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"Not deployment. Preparedness." That's not a no. Everyone hears it.

My stomach tightens. Third-years. Caelen. Rhyven. All Chiefs. Not yet. I know. Still. The finale we're moving toward exists somewhere ahead, even if none of them know it.

The emergency meeting begins at one forty in the morning. We stay. Because apparently sleep has lost all institutional support. Council. Chiefs. Professors. Investigators. Nyra and Cassian included now. No one questions it. They've earned their seats.

The main question is simple. How do we reduce response time? Current model: disappearance, alarm, team assembles, travel, containment, analysis. Too slow. Even tonight, with everyone already positioned, it took minutes. Minutes are useless when someone disappears in seconds.

Professor Neris points toward the map. "We centralize."

My father nods. "Who?"

"All rapid-response personnel."

"Chiefs?"

"Relevant ones."

"Investigators?"

"Yes."

"Students?"

"If they're operationally required." Rhyven already knows where this is going. I can tell by the expression he doesn't have.

The Headmaster circles one residence wing near the Dominion complex. "North Residence."

Caelen frowns. "That's graduate housing."

"Half empty. Fourth-years moved to apprenticeship quarters last month."

Professor Neris points to the stairwell. "Direct route to command. Two minutes to western gate. Three to infirmary. Adjacent to the Archive corridor."

"And rooms?"

"Two-person." Nyra looks at me. I look at her. Oh.

"Temporary response quarters." The Headmaster decides. "Effective tomorrow."

Cassian raises one hand. Everyone looks at him. He slowly lowers it. "Never mind." Probably wise.

Names begin. Chiefs. Response specialists. Siren trace personnel. Evidence support. Ward analysts. Nyra is included. Cassian too. Me. Obviously. Caelen's jaw tightens when mine is read. Doesn't argue. Progress. Then room assignments.

Professor Neris reads them from a prepared housing list. "Room Three-Zero-One. Maelis and Seraphine."

More names. "Three-Zero-Two. Dax and Soren."

Dax groans. Soren says, "Try surviving."

"Already regretting this."

"Three-Zero-Three. Cassian and Evren."

Cassian whispers, "Who the hell is Evren?"

"Your new best friend." Nyra answers.

"Impossible."