A knock echoed through the quiet library.
Aria barely looked up from her book.
The soft glow of enchanted lamps cast long shadows across the towering bookshelves, the scent of old paper lingering in the air.
A young staff member of Westward Academy stepped forward hesitantly.
"Miss Aria, I have a message from the president," she said, her voice careful. "She asked me to inform you that you and your brother are to return home first thing in the morning. I couldn't find Mister Alfred, so please pass the message to him."
Aria's eyes flickered with mild interest before she nodded.
"Alright, you can leave."
She waved her hand dismissively, already diving back into her studies.
The staff member hesitated for a second, as if wanting to say more, but Aria was already lost in the intricate runes and diagrams before her.
With a silent bow, the staffer turned and left.
The door clicked shut.
Aria sighed, rubbing her temples.
Return home?
It wasn't a request—it was an order.
