The office door opened.
Varyan was already moving—behind the curtain, pressed against the wall, dagger in hand.
Headmaster Corvin entered. Old. Bald. Tired-looking. He didn't turn on the lights. He walked to his desk, sat down, and sighed.
"You can co out, boy."
Varyan didn't move.
"I know you're there. I could sll the servant's passage on you. That old stone dust—it clings."
Still Varyan didn't move.
Headmaster Corvin lit a single candle. The fla illuminated his face—wrinkled, sad, but not unkind.
"Varyan of House Roverc," he said. "I know your mother's journal. I know about the fragnt. I know why you're here."
Varyan stepped out from behind the curtain. His dagger was hidden, but his hand was ready.
"Then you know I'm not here to steal."
"I know you're here to survive." The headmaster gestured to the chair across from his desk. "Sit. We have much to discuss."
Varyan didn't sit. "How do you know about the fragnt?"
"Because I was a fragnt-bearer once. Order Fragnt 03. Long ago, before I grew old and the fragnt passed to another." Corvin's eyes were distant. "I know about the Harvesters too. I know one walks these halls. I haven't been able to stop them. Perhaps you can."
"Why would you help ?"
"Because soone helped , once. And because the alternative is letting the Harvesters win." He slid a key across the desk. "This opens the old vault beneath the Roverc estate. Your great-grandmother sealed sothing there before she died. Sothing that might help you."
Varyan recognized the key. It was identical to the rusted key he had found in the restricted section.
Two keys. One vault.
"What's inside?" he asked.
"I don't know. But your great-grandmother believed it was the only thing that could save your bloodline." Corvin leaned back. "Now go. Before soone sees you here. And Varyan?"
"Yes?"
"Trust no one. Not even ."
Varyan took the key and left.
Behind him, the headmaster's candle flickered and went out.
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