Chairman's Office, Astralis Arcanum
The Chairman's office was quiet.
Stacks of documents covered the desk—political reports, supply requests, border tensions, academy logistics. The weight of the world seemed to sit between the three people in the room.
Caelum sat behind his desk, one hand pressed lightly to his temple as he reviewed paperwork.
Across from him, Lucen sat in a chair, arms folded. Seris stood beside Caelum's desk, silent and attentive, though her eyes betrayed the same lingering thought that had hung over the academy for months.
Caelum sighed.
"It's been more than two months since Zane disappeared."
Lucen gave him a sideways look.
"You're still on that?" he said. "Even after you made the public statement declaring him dead?"
Caelum didn't look up from the document in his hand.
