20



It's four days before Elith has recovered enough to hold an official memorial.

By the first night, your arm ached so badly it was hard to think, though the return of any sensation at all was almost a relief. You spent most of the time since in bed as the throbbing pain bled gradually away and color returned to your skin. Elith's doctors looked distinctly ill at ease whenever they visited, but told you their research suggested you would suffer no permanent harm.

Your conversation with Evander after the battle weighed heavily on your mind as you passed the hours in bed. Perhaps it was foolish to do what you did in front of the pride of the Academy and expect him not to notice what you were. Though of course Verity's reveal made it obvious. There was no point in denial, not when he'd nearly worked things out for himself.

You feel more present in your memories of those moments with Evander than you did at the time, with the pain of your injury clouding your mind. It's much easier to recall how you felt than what you actually