Her dark robes shifted around her like living shadow while rune-light glimmered faintly beneath her skin.
For one deeply humbling moment, I remembered exactly why even ancient Monsters obeyed this woman.
“You will both,” she said with terrifying calm, “cease speaking immediately.”
Silence dropped instantly.
Even Gunner obeyed.
Smart Wolf.
The walk toward the professor’s office felt endless.
Students practically melted out of doorways and classrooms to watch us pass. Whispers followed behind us like wildfire.
“Was that Sten?”
“Gunner got his ass kicked?—”
“Did you see the professor’s face?”
“Ohmygods, Gunner’s dick was hanging out?—”
“That Witch from the Cordoza Coven was there too?—”
Mine.
The thought flashed hot through my skull again at the mention of Amrin.
Professor Kenna’s office sat at the highest point of the western tower overlooking the black cliffs of Asgarheim.
The chamber itself resembled less of an office and more of an ancient war room—towering shelves filled with grimoires, celestial maps floating beneath enchanted glass, ley line models suspended in glowing silver threads from the ceiling.
Power saturated the air.
Old power.
The kind that pressed instinctively against your throat and demanded respect.
The second the doors slammed shut behind us, Professor Kenna released the magical restraints.
Gunner immediately straightened with a snarl.
I remained leaning casually against the wall despite the lingering ache in my ribs.
The professor turned toward us slowly.
“You two,” she said softly, “have managed to destroy Institute property, terrify several first-year graduate students, violate conduct regulations, and disrupt an active lecture corridor.”
Gunner crossed his arms aggressively.
“He hit me first.”
Professor Kenna’s gaze shifted toward him.
“And you sexually harassed a fellow student.”
Silence.
