The morning air was crisp, the sky an unforgiving gray. Students stood in tightly packed clusters, their breath curling in the cold. No one spoke. Even those who hadn’t fought in the simulation—who had only heard about what happened secondhand—seemed to understand the gravitas of the occasion.

  Every student at the Academy plus the staff were gathered in the Grand Courtyard. Otter stood with Erin, Milo, Liora, and Jasper. Otter had been doubly surprised to see him. First, Otter assumed Jasper was still laid up in the infirmary recovering. Second, it was very unlike the fighter to seek out Otter’s company. Ever. Maybe their trials in the simulation had changed things. Maybe he’d earned Jasper’s respect.

  Headmaster Voss once again stood on the platform addressing them, the other faculty members standing in a solemn line behind. “This is not how I intended to address you today,” he began. His voice, though steady, carried the weight of grief. “This was meant to be a celebration. A moment to recognize your growth, to commend you on the trials you have overcome. But we are gathered here under far graver circumstances.”

  A cold wind swept through the courtyard, rattling the branches of the leafless trees that lined the Academy grounds.

  “Three of your classmates are dead. They should not be.” The words were stark, brutal in their simplicity. “The Academy is supposed to be a place where you can come to train in relative safety, a home away from home. At least until we deem you ready for the dangers of the wider world. We do not yet know the full extent of what happened.” Voss’s sharp gaze scanned the gathered students. “But I give you my word: We will find the truth. And we will ensure that those responsible are held accountable.”

  Otter swallowed hard. He hadn’t known Lyle well—hadn’t liked him, really—but he hadn’t deserved that fate. None of them had.

  Voss inhaled slowly, gathering his next words. “For now, we must mourn. But we must also endure. The path you have chosen is not an easy one. This tragedy is a stark reminder of that. Some of you may be questioning whether you belong here. Whether this is the life you want.” His expression darkened. “That is a choice only you can make. But do not make it in fear.”

  A long pause. Then, his voice softened.

  “Winter break begins today. We are asking all first and second year students to go home for the next two weeks. We have much work to do. When, and if, you return, this campus will be far safer. You have my word. The carriages depart at dawn.” His sharp gaze swept over them one last time. “Whatever you decide, do not let this loss be in vain.”

  With that, Voss stepped back. The silence stretched for several seconds longer before students began to murmur, the crowd slowly dispersing.

  Otter took a deep breath and watched the cloud of fog drift away. Winter break. It was time to go home.

  Later that afternoon, Otter was summoned to Headmaster Voss’s office in the Hall of Assignments. As was Erin. And Milo. Together, they hustled through the chill, only to be joined by Jasper along the way. Sage was waiting for them in the vestibule outside Voss’s office.

  Once they were all gathered, Voss’s assistant showed them in.

  Silas Blackwood stood beside the Headmaster.

  Chairs for each of them had been arranged in front of Voss’s desk, and when he gestured for them to take a seat, they did.

  The older man steepled his fingers and pressed them against his lips as he studied them each in turn. “Overseer Blackwood and I had quite the heated debate about you five.”

  Otter swallowed. That didn't sound good.

  “I wanted to recognize your valor in yesterday’s tragedy this morning at the assembly. Silas argued against it, insisting that such accolades would only hinder your progress at the Academy and that any such recognition be made privately.” He looked at Silas. “As usual, he was quite convincing.”

  Silas stepped forward, producing several small identical boxes. Each was crafted of some dark wood—walnut maybe—and the Academy’s crest was embossed on the lid. He opened one of the boxes, revealing a deep blue velvet lining. Cradled inside was a bronze medallion, etched with an image of a sword through a heart with the single word “Valor” beneath.

  “Your actions within the simulation were nothing less than heroic. Had it not been for your quick thinking and decisive action, many more lives would have been lost yesterday. The Academy extends its heartfelt gratitude to each of you.”

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  Silas handed a box to each of the team members. Otter opened his and picked up the medal inside. It was heavy in a way he didn't expect. When he flipped it over, he saw that his name was engraved on the back along with the words, “For putting others first.”

  He placed the medal back in the box and looked to Blackwood as he continued speaking. “This is the only time any first-year students have earned such an award. At least during my tenure at the Academy. You faced chaos and death, yet you did not falter. You stood together, fought together, and endured. That is what it means to be an Adventurer—not the strength of one, but the courage of many. While I wished to keep this morning’s proceedings focused on those who were lost, it is our wish that you wear these proudly pinned to your Academy uniform.”

  No one had the words to respond.

  All five students filed dumbly out of the office when dismissed, clutching their wooden boxes tightly. When they reached the commons, they all hesitated briefly.

  Finally, Sage spoke. “I am honored to have been a part of this team. I hope that our partnership—our fellowship—can continue in the future. I shall find opportunities to escape my own corner of campus next semester if we are of the same mind.”

  Erin nodded emphatically and threw her arms around Sage, tears leaking from her eyes. “Of course. We’re friends forever now. See you in a couple of weeks.”

  Jasper stood in front of Otter for a long moment before speaking. “I was wrong about you. You’re no liability. You’d be an asset to any team.” He paused, then took a deep breath. “I’m sorry for how I treated you before.” He stuck out his hand. “Forgive me?”

  Otter grabbed his hand in both of his and shook it. “I was wrong about you, too. I thought you were just another bully, but you’re not. You’re a guardian. A protector.” The words tumbled out of him.

  Jasper laughed. “I don’t know about that. But I guess we’re cool now, yeah?”

  Otter nodded. “For sure.”

  Milo cleared his throat. “Well, I, uh… don’t really have a speech prepared.” His fingers fidgeted with the edges of his box. “But I just wanted to say… thanks. For trusting me. And for not treating me like I was useless.” He cast a quick glance at Otter. “You were right, you know. Magic isn’t just about fireballs. And I, uh, wouldn’t have made it through without you guys.”

  Otter grinned. “You kidding? You were incredible.”

  “Yeah,” Jasper added, clapping Milo on the back. “I’ll admit, I didn’t think much of utility magic before, but you proved me wrong.”

  Milo flushed at the praise, ducking his head slightly. “Well, uh… don’t expect me to get all heroic next semester.”

  Erin smirked. “Too late. You’re one of us now.”

  Milo huffed but didn’t argue.

  Otter spent the rest of the afternoon saying goodbyes. First Levi, then Liora, and finally Piper at the library.

  It was eerily quiet, reminding him of that first week when no one was thinking about their studies. With exams over and everyone packing for winter break, the once-bustling aisles were completely empty.

  Piper was at the front desk, perched on a stool, quill in hand as she checked over a list of overdue returns. She looked up as Otter approached, setting the quill down with a sigh. “I was wondering if you’d come by before leaving,” she said.

  Otter shrugged, rubbing the back of his neck. “Would’ve been rude not to.”

  Piper smiled. “Glad to know you’re capable of basic manners.” She reached beneath the desk and pulled out a book wrapped in cloth. “Here. Something to read on your trip.”

  Otter took it, brow furrowing as he unwrapped it. The cover was faded leather, the title barely visible: Artifacts and Oddities of the Early Age. He looked up at her.

  “I found a passage in here about the compass,” she said. “It’s not much, but it mentions research done by an Archivist years ago. Apparently, he theorized that it wasn’t just a navigational tool but something else entirely. The problem is, the details were never published.”

  Otter traced a finger over the worn spine. “What happened to them?”

  Piper’s lips pressed into a thin line. “That’s the strange part. According to this, his research was confiscated by the Academy before it could be made public. No one knows why.”

  Otter exhaled slowly, his grip tightening on the book. More secrets. More questions.

  Piper watched him for a moment, then added, “I know it’s frustrating, but this proves there’s something there, Otter. Something the Academy didn’t want getting out.”

  “We’ll get to the bottom of it.”

  She nodded. “Damn right we will.”

  Otter laughed. “Listen, we’ve never really talked about family and stuff, but I hope you have a good winter break. Gods know we need one after everything that happened.”

  “I heard about that mess. Glad to see you made it through okay.”

  He shrugged. “Me too. So, I guess I’ll see you in two weeks.”

  Piper smiled. “You bet. Safe travels, yeah?”

  “Yeah.”

  As Otter stepped outside, snowflakes were starting to drift toward the ground. He shivered. But not from the cold. There were mysteries aplenty here at the Academy: the fate of his father, Emrys Gale, hidden Classes, the Kaosborn attack. He looked down at the book tucked under his arm. He had two weeks to pursue whatever mystery he chose, unburdened by coursework.

  He decided not to waste them.