58. Kaia
The dining hall is oddly quiet when we arrive for breakfast, probably because it's far earlier than most students typically emerge. The twins flank me automatically—a gesture I'm trying not to read too much into—as we make our way to our usual table.
Finn's already there, sprawled dramatically across two chairs while gesturing with a half-eaten muffin. His eyes widen comically when he spots us, and he sits up so fast he nearly falls.
"Well, well, well," he drawls, waggling his eyebrows. "What do we have here? A walk of shame from the mighty Agere twins?"
Torric chokes on air while Aspen suddenly becomes very interested in the ceiling.
"It's not—" I start, but Finn holds up a hand.
"Don't try to explain. Bob told me everything." A wave of betrayal washes over me as I glance at my shadow.
Really, Bob? I thought we were on the same side.
My traitorous shadow nods solemnly from his post near my shoulder. Patricia, meanwhile, is pretending to take detailed notes.
"Bob," Malrik's dry voice cuts in as he approaches our table, "is a terrible gossip."
Bob straightens indignantly, puffing up as if to say How dare you?! while Finnick dissolves into silent shadow-giggles.
"You weren't there," Finn says, pointing his muffin at Malrik accusingly. "Our sweet, innocent Kaia, corrupting not one but TWO noble warriors—"
"I had a nightmare," I interrupt, dropping into a chair. "They helped. That's all."
"A likely story." Finn turns to Mouse, who's looking entirely too pleased with himself. "And you, sir, are supposed to be her chaperone. I expected better."
Mouse yawns widely, showing all his teeth.
"Speaking of expectations," Seren announces, appearing with perfect dramatic timing, "I expect details. Immediately."
"Nothing happened!" Torric protests, his face nearly as red as his fire rune.
"Oh honey." Seren pats his arm. "Your hair says otherwise."
His hands fly to his head, trying to smooth down his unruly locks. "What's wrong with my hair?"
"Everything," Finn and Seren say in unison.
I drop my head onto the table with a thunk. My shadows pat my back consolingly, though I'm pretty sure Finnick is still laughing.
"If you're quite finished," Malrik says, somehow making the words sound both bored and amused, "perhaps we could discuss why Kaia had a nightmare bad enough to warrant a twin intervention?"
The humor fades as I describe the dream—the wrong-feeling shadows, the symbol, Thorne's voice. Even Finn stops fidgeting, his expression growing serious.
"A symbol from Darian's notes?" Aspen asks, frowning. "What kind of symbol?"
I grab a napkin and start sketching with a borrowed pencil. It takes a few tries to get it right—my hand keeps shaking—but finally I have a rough approximation of what I saw. Three curved lines intersect with what looks like a twisted tree.
The moment I finish, Mouse hisses. Malrik goes very still.
"What?" I look between them. "What is it?"
"That's..." Malrik's voice is carefully neutral. "That's not just any symbol. It's the mark of Absentia—my realm."
"Why would your realm be in my dream?" I hated how my voice trembled, betraying the unease crawling under my skin.
But before he can answer, Alenya's voice rings out across the dining hall, sharp with malice.
"Well, isn't this cozy? Playing breakfast club this morning are we? Although I don’t remember monsters in that movie."
Finn's eyes narrow. "Speaking of monsters—"
"Don't," Aspen warns quietly.
I straighten in my chair, fighting the urge to let my shadows lash out at her smug face. "Did you need something, Alenya? Besides attention?"
Her smile turns cruel. "Oh, I just thought you should know—Professor Thorne's looking for you. Something about... special training."
The way she says it makes my skin crawl. Or maybe it's the memory of his voice from my dream: They were never truly yours.
"Tell him I'm busy," I say, but Alenya's already sauntering away, clearly pleased with herself. My shadows starting to chase after her like a small militant group, but I reign them in.
"I don't like it," Torric growls. The air around him feels warmer than usual.
"You don't like anything," Finn points out, but he's watching Alenya's retreating form with unusual focus. "Though in this case, I agree. Something's off."
"The symbol," Malrik says, tapping the napkin. "We need to research this. Now."
"What, all of us?" I ask.
"Safety in numbers," Aspen says firmly. "Besides, if Thorne's looking for you..."
"We make sure he doesn't find you alone," Torric finishes.
Mouse growls his approval while Bob snaps into what can only be described as a tactical formation. Even Finnick manages to look serious for once.
"Fine," I sigh. "To the library we go. But Finn?"
"Hmm?"
"If you make one more comment about the twins in my room, I'm letting Bob eat your lunch."
Bob perks up hopefully.
"So cruel," Finn sighs, pressing a hand to his heart. "I love it."
I shake my head and try to cover the smile on my face but it’s really useless at this point. “Alright, Let’s go.”
The weight of the napkin in my hands feels heavier than it should. If Malrik’s realm is tied to this, the answers can’t wait. And neither can we.