All Chapters of Ember Academy : Chapter 61 - Chapter 70

"There." The young guard pointed urgently toward a cluster of overturned soil near the garden's stone wall, lantern light flickering across disturbed earth and a scattering of scorched leaves. "We found this not five minutes ago."Sera pushed forward, heart hammering, and knelt beside the disturbed ground, fire kindling instinctively at her fingertips for light.A single silver clasp lay half buried in the soil, Vell's, unmistakably, its edge bent as though torn free in a struggle."She was here." Sera's voice shook slightly as she lifted it carefully. "Fighting. This wasn't willing, whatever happened.""There's more." The guard gestured further along the wall, where a section of ancient stone had crumbled inward, revealing a narrow gap barely wide enough for a single person to squeeze through. "This wasn't here yesterday. Someone's broken through recently, and by the fresh dust still settling, I'd guess within the last hour."Oren knelt to examine the gap closely, expression grim. "T

"Don't touch her." Dorian's voice cracked sharp through the clearing as rough hands seized Sera's arms, dragging her backward despite her fierce, furious struggle."Dorian." Sera fought against the grip holding her, fire flaring hot and dangerous at her fingertips, though the cloaked figure restraining her seemed prepared for exactly that, a cold band of iron closing suddenly around her wrist, dampening her flame entirely."Fire suppression cuffs." Halric's voice carried satisfaction. "Considerably rarer than you'd think, and considerably more useful in situations precisely like this one."Oren surged forward despite the odds, wind and fire combining fiercely as he fought against two of Halric's cloaked figures, but numbers quickly overwhelmed him, and within moments he too was restrained, breathing hard, fury etched into every line of his face."This is madness, Halric." Oren's voice was rough with effort. "You cannot possibly believe this ends well for you.""I believe," Halric said

"The council has reached its assessment." Lord Corvane's voice carried grave formality as the summit reconvened two days later, the immediate crisis finally settled, though its aftermath still hung heavy over the entire academy. "Instructor Halric's companions were, as he claimed, hired mercenaries, unaware of the full scope of his intentions. They will face appropriate consequence, though considerably less severe than conspiracy against this summit would otherwise warrant."Sera sat in the front row beside Dorian, Mira, and Oren, exhaustion still weighing heavy despite two days of recovery, and listened carefully as the council worked through the crisis's formal resolution."Instructor Vell," Lord Corvane continued, "given the considerable danger she endured, and the genuine value of her investigation despite its unauthorized nature, this council formally reinstates her position, with full apology for the treatment she suffered under summit custody."Vell, seated nearby, inclined her

"Hold still." Mira's hands moved deftly, pinning the final section of Sera's hair into place, the dormitory mirror reflecting back someone Sera barely recognized, gown shimmering deep amber, catching firelight with every small movement."I feel ridiculous.""You look stunning." Mira's eyes shone with genuine delight as she stepped back to admire her handiwork. "Dorian's going to forget how to speak entirely."Sera's stomach fluttered nervously as they made their way toward the great hall, music and candlelight spilling warmly through the open doors ahead, the entire academy transformed for one evening into something glittering and unfamiliar.The hall itself had been utterly transformed, floating lanterns drifting gently overhead, long tables laden with delicacies, noble students and visiting dignitaries alike mingling in fine gowns and formal robes, laughter and music weaving together through the warm evening air."There you are." Dorian's voice, warm and slightly breathless, found h

"We need a list." Renna's voice was brisk, focused, as the small group gathered the following morning in a private study room, exhaustion from the previous night's discovery still heavy beneath all their eyes. "Everyone with regular access to that scribe's office, and everyone who could plausibly have known Halric's full plan well enough to continue it.""That's considerably more people than I'd like," Oren admitted, pacing slowly. "Academy staff, visiting house servants, council aides. The eastern wing isn't exactly restricted.""Then we narrow by motive," Sera said, forcing herself to think clearly despite the lingering unease from last night's discovery. "Whoever this is believes exactly what Halric believed. That the crown's prisoner deserves freedom, not continued imprisonment.""That's still a considerable philosophy," Renna said dryly, "shared, I'd wager, by more people than any of us would comfortably suspect."Dorian, who had remained quiet through most of the discussion, fin