That afternoon, Kai made his way to the headmaster's office with a deliberate pace, the tension in his shoulders betraying his calm expression. Gaining permission to bring someone like Kleo onto academy grounds wasn't just a courtesy, it was a risk. One he wasn't sure would be granted.
To his surprise, Headmaster Lorin agreed with a warm smile and just a single, strange look.
"Kleo, was it?" she asked, eyes glinting unnaturally. "Very well. For one day only. Do try not to get into trouble."
Kai bowed slightly, hiding the discomfort in his chest. Something felt off. But he shoved it aside.
That night, as moonlight spilled across the courtyard, Kai found Kleo just outside the academy's eastern wall. She wore her usual cloak, patched and hooded, and kept to the shadows like a reflex.
"You sure about this?" she asked, peering at the grand building looking over the walls being Kai.
"I got permission," Kai said. "And for what we're going to be doing, we won't get caught."
