"Every rebellion starts with a single act of defiance. And a really good notebook."
***
The light changed as the forest canopy closed overhead. The temperature dropped noticeably. The trees here grew thick enough to trap the morning's chill.
"Tell me about the academy itself," Lyra said. She'd secured the journal carefully in her bag. "What should I expect? What role will I play?"
"Solamere is politics disguised as education." I settled into what was essentially a lecture. "Four Great Houses compete endlessly for resources, prestige, and social capital. Every semester, they're evaluated on their combined point totals. Total House Acuity. The rankings determine everything that actually matters. Which facilities you can access. Which archives you can study. How much influence your House wields in academy decisions."
I watched the forest thicken outside the window. Ancient oaks and ash trees created a natural corridor for the road.
