The grand chamber of the Academy’s Hall of Discipline was heavy with tension as Lorelai stood before Headmistress Windrider and Avantus, the one in charge of her weapons instruction. Her arms were crossed defensively, her chin tilted upward in defiance. Despite her efforts to appear calm, her mind was a storm of unease. The events in the athenaeum had left her rattled, and the implications of her actions weighed heavily on her.

Headmistress Windrider was an imposing figure, her emerald-green robes trimmed with gold thread shimmering faintly in the light of the enchanted sconces. Her auburn hair, streaked with silver, was braided neatly, and her piercing amber eyes seemed to look straight into Lorelai’s soul. She was known for her fairness but also for her unyielding adherence to the Academy’s rules. Beside her, Avantus stood like a storm about to break, his broad shoulders tense and his hands resting on the pommel of his sheathed sword. His glare was enough to make most students cower, but Lorelai held her ground.

Fiona’s voice, cool and controlled, cut through the silence. "Lorelai," she began, her words measured but heavy with disappointment. "Do you understand the gravity of what you’ve done?"

"I do," Lorelai said, though the slight tremor in her voice betrayed her nerves. "I had no choice—"

"You always have a choice," Avantus interrupted sharply, his tone laced with anger. "Breaking into the athenaeum without permission, tampering with the restricted section, and reading forbidden tomes; those were all your choices. Now you tell us you willingly conversed with a bone devil within our walls?"

Lorelai clenched her fists. "I didn’t invite him in, if that’s what you’re implying. Demos appeared out of nowhere. I wasn’t exactly in a position to refuse a conversation."

Avantus scoffed. "You shouldn’t have been there to begin with! The wards around the restricted section are there for a reason—to protect students like you from dangers you don’t understand."

Fiona raised a hand, silencing Avantus with a glance. Her gaze never left Lorelai. "Why, Lorelai? Why would you go to such lengths to enter a place forbidden to students? What knowledge did you seek that was worth risking dismissal from the academy?"

Lorelai hesitated, her mind racing for the right words. "I was trying to find answers," she admitted finally. "About Demos, I thought... I thought the athenaeum might have something that could help me understand what I was involved in."

"And did you?" Fiona’s voice was softer now, but no less intense. "Did you find the answers you sought?"

Lorelai looked away, the memory of Demos’ rage flashing in her mind. "Not exactly," she said. "The Compass—it reacted to my blood, but then it spun out of control. Demos said something about my ‘spark.’ He was furious. He thought I’d done something to it."

The room fell into a tense silence. Fiona exchanged a glance with Avantus, her expression unreadable.

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"And the tome you read," Fiona pressed, her tone sharp once more. "What did it contain? What knowledge did you take from it?"

"It was called Diabolica: On Devils and Their Bargains," Lorelai replied. "I thought it might improve my insight of Demos, maybe give me a clue about what he wants. All I found was a note scrawled in the margins. Someone else knew about him, about Demos, and called him a bone devil of the Fourth Circle."

Avantus let out a harsh breath. "You thought it wise to tackle this by yourself, did you? You're delving into dangerous territory. What if the wards hadn’t alerted us to your location? What if that devil had attacked you?"

"I didn’t exactly have a choice!" Lorelai snapped, her voice rising. "You think I wanted to deal with him? I was desperate. He’s been trying to meet me for a week. Everything seems to be connected to that his infatuation with this damned spark he keeps going on about!"

Fiona’s eyes softened slightly, but her voice remained firm. "Lorelai, the rules of this Academy exist not to stifle curiosity, but to protect lives. The athenaeum is warded for a reason. The knowledge contained within its restricted section is dangerous, as you now know firsthand. Your recklessness has endangered not only yourself but everyone within these walls. Demos should not have been able to manifest here, yet he did. The wards have been weakened, and we must now locate and repair the damage that has been caused."

Lorelai’s stomach sank at the weight of Fiona’s words. "I didn’t mean for this to happen," she said quietly. "I just wanted to understand why he’s so interested in me."

"Now he knows more than he should," Avantus said, his tone biting. "You’ve played right into his hands. Devils thrive on manipulation, and Demos is no exception. He’s not just after you, Lorelai. He’s after something far greater."

Fiona straightened, her robes swirling with an unseen breeze. "Until we’ve determined the full extent of the damage, you are confined to the grounds. You will have no access to the athenaeum, nor any other magical resources. Furthermore, you are prohibited from practicing advanced magic until I am convinced that you understand the weight of your actions."

Lorelai’s heart sank further, but she nodded. There was no point in arguing. As Lorelai turned to leave, Avantus called after her. "One last thing," he said, his voice low and dangerous. "If you so much as breathe near the forbidden section again, I will personally see to it that you’re removed."

Lorelai swallowed hard and nodded before slipping out of the chamber.

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In the solitude of her quarters, Lorelai paced the room, her mind a whirlwind of conflicting emotions. Her anger at the Academy, her fear of Demos, her frustration at the lack of answers—it all churned within her.

A knock at the door startled her. When she opened it, she found Aeryn leaning casually against the frame, her crimson eyes glinting with amusement.

"Looks like you’ve gotten yourself into quite the mess," the vampire said, stepping inside.

Lorelai sighed. "If you’re here to rub it in, don’t bother."

"Rub it in? No." Aeryn smirked, her fangs catching the light

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"I don't understand it, why would such a powerful seal be on some nobody, yet the divine spark is completely missing? It makes no damned sense, it's so confusing I don't even have an explanation for him." Demos said outloud to himself.

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Lorelai sat crossed legged on her bed in a meditative state, lightning actively coursing through her. She had had an epiphany on her Lightning Animus spell. During the grueling days of her punishment, she managed to develop three different forms of attack magic. Since she was unable to attend any classes due to her punishment, she would have to wait for her next delve into the dungeon before she was able to try them out. Her delve would take place two days after her punishment ends.