"I rebel—therefore we exist."
***
I cleaned away the blood with a damp cloth. Applied bandages from my prepared medical supplies with hands that had finally stopped shaking. The scar remained invisible beneath my shirt once I buttoned it back up.
But I could still feel its presence. A warm weight against my chest. A secret truth hidden against my heart.
A soft knock at my window made me turn sharply.
Lyra's familiar silhouette was visible against the glass, backlit by pale moonlight. I crossed the room and unlocked the latch. Stepped back as she slipped inside with her usual silent grace.
"Master, I brought the reports you requested on the academy's—"
She stopped mid-sentence.
Her red eyes had fixed on the bloodied letter opener still lying on my desk. Her gaze swept the room in a single motion. Medical supplies. Pink-tinged water in the washing basin. The unmistakable scent of fresh blood hanging in the air.
