0023

Murmurs rippled around me as the students parted. I felt their stares like claws on my skin as he led me out of the hall.

My pulse hammered louder with every step.

I wanted to protest, to scream that I hadn’t meant to kill them, but my voice was gone.

All through the walk from the hall back to the House, the instructor didn’t say a word. He kept his distance like I was some plague that might burn him too if he stepped too close.

I wanted to ask where we were going, but the words jammed in my throat. It was hard to form even a sound.

We walked down the corridor past the dorm buildings, and that was when we encountered Mistress Lune. She looked at me suspiciously as her silver robes brushed the floor.

Although she was my friend and could almost be considered my godmother, I knew that in a moment like this, she held the authority of the House Head.

“Instructor Varros,” she said, her voice calm but tinged with curiosity. “Why is Juno with you? Classes aren't dismissed yet.”

Var