Erith eyed the faded stained glass as he spoke. "Morvath wanted to spark a fire large enough that Aldarath would join them in invading Loradun."

"I didn't exactly slip out of the estate quietly...How—how good of a wielder is Cerus?"

"Loradun has might, no one questions that, but Cerus..." Saryn paused, her tone reflective. "Cerus is something else entirely. When it comes to Kaida or Mura, his gift is unparalleled."

"During his escape from the estate," Maeric started, nodding toward Erith, "Erith showed a level of wielding that... well, it may have been the most catastrophic anyone's ever seen from another living person."

Maeric crossed his arms, weighing his thoughts before turning to Saryn. "Much of the estate was left in ruin. That is the trouble we bring to your temple."

Saryn's eyes narrowed, surveying Erith as he sat. She closed her eyes, her expression carrying a quiet resignation.

"I wanted to help keep Maeric safe," Erith said softly. "I didn't know how it'd end up... How easily it could look like Loradun lighting the fire."

Saryn took a deep breath and opened her eyes. She looked warm at Erith.

"That's the best any of us can do—keep the ones we care about safe. Stay as long as you need."

She turned to Tal, offering a faint smile.

"Saryn..." Tal started.

Saryn looked toward one of the tall stained-glass windows, where a long crack splintered through a panel of deep blue.

"For the centuries we've spent in the Soliri," she said quietly, "we've never truly known why it was built the way it was. Some say it was meant to observe the heavens... but whatever greater purpose it once had is lost."

Her voice was gentle, no more than a whisper.

"I thought there was more time."

Uneven rays of light filtered through the fractured pane of glass, scattering in broken beams that touched only dust and silence.

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