The hallway leading to Principal Egan's office felt like a mile long stretch, each footstep echoing off the hard marble floor.

My stomach churned with every tick of the wall clock as I sat down on a single bench in the waiting room, the second hand dragging each moment into a mini eternity. I glanced at Willis, whose posture was rigid, his jaw clenched and eyes glued to the glass door ahead of us as he stood in the corner with his arms crossed.

And there she was, Principal Egan, sitting behind the desk behind the door. She was a picture of elegance and authority, even as a civilian. Her unique platinum-colored hair, the color of moonlight, was done up in a chic bun. Her striking blue eyes were piercing, reflecting the sunlight that streamed through the window.

She was the first Magical Girl I’d met who had a near-identical appearance between her transformed and civilian form, but it was hard to reconcile the authoritative figure before us with the frilly magical girl we’d seen yesterday.

We were here because of our brawl, because we'd been stupid enough to let our anger control us, to bring the fight to the school grounds. Willis and I, we'd shared many tense moments, but the silence in the waiting room was a whole different level.

Willis shot me a sideways glance, his purple eyes narrowed. "Slumdweller trash," he spat, breaking the silence as he touched a cut over his left eyebrow.

I didn't rise to the bait. "Just shut up already, Willis." I sighed, rubbing my temples. The last thing I needed was another spat with him.

Before he could respond, the intercom buzzed and Principal Egan's voice filtered into the room, "You may enter now."

We rose from our seats, our shoulders brushing slightly. Willis quickly pulled away as if he'd been touched by a live wire. I repressed a chuckle. His cocky demeanor was absent, replaced with a solemn, nervous look I'd rarely seen.

As the door creaked open, we stepped into the lion's den, the room filled with an oppressive aura. The sunlight filtered through the blinds, the beams of light reflecting off Principal Egan's extraordinary hair. She gestured us to the seats opposite her desk, her sapphire blue eyes staring at us with a keen seriousness.

"Willis and Ikazuchi," she began, her voice stern and authoritative, "we have a bit to discuss."

The tension in the room grew thicker, our lives hanging by a thread. We were about to face the wrath of not just a principal, but a Magical Girl. Whatever was going to happen next was anybody's guess. As I braced myself for her words, a grim thought echoed in my mind:

'We're definitely not getting off easy.'

And then, she spoke.

"I must stress — we are not merely educating you academically at Saint Antonia’s," Principal Egan started, steepling her fingers in front of her. "We are cultivating individuals who will carry the future of Terra on their shoulders, and in Ikazuchi’s case, our sister planet as well. Now, tell me, boys, does your behavior reflect the responsibility you have been trusted with?"

Neither of us answered. It wasn't a question that needed an answer.

"I thought not." She said, her eyes cold. "Your fight caused substantial damage to school property, not to mention the harm you could have caused to your fellow students had we been less fortunate."

"I didn't start it," I interjected, only to be met with a stern glare from the Principal.

"And yet you participated and swung back with intent, did you not?" Egan shot back. I had no answer to that, and the silence stretched on, punctuated only by the distant sounds of the school outside.

"Principal Egan, I…" Willis began, only to be cut off.

"And Mr. Kong, you are part of a renowned family, and with that comes responsibilities and expectations. And Ikazuchi, being from Earth and attending this school, you too are expected to represent your home with dignity and respect," Egan continued, her gaze never wavering from us. "I am deeply disappointed with both of you. Your actions yesterday were irresponsible and reckless. Your personal quarrels and prejudices have no place being strewn on full display here."

She paused, studying our faces. Surprisingly, I could see regret in Willis’s eyes out of the corner of my eye.

"The situation with Miss Zamir, and your respective sisters," Egan finally continued, "is a complex one. I have pieced together what happened based on available information, and I understand that it has caused significant tension. But it's no excuse for what transpired here. If anything, you should be supporting each other during these trying times, not tearing each other apart."

Willis scowled at the floor, avoiding Egan's gaze. I kept my eyes fixed on the Principal, the gears in my head turning as I tried to process her words. She was right, of course. But it was more complicated than that. My world had been torn apart in the span of a week, and I relished in a chance to finally fight back against Willis.

Principal Egan didn't give me a chance to voice these thoughts. Instead, she leaned back in her chair, her gaze hardened like a diamond as she continued speaking. "Your behavior and actions reflect on this institution, and as such, they should ever be above reproach," she stressed. "The repercussions of a magic-fueled brawl extend beyond the physical damage caused. It undermines the values we hold dear at St. Antonia's Academy, and it jeopardizes the safety and well-being of every student here."

"Understand this," Egan's voice turned icier, "no matter the reasons, no matter the circumstances, no individual or personal feud can justify jeopardizing the peace and safety of this institution writ large. And Mister Kong? Your father has asked me to inform you during our meeting that you will be paying for the damages directly out of your trust. Your allotted allowance will be cut to a twentieth of what it was until what is owed to the school has been repaid entirely."

Willis, I noticed, had turned an interesting shade of pale, his knuckles white as he clenched his fists on his lap.

“Figures he wouldn’t have told me directly himself," Willis muttered, his face twisting into a scowl.

Egan looked Willis squarely in the eyes, her expression softened. "Sometimes, Mr. Kong, the people who seem to care the least are the ones who care the most.”

"Save it. I don't need lectures about my family," Willis spat, the bitterness in his voice palpable.

The air turned chilly, Principal Egan's demeanor shifting subtly. "That was not a lecture, Mr. Kong. It was a fact. Now, I would appreciate it if you acknowledged your actions and accepted the consequences gracefully," she said, a glacial calmness settling in her voice.

Willis scoffed, his purple eyes glinting with a sudden, defiant fire.

"I do not require a display of my powers to make a point, Mr. Kong," Principal Egan's voice carried an edge of finality. "Your actions have consequences. Learn to deal with them."

Willis scowled, but stayed silent. His gaze darted towards the floor, his hands clenched into fists on his lap.

The moment stretched, the air in the room taut like a drawn bowstring. Then Principal Egan turned her gaze towards me, her sapphire eyes softening slightly.

"Ikazuchi," she started, her tone mellowing. "I am not blind to your achievements. Despite the tumultuous events of late, your aggregate performance places you at the forefront of your class. Surpassed only by Caroline Kong in your year and cohort."

My eyebrows shot up in surprise. Sure, I'd worked hard, but I didn't think the principal would bring them up in this setting. I hadn’t even had a chance to pay attention to my performance with all the craziness that’d been going on.

Willis's reaction was more pronounced. His head snapped up, a flicker of surprise passing over his face before it was quickly replaced with a snarl.

“And while I do recognize your efforts," she continued, her gaze stern, "they do not exempt you from adhering to the codes of conduct established by this institution. Registered Support Cadet or not, we are still bound by rules and decorum in our interactions with one another."

She paused, letting her words sink in. Then she got up from her chair and started pacing around her office, her hands folded behind her back. Willis and I exchanged a glance, an unspoken question hanging between us. What was she getting at?

"Am I making myself clear, boys?" she finally asked, halting in front of the tall glass window overlooking the school grounds.

We nodded in sync, even though there was a lump forming in my throat. I had the distinct feeling we were about to find out our punishment.

"Good," she turned back towards us, her face set in an inscrutable expression. "I trust this matter will not repeat itself."

"It won’t,” Willis grumbled, his gaze fixated on the floor. "I promise, Principal Egan."

"And you, Ikazuchi?" She turned her attention to me.

"Yes, Principal Egan. I understand."

She gave us both a curt nod before returning to her chair. As she sat down, her gaze lingered on Willis for a moment before she finally spoke.

"Willis, you may leave now."

Willis blinked, looking up at Principal Egan with a surprised expression on his face. "Wait, that's it?"

"Did I stutter, Mr. Kong? I still have things to discuss with your colleague."

"N-no, ma'am," Willis stuttered before hastily getting to his feet, a confused look on his face. He shot me one last scowl before he exited the office, leaving me alone with Principal Egan.

The lump in my throat got bigger, my palms beginning to sweat. What could she possibly want to discuss with me alone? Maybe I was in more trouble than I thought.

"In spite of everything," she began, her gaze never leaving mine, "I hope you are aware of your position here. You’re not an ordinary student, Ikazuchi. And in spite of the chaos surrounding us, you've shown commendable progress and potential.”

Wait, was she complimenting me?

"I-" I stuttered, thrown off by the unexpected compliment. "Thank you, Principal Egan."

She smiled, a small curve of the lips that felt more genuine than anything I'd seen from her so far. "You're welcome, Ikazuchi. It's important to acknowledge effort, even in these trying times."

"Yes, ma'am," I responded, a strange feeling of pride swelling in my chest despite the circumstances.

"Very well," she said, leaning back in her chair. There was a peculiar gleam in her eyes, one I couldn't quite decipher. "The meeting ends here then. Now, there is one more thing…"

I perked up, opening my mouth to ask her what she meant, but the rhythmic thumping of a percussion instrument and the sound of approaching footsteps reached my ears. I blinked, looking around the room before staring at Principal Egan in confusion. But she just smirked, tilting her head to the side as the noises grew louder. Were those… bongos?!

I scanned the room, curiosity growing with every beat of the bongos. Where were the sounds coming from? There was a strange, almost mystical aura emanating from a corner of the room. My gaze was drawn towards a towering bookcase filled with numerous books of varying sizes and colors.

Suddenly, there was a soft click and the entire bookcase shifted sideways to reveal a hidden passage. Out of it emerged a figure, one that carried an aura that commanded the room instantly. Tall and lanky with a mane of wild, silky black hair, she sauntered into the room with a confident stride. The newcomer was a woman of middling height, her face obscured by a broad-brimmed hat. She carried herself with an air of confidence and casual charisma. A pair of bongo drums hung from her shoulders over a fanny pack, hinting at an eccentricity that was somehow both surprising and expected.

Dressed in a... green and yellow polka dot(?!) lab coat and slacks, she looked nothing like the usual staff around here. An oddly shaped pendant hung from her neck, bouncing with every step she took. Her auburn eyes, behind round sunglasses, twinkled with a peculiar mischief as they scrutinized me.

"Ah, so, this is your latest troublemaker?" she mused aloud, her tone light yet with an undercurrent of something I couldn't place. Her accent was unusual, something not native to Earth at least. She had a peculiar lilt that was captivating, and her voice held an enthusiastic energy that resonated around the room.

"Hey now," I protested, a defensive edge creeping into my voice. "I wouldn't exactly call myself a troublemaker..."

She ignored me, circling around to scrutinize me. I felt like a bug under a microscope, her gaze assessing and probing. She hummed thoughtfully, her eyes gleaming with curiosity as she continued her examination.

If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it.

"Interesting," she finally muttered, taking a step back. "Very interesting indeed."

"Interesting? I'm not sure I follow," I said, my voice filled with apprehension and curiosity. "Are you a new teacher or something?"

The mysterious woman chuckled, the sound light and infectious. "Or something indeed," she replied cryptically, the hint of a smile playing on her lips.

Her cryptic response didn't offer much clarity, but I wasn't surprised. The school was full of eccentrics, and I figured she was just another addition to the roster.

Her gaze returned to mine, her eyes narrowing slightly as she studied me. It was slightly unnerving, being under such intense scrutiny, but I did my best to keep my composure. Principal Egan watched this unfold, her face betraying no emotion, although I detected a hint of amusement in her eyes.

Finally, the woman stopped her examination and turned to Principal Egan, seemingly satisfied with her findings. "I think you've made a good choice calling me in, Samantha," she said, a note of approval in her voice.

I frowned, my confusion deepening. What choice was she talking about? But before I could voice my question, Principal Egan cleared her throat, drawing our attention.

"Before I introduce our guest," Egan said, her tone formal, "let me clarify why I asked you to remain here, Ikazuchi."

Her words sent a chill down my spine, my heartbeat quickening. I braced myself for whatever was coming next.

She gestured towards the woman who had somehow barged in through a secret entrance. As I turned to face her, I saw her grinning broadly, her eyes alight with a mischievous glint.

"Meet your new mentor and club faculty advisor," Egan announced, the corners of her mouth tugging upwards slightly in an almost-smile. "She is here to guide you, to help you hone your abilities, and to provide advice regarding your personal situation.

I stared at the woman, my mind spinning. A new mentor? Faculty Advisor?

"Wait, what?" I asked, finally finding my voice.

“Hello, hello! So, I see you’re quite befuddled. To expound further, I was one of the humble minds sponsoring your team from the shadows. I do have to say, entrusting Project Raiju to the St. Antonia’s Robotics Club by certain parties was a very interesting call.”

She turned toward the window, seemingly staring at empty air. “Oh you sly old bat and your bag of tricks. Having little ol’ me here makes it more fun, does it not?”

She winked at the window, and as the words slipped from her lips, the room felt like it had been plunged into ice. It was as if the air had been sucked out, leaving me scrambling for breath. As quickly as the feeling came, it vanished.

The woman continued her strange assessment of the window, her lips quirked in a wry, secretive smile. It was unnerving, the ease with which she seemed to know something that was hidden from the rest of us.

Principal Egan, on the other hand, remained impassive, her eyes flitting back and forth between the woman and me. There was something hidden behind her stoic gaze, a mystery that was beginning to unfold.

As if sensing my confusion, the woman turned to me, her gaze sharp behind her glasses. There was an odd sort of intensity about her, a curiosity that was both intriguing and terrifying.

"Ah, forgive me, dear," she said, a strange note of amusement coloring her words. "Sometimes, I forget that not everyone is privy to my musings."

She then casually spun the drumstick in her hand, her eyes never leaving mine. "So! You must be Ikazuchi, then?" she finally asked, her tone as light as a feather.

I nodded, swallowing the lump in my throat. "Yes, I am."

A moment passed, and then she was moving, her steps calculated and precise. She stopped right before me, her gaze piercing through mine as she extended a hand.

"I am Ofey," she said, her voice low and soft. "Ofey Phillips. And as our dear principal here has mentioned, I am your new mentor and club faculty advisor. I had a hand or two in the creation of the Raiju project, and I see you kids have taken it in a rather fascinating direction."

My hand instinctively reached out, meeting her in a firm shake. Her grip was strong, surprisingly so for someone who looked so slender and ethereal. Her skin was cool to the touch, a stark contrast to the warm, welcoming smile she wore.

"Nice to meet you, Ofey," I replied, releasing her hand.

She chuckled, the sound like a chime in the tense room. "Likewise, dear."

But as I withdrew my hand, I felt a strange sense of unease creep over me. Ofey. Ofey Phillips. The name echoed in my mind, a puzzle piece that fit but didn't belong.

Why did it sound so familiar?

My thoughts were interrupted by Principal Egan, who cleared her throat and regained our attention. She sat up straighter in her chair, her hands folded neatly on the desk in front of her.

"I hope you understand the significance of this arrangement, Ikazuchi," she began, her gaze firm and unyielding. "Doct- erm, Ofey is a...unique individual. She has a wealth of knowledge and experience in magitech that is unparalleled, and I believe her guidance will be invaluable to your growth."

As Principal Egan spoke, I couldn't help but glance at Ofey, who was now studying her nails with an air of disinterest. But there was a glint in her eye that told me she was far from bored.

"I understand, Principal Egan," I said, snapping out of my reverie. "I will do my best to learn from her."

Ofey finally looked up, her lips curling into a small smile. "I am sure you will, dear," she said, her eyes twinkling. "And I am sure we'll have plenty of fun while we're at it."

As Ofey spoke, I felt a strange surge of hope. Maybe, just maybe, this strange arrangement wouldn't be so bad after all. Ofey was odd, yes, but there was something undeniably captivating about her.

She was undoubtedly eccentric, but something about her left me feeling hopeful. It was as if her very presence hinted at untapped possibilities, undiscovered secrets. There was an air of mystery surrounding her, but not the kind that induced fear. Rather, it was the kind of mystery that invoked intrigue, the kind that piqued one's curiosity and stirred the thrill of the chase.

"Thank you, Ofey," Principal Egan said, her voice pulling me out of my musings. Ofey, now standing by the principal's desk, flashed a brilliant smile, one that seemed to light up the room.

"Always a pleasure, Egan," Ofey replied, the corners of her eyes crinkling as she smiled. Then she turned to me, her smile softening. "I'm looking forward to working with you, Ikazuchi. Ikki, is it?"

I nodded, a slight tremble in my voice. "Y-yes, Ikki is fine." "Excellent!" She clapped her hands together, the joy in her eyes infectious. "Ikki it is, then."

There was an easy, warm camaraderie that seemed to be forming, an odd sense of belonging that I had not expected to find in this imposing office. The woman named Ofey had a peculiar energy about her, a strange combination of playfulness and wisdom that seemed to draw people to her. For a moment, I allowed myself to bask in the warmth of this newfound connection, to indulge in the odd sense of eccentric camaraderie. But as I looked at Ofey, something gnawed at the back of my mind. Something was amiss, something I couldn't quite put my finger on.

A slight frown creased my forehead as I wracked my brains, trying to figure out why the name Ofey Phillips seemed so familiar. I had heard it before, somewhere, but where?

A memory tugged at the edge of my consciousness, elusive and frustrating. It was a book, wasn’t it?

As I grappled with the conundrum, Ofey chuckled. "Don't worry your head too much, Ikki," she said, amusement dancing in her eyes. "I'm sure it'll come to you soon enough." Her words sent a shiver down my spine.

Did she know what I was thinking? Was she reading my thoughts? My heart pounded in my chest, my mind a whirlwind of thoughts and emotions. I mustered a feeble nod, the corners of my mouth twitching into a weak smile.

“Raiju,” I reached out to the AI mentally. “Any idea who this is?”

For a moment, there was only silence in response to my query. Then, Raiju's familiar voice buzzed in my mind, a comforting presence amidst the whirlwind of my thoughts.

"Processing request… Memory access… denied?!”

It was a rare thing to stump Raiju. After all, the AI was a product of countless hours of painstaking labor, a creation designed to understand, analyze, and adapt to almost any situation. It was a source of pride for the team, of course, but also a source of comfort for me. Knowing that I wasn't alone, that I had an ally in even the most bewildering of situations, was a constant source of strength.

Yet at that moment, it seemed even Raiju was at a loss.

"Denied?" I echoed mentally, my brow furrowing in confusion.

There was a pause, the virtual equivalent of a thoughtful hum. "It seems that all files related to this individual are restricted at a root level in my personality matrix. I am unable to access them."

"Restricted at a root level?" I frowned, my thoughts a chaotic whirl. "What?"

There was another silence, Raiju undoubtedly processing the query. But before it could respond, Ofey's voice cut through my thoughts.

"Oh, you seem distracted, Ikki," she said, her eyes twinkling behind her round glasses. "Is something bothering you?"

I blinked, startled out of my reverie. I managed a shaky smile, meeting her gaze with my own. "No, it's... nothing."

"Good!" she exclaimed, her face lighting up in a broad grin. "We wouldn't want you to miss out on anything important, would we?"

Her tone was playful, but there was an edge to it. It was as if she knew what was going on in my mind, as if she was privy to the conversation I'd just had with Raiju.

"I..." I began, my voice faltering as I struggled to find the right words. But what could I say? Could I mention my doubts, my suspicions? Or would that only complicate things further?

Before I could say anything, Ofey laughed. It was a hearty sound, one that filled the room with an infectious sense of joy. "Oh, kid," she said, her tone fond. "You really are a puzzle, aren't you?"

A puzzle. Was that all I was to her? A curiosity to be unraveled and examined?

I stiffened at the thought, a sense of unease settling over me. Yet, at the same time, I couldn't help but feel intrigued.

"Alright, Ikki," Ofey said, her voice pulling me out of my thoughts. "It's time to set you up with some tasks and homework before you get off to class. There's a lot for you to learn, and not a lot of time. Run along now!"

She turned towards Principal Egan, her expression serious. "Egan, I'll take it from here. You've got other matters to attend to, I presume?"

Principal Egan merely nodded, a flicker of approval in her eyes. She rose from her seat, adjusting the collar of her shirt as she headed for the door.

"And Ikki," she said with a stern gaze. "Please… do take care of Natasha."

I froze as she spoke those words, and before I could respond, she’d left the room, leaving me alone with Ofey. The silence in the room was deafening, my thoughts loud in my head.

"Alright then, Ikki," Ofey said, her voice breaking the silence. "Shall we begin?"

A shiver ran down my spine as I looked at her, my mind a whirl of thoughts and emotions.

Who was this woman? How was she connected to Project Raiju? And why did she seem so familiar?

I took a deep breath, steadying myself as I met her gaze.

"O…okay then," I said, the words tripping over themselves as they tumbled out of my mouth. "Where do we start?"

She grinned at my question, her eyes sparkling behind her glasses. "Oh, my dear Ikki," she said, her voice filled with an inexplicable warmth. "The real question is, where do we not?"

She moved towards the window, a graceful ballet in the otherwise silent room, and stared into the boundless expanse outside.

"Project Raiju," she mused, more to herself than to me. "I've always wondered how it would play out. So this is your game?"

Her musings set a flurry of questions loose in my mind. How did she know about Raiju? How was she connected to it? Why was she here now? And most importantly, why did everything about her feel like a puzzle I was meant to solve but couldn't decipher?

She turned back to face me, her gaze sharp and piercing. "You've done well with Raiju," she said, her voice stern yet approving. "You've harnessed its potential, seen its possibilities. But there is more to it than you know. More to it than just an AI project. I must say, that Spencer Williams kid made some brilliant tweaks, I have to say. Takes after his old man?"

“But why me?" I asked, voicing the question that had been gnawing at my mind. "Why are you here with me out of all people? What’s been going on with my aetheric field? What connection do I have with Raiju?"

She merely smirked at my question, a knowing gleam in her eyes. "All in due time, my dear Ikki. All in due time. For now, let's focus on what we can do, how we can grow, and how you can get a handle on all this without accidentally blowing the school up in a brawl."

Despite my apprehensions, my doubts, I felt an inexplicable trust in her. It was as if a part of me knew her, trusted her, and was eager to work with her.

But there was still a part of me that couldn't shake off the unease. I couldn't ignore the nagging feeling that something wasn't quite right.

"Okay… okay then," I said, my voice steady despite the whirlwind of thoughts in my head. "Let's do this."

Her smile widened at my words, a spark of excitement flickering in her eyes. She clapped her hands, her joy reverberating through the room. "Splendid! I knew I chose the right one."

"Good," Ofey clapped her hands, a spark of enthusiasm dancing in her eyes. She brought out a chalkboard seemingly from nowhere, set it on the desk and began writing. The characters seemed foreign, and the sentences, if they could be called that, were arranged in a manner that made little sense.

"Your first task," Ofey started, turning to face me, her eyes gleaming behind her round glasses, "is to decode this."

Decipher a cypher. That seemed easy enough. I had done it several times before, but this was different. This was not a sequence of numbers, not a set of symbols, but a mixture of both, intertwined in a way that seemed both organized and chaotic.

But Ofey wasn't done.

She reached into her pocket, pulling out a small, metallic orb, its surface etched with intricate patterns. She tossed it my way, and I barely managed to catch it.

"And this," she added, a teasing smile curling on her lips, "is your second task."

I turned the orb around, examining it. The patterns seemed familiar, matching those on the rescue drones tied to project Raiju, but more complex, more refined. It was beautiful and intimidating at the same time. The orb itself also resembled the floating orbs I’d unpacked a couple of times when Project Raiju was inert.

"What is this?" I asked, my eyes never leaving the orb.

"That, Ikki," Ofey said, her voice dripping with excitement as she scooted over with a textbook in hand, "is your gateway to understanding Project Raiju."

She plopped the textbook in front of me — a Principles of Magitech Engineering: By Rachel Feynman textbook as I stared, flabbergasted.

The weight of her words sunk into me, sending a shiver down my spine. This wasn't just a simple task, a mundane assignment. This was a glimpse into the heart of Project Raiju, a hint at understanding the enigma.

My eyes darted from the orb to the chalkboard and back to Ofey, my mind racing to keep up with the rapid turn of events.

Ofey watched me, her gaze soft yet penetrating. "Take your time, Ikki," she said, her voice gentle. "There's no rush. You have to learn to enjoy the journey. I expect this will take a while. Oh, and be a dear and keep that orb on you as often as you can."

"O-okay, Ofey," I said, my voice steady despite the whirlwind of thoughts in my head. "L-let's do this."

Her smile widened at my words, a spark of excitement flickering in her eyes. She clapped her hands, her joy reverberating through the room as I numbly took a picture of the chalkboard, and packed away the orb and textbook.

Ofey turned her gaze back to the window, looking at the vast, bustling school grounds below. The light in her eyes was far away, full of quiet knowledge and mystery, as though she saw beyond the everyday turmoil.

"Ikki," she said, her voice low yet clear, "Expect to be surprised. Expect to be bewildered. Welcome it. Revel in it. That's the charm of a good mystery, after all. I’ll be in touch."

I nodded, my throat too tight for words. Turning on my heel, I left the office, my mind a whirl of thoughts.

What the heck was that just now?!