Descent into Forbidden Knowledge

Amberine remained in her seat long after the other students had filed out of the lecture hall. The weight of Draven's last words hung over her like an oppressive fog.

"This is how you defeat me."

It wasn't just some offhand remark. It wasn't even a taunt. Draven never said things without a reason. Every word out of his mouth was deliberate, measured—like a knife slipping through armor in just the right place. The problem was, she didn't know whether it was meant to help them… or remind them how utterly outmatched they still were.

Her fingers curled against the desk, knuckles pressing into the wood.

Across from her, Elara and Maris remained seated as well, neither of them moving to leave. Maris leaned her cheek against her palm, staring at Amberine with that casual smirk of hers, though her bright eyes gave her away. She was thinking, same as Amberine.

"You look like you just saw a ghost," Maris mused.