The healers came quickly, sweeping in with lanterns and jars of antidote. Students crowded the edges of the courtyard, whispering nervously as the three poisoned victims were carried away on stretchers.
Yegr stayed still, the scrap of cloth hidden in his palm. He didn't need to look at it again to know the truth — the silver embroidery matched exactly what he'd seen under Serra's sleeve.
But charging into her dorm tonight would be suicide, politically and strategically. If she was part of the Shadowed Path, she wouldn't be alone. She'd have allies, and some might wear the same Academy crest he did.
Darin appeared at his side, still breathing hard. "You saw them, right? The masked figure?"
Yegr nodded. "Too much smoke to see clearly."
It wasn't a lie. Just not the whole truth.
They walked back through the dim corridors together. Most of the students were still talking about the attack. Rumors were already mutating — some swore they'd seen two masked figures, others claimed it was a summoned spirit.
Yegr's mind was elsewhere. He needed a way to track Serra without her knowing.
When Darin peeled off toward the dorm, Yegr turned the other way, heading for the alchemy workshop. The door was locked, but a little old knowledge of latch mechanisms made short work of that.
Inside, the shelves gleamed with copper scales, powders, and bundles of dried herbs. He found what he needed — powdered glowmoss and a flask of clear binding oil. Together, they made a nearly invisible dust that, when brushed on clothing, left faint glowing trails visible under moonlight.
The next morning, Serra was in the practice yard, sparring with a boy from the northern provinces. Yegr passed behind her in the crowd, bumping her shoulder just enough to brush a pinch of dust along the hem of her sleeve.
She didn't notice.
That night, he followed.
From the shadows beyond the south wall, he saw her silhouette move quickly across the grass, following a path few students used at night. The faintest glimmer of glowmoss dust swirled in her wake.
She was heading toward the old storage tower.
Yegr's hand closed around his dagger. If the Shadowed Path had a meeting place inside, tonight might be his only chance to see the faces that, in his past life, had stayed hidden until it was too late.
He slipped after her, every step quiet on the cold stone.
At the tower door, Serra glanced over her shoulder — then slipped inside.
Yegr waited until she was gone from view, then pushed the door open just wide enough to hear the muffled voices inside.
And froze.
There were more than two. More than five.
The tower was full.