The scent of antiseptic and dried herbs lingered in the air as Elliot and Sylra stepped into the dimly lit infirmary. The only sound was the occasional creak of wooden beams and the rhythmic rustling of curtains shifting with the breeze. At the far end of the room, bathed in the soft glow of lantern light, Towan sat upright on his bed, eyes closed, his breathing steady.

Even in recovery, he was meditating.

Sylra crossed her arms, her gaze sharpening. “Even though he’s supposed to be resting, he’s refining his flow?”

Elliot nodded. “Well, in a quiet place like this, without distractions, it’s ideal for refining Essentia flow. Besides, it’ll help—his channels are still healing.”

“I see…” Sylra murmured, her eyes lingering on Towan for a moment longer before they stepped inside.

“Hey, bro! How are you holding up?” Elliot greeted with an easy smile.

Towan cracked one eye open at the sound of his voice. “Oh, hey, Elliot! Much better today.” He stretched slightly, then shifted his gaze to Sylra. (They were together?) A small smirk formed on his lips before he spoke. “What brings you here, Sylra?”

“Oh, Elliot mentioned he was coming to check on you, and I figured it was a good idea to tag along,” she said smoothly, her tone casual. It wasn’t the full truth—she wanted Elliot to be the one to tell him later that someone had interfered with his channels.

Towan exhaled through his nose, amused. “Well, thanks for coming, though there’s really no need.” His expression darkened slightly as he glanced at his own bandaged limbs. “It’s frustrating. Lying here, doing nothing, missing class.”

“You’re not missing much,” Elliot shrugged. “Most classes have been theoretical lately. The professors are all afraid of another student ending up like you.”

Towan huffed a short laugh. “Can’t blame them.”

“Damage to Essentia channels is serious,” Sylra added. “If a noble student got crippled, it’d turn into a political disaster.”

Towan frowned slightly. “Makes sense… I hadn’t really thought about that.”

“Of course not,” Elliot smirked. “We’re not part of that world. Outside the academy, no one even knows our names.”

He turned his attention back to Sylra, curiosity flickering in his eyes. “Speaking of that… what family are you from, Sylra? I’ve been wondering, but never asked.”

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The air shifted. Just slightly.

Sylra’s expression remained composed, but for a split second, something unreadable flashed across her face.

The room, already quiet, seemed to grow stiller.

Sylra hesitated for a fraction of a second before speaking. “As you know, I’m Sylra Auren. And that… should say enough.”

Towan blinked. “Say what?”

His confusion was genuine, as was Elliot’s. They had spent most of their lives in the mountains, far removed from noble affairs. They knew noble houses existed, sure—but they had never cared enough to learn their names, let alone their significance.

Sylra’s expression froze. Then, for the first time since they met her, she looked genuinely stunned.

Her gaze flickered between them, searching for some sign of recognition. Nothing.

Finally, she turned to Elliot, narrowing her eyes. “…Don’t tell me,” she murmured, voice laced with disbelief.

Elliot met her stare, unimpressed.

“You really don’t know anything about nobility?”

A beat of silence stretched between them. Then, Towan shrugged.

“Nope.”

Elliot followed with a lazy, “Not a clue.”

Sylra exhaled sharply, pressing her fingers to her temple. For once in her life, she had no idea whether to be irritated or impressed.

Sylra let out a slow sigh, dragging a hand down her face before finally speaking. “The Auren family leads the Houses’ Council,” she said. “My father is the current head… and I’m his heir.”

Towan blinked. “Wait—really?”

He had expected Sylra to be strong, maybe even influential—but this? He hadn’t imagined she was that important.

Elliot crossed his arms, piecing things together. “So that’s why people either avoid you or ask for an autograph,” he muttered. “Yeah, that checks out.”

Sylra turned away, brushing off the weight of the conversation. “Anyway,” she said, her tone shifting back to its usual cool confidence, “I’ll let the teachers know why we were absent, Elliot. That way, we don’t end up in trouble.”

Before either of them could reply, she was already heading for the door.

“Aaand she’s gone,” Towan said, shaking his head. “Honestly, I doubt you’d get in trouble for skipping class just to check on me. It’s a solid reason. Plus, you were with probably the most important student in the academy.”

He paused for a second, then frowned. “Wait… What exactly is the Houses’ Council?”

Elliot stared at him. “You’re joking, right?”

Towan’s blank look said otherwise.

Elliot sighed, rubbing his temples. “Alright, listen. Every noble house governs a specific region of land. Each one is attuned to a different element. I don't know what region the Aurens govern though”

Towan absorbed the information, his expression shifting as the puzzle pieces clicked into place.

“The point is, they’re important,” Elliot said with a shrug.

Towan let out a low whistle. “So Sylra’s basically… a princess?”

Elliot smirked. “More like a future politician who can literally blast her opponents away.”

“Huh.” Towan leaned back, processing that.

Elliot nudged him with a grin. “Bet she’d tax your eyebrows off if you looked at her wrong.”

Laughter filled the infirmary, but just outside, Sylra lingered in the corridor. Their voices slipped through the door, lighthearted and unburdened.

Her thumb absently traced the Auren crest on her ring. Heir. Council. Duty. The words had always given her purpose, kept her steady.

Tonight, they felt like shackles.

With a quiet breath, she pushed the thoughts aside and strode toward the instructors’ hall.

Yet Towan’s question still echoed in her mind.

What does the Houses’ Council really do?