Noah sat on the edge of his bed in the infirmary, fastening the clasps on his academy jacket.

It was the next morning, and he was feeling better than ever.

The nurses had examined him one last time, declared him stable, and warned him against using magic for the next few days.

He'd agreed, though in truth, he knew he wouldn't keep that promise if something came up. Well, if it didn't break the promise he made to Professor Cecilia.

He stood, looking around the empty ward once more, before leaving.

The academy grounds were unusually quiet. Or as this was the holidays, usually quiet.

Noah made his way toward the cafeteria, subtly stretching as he walked. While he was okay now, his muscles still ached. Luckily, it was a good kind of ache.

The cafeteria was nearly empty as he entered. Only a few students sat scattered across the tables, whispering quietly over their meals.

Most of them seemed to still be shaken by the news of the dragon ravaging the capital.

That made Noah remember his classmates that had been summoned with him. Most of them had decided to stay at the capital, hadn't they?

Well, if they were dead, it was as a result of their decision.

He took a tray and filled it. He found a seat by the window and began to eat slowly.

Before long, he was done. He pushed the tray aside, rubbing the back of his neck. Draining his cup, he stood, satisfied.

When he stepped out of the cafeteria, he found Cecilia standing by the garden path, waiting.

"Professor," he greeted.

"Noah," she said, a soft smile appearing on her face. "You look better."

"I feel better," he said. "They finally let me out."

"Good. I was starting to think you liked the infirmary too much."

He smirked, falling into step beside her as she began walking down the path.

The gardens were still damp from the morning dew, but it made the flowers no less beautiful.

They walked in silence for a few minutes before she spoke.

"I received news this morning. The capital is still on lockdown," she said. "No one goes in or out without direct authorization. The Investigation Authority has taken over most of the royal district."

Noah glanced at her. "Because of the dragon?"

"Because of the missing corpse," she answered.

Noah smiled. "Any leads?"

"They're searching," she said. "But with everything else going on, it's chaos. They're questioning every mage capable of large-scale teleportation. It'll take time before they realize the search is pointless."

He chuckled at that. "With their incompetence, I'm sure they'll find something to keep them busy."

Silence filled the air for almost a minute before Cecilia spoke in a quieter tone, "Princess Ines has woken up."

He turned to her. "She has?"

Cecilia nodded. "Yesterday. She seemed to have suffered no lasting effects from her coma. Since the king's funeral is close, she's expected to preside."

Noah nodded to himself, absorbing the information silently.

Cecilia broke his thoughts again. "The week-long hunt in the academy woods has been canceled. You probably already guessed why. We can't be having hunts when the kingdom is grieving."

He nodded. "So we get time off?"

"Yes. You're free to use the week for whatever you want. As I'm sure you know, the semester will resume afterward."

Noah looked up at the towers of the academy, the white stones gleaming in the pale sun. "And you?"

"I have duties to attend to," she said. Her tone softened then. "Use this time to rest, Noah. You've earned it."

[][][][][]

Far from the academy, in the capital, the royal hall stood draped in black silk. The air was heavy with the scent of incense and candle smoke.

At the center of the hall lay King Cillian Pendragon, his body resting in state.

He was dressed in his golden armor, polished until it gleamed beneath the torches. His hands were crossed over his chest, his sword laid beneath them.

Princess Ines stood at the foot of the dais, silent. She had not moved for some time.

Her hair was tied back neatly, her face calm but shadowed. The faint flicker of grief showed in her eyes as she studied her father's face.

He looked peaceful, almost as if he were only asleep. But the golden armor felt wrong to her somehow. Too bright. Too heavy.

Her father had been many things, stern, proud, protective, but he had never been just the gold and glory that others painted him to be. He had been human, beneath it all.

Now, all that remained was the shell of a man who had carried a kingdom on his shoulders.

The heavy doors of the hall creaked open.

Ines didn't turn. She didn't need to. The footsteps that followed were confident.

"Your Highness," said Thomas Ramsay, his voice low but clear.

He approached the dais and stopped beside her, his black cloak brushing the floor. He stood quietly for a few moments, as though in silent respect.

"My condolences," he said finally. "King Cillian was a great man. His loss will be felt by all of Camelot."

Ines's eyes remained fixed on her father's face. "I thank you for your words," she said, her tone even.

"Now tell me what brings you here, First Premier. You wouldn't have disturbed my privacy without reason."

Thomas gave a faint smile. "You've always been direct. Very well."

He clasped his hands behind his back and began pacing slowly, his voice carrying. "The kingdom is uneasy, Princess. The attack left us broken. Our people are frightened and our armies confused. But there is one thing that can restore their faith."

"And that is?"

"The truth," he said simply. "That the dragon was not defeated by mortals alone. It took the strength of both your father and other hybrids like him to bring it down."

Her eyes flickered towards him then. "You want me to proclaim hybrids as heroes."

"I want recognition for what we did," Thomas said. "The people fear what they don't understand. But if they see that hybrids can serve the crown, and can fight for Camelot, it will temper their fear. They'll see that we're not monsters."

Ines regarded him quietly. "You want legitimacy."

"I want stability," he said. "And I want your father's sacrifice to mean something. He died proving that hybrids are not the enemy. I intend to honor that."

She was silent for a long moment, the flicker of torchlight dancing across her face.

"And if I say no?" she asked finally.

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