Lucas led them to one of the upper-floor study rooms—the kind reserved for senior students. The place was empty, afternoon sunlight streaming through floor-to-ceiling windows that offered a view of the academy grounds below. Training fields stretched out in the distance, where students moved through combat drills like clockwork.
He took a seat at one of the tables, gesturing for Noah to do the same. For a moment, he just stared out the window, as if gathering his thoughts.
"You weren't there last night," Lucas finally said, his voice carrying none of its usual casual tone. "When Jayden made his move."
Noah settled into the chair across from him. "No, I wasn't."
Lucas nodded slowly, still watching the training fields below. "Then you need to understand something first. About how things work here." He turned to face Noah fully. "What do you know about the cardinal system?"