"Are you really sure about this?" Ariana asked, legs crossed, tension tightening her posture as she watched her fiancé.
Adrian didn't hesitate as he nodded in agreement,
"I know what I'm doing, Ariana. Elana needs my support, or she'll end up exposing her origin."
The room was silent—too silent. No students or instructors.
Just the two of them, walls closed, air heavy with the weight of a dangerous truth.
Ariana let out a long, slow sigh, rubbing her forehead.
"But there will be so many eyes on her," she murmured. "And with all these rumors circling the academy… Runebound harboring independent magic users… rogue affinities hiding in plain sight—"
She shook her head.
"Adrian, once she reveals she can use magic without an armament, it'll be nearly impossible to protect her."
Her voice wavered—not from fear of Elana, but fear for him.
Ariana's gaze softened, worry bleeding through every line of her expression.
