The incident from the previous day had left its mark all across the academy. The damaged corridors had been repaired. The broken windows had been replaced. The students had gone back to their classes. And yet, something had changed. The Imperial Knights were now far more alert. So were the Black Ravens. All six intruders had been captured. And none of them had explained why they had infiltrated Asteria. That was precisely what concerned Kael. --- A security room beneath one of the administrative buildings had been turned into an interrogation chamber. The room was simple. A table. Two chairs. A small window protected by metal bars. And several knights stationed near the door. Kael stood in front of the entrance. Darius was at his right. Gareth stood a little farther away. Armand was on the other side of the room with three Imperial Knights. He had asked to attend the interrogation. Kael had agreed. Without comment. One of the prisoners sat across from them. His wrists were bound by magical restraints that only prevented him from using aura. He seemed calm. Too calm. Kael sat down opposite him. He rested his hands on the table. — Name. The man didn't answer. Kael waited a few seconds. — Very well. He looked at Darius. — Where did you find him? — Near the archives. Kael turned his attention back to the prisoner. — Why the archives? Silence. Armand watched Kael carefully. The young patriarch hadn't changed his tone. He was perfectly calm. Almost too calm. — There were six of you, Kael continued. Two groups entered through different routes. You knew where you were going. The prisoner smiled faintly. — You're asking a lot of questions for someone who already knows the answers. Kael didn't react. — I'm simply checking which ones you're willing to give me. One of the Imperial Knights exchanged a glance with Armand. The prisoner tilted his head slightly. — You look a lot like your father. The room went silent. Darius didn't move. But his expression changed. Armand noticed. Kael, however, remained completely still. — You knew my father? — Everyone knew your father. — That's not what I asked. The prisoner smiled. — You're curious. — I'm the patriarch. Kael paused. — It's different. The man's smile faded slightly. — Your father asked the same questions. Kael stared at him. — Which ones? — The ones you're asking now. Armand felt something change. It was almost nothing. A difference in Kael's eyes. A new coldness. Kael straightened slightly. — What was my father looking for? The prisoner remained silent. Kael waited. Then the man answered: — He should have stopped. Kael barely blinked. — Why? — Because some doors aren't meant to be opened. Armand frowned. That sentence reminded him of something. A-02. The archives. The ancient system. He looked at Kael. Kael hadn't moved. — Which door? he asked. The prisoner smiled. — You already know. A heavy silence settled over the room. Then the man added: — You've started opening the same things he did. This time, Kael's expression truly changed. Armand saw it. His usual calm was gone. His red eyes suddenly seemed much colder. — Explain. The prisoner hesitated. — I'm not here to explain anything to you. Kael stood. Not abruptly. Slowly. He walked around the table and stopped in front of the prisoner. — You're here because you entered my academy. His voice was still calm. But there was no warmth left in it. — You put students in danger. He paused. — And you spoke my father's name as if you had the right to use it. The prisoner looked up at him. Kael held his gaze. — So choose your next words carefully. Armand immediately felt the tension. This wasn't a shouted threat. It was worse. Kael wasn't trying to intimidate him. He was drawing a line. The prisoner finally looked away. — Your father was right about one thing. Kael waited. — People who search for too long always end up finding something they would have preferred never to see. Kael remained silent. Then he returned to his seat. — Who sent you? The prisoner didn't answer. — Who? Still nothing. Kael looked at Darius. — Bring in the second one. Darius nodded. Two knights left to retrieve another prisoner. Armand remained in the room. He watched Kael. Then, after a few seconds, he spoke. — Patriarch Veyron. Kael turned slightly. — Yes? — May I ask a question? Kael looked at him. — Go ahead. Armand hesitated. — What does all of this have to do with Asteria? Silence fell. Darius glanced toward Armand. Gareth remained still. Even the Imperial Knights understood that the atmosphere had changed. Kael stared at Armand for several seconds. Then he answered: — I advise you to be careful what you ask. Armand didn't look away. — I'm simply trying to understand. — I know. Kael stood again. He approached him. Not close enough to be threatening. Just close enough that his words couldn't be misunderstood. — And that's precisely why I'm telling you this now. His gaze was cold. — Some matters concern the Empire. — Others concern Asteria. — And some concern my family. He paused. — You don't need to know all of them. Armand remained silent. Kael continued: — You're a captain of the Imperial Guard. You have my respect. — But don't look any further than you're authorized to. Armand understood immediately. This wasn't a request. It was a boundary. — And if I continue? Kael stared at him. His tone remained perfectly calm. — Then you may find something beyond your understanding. Armand said nothing. Kael returned to the table. — This isn't a threat, Captain. He stopped. — It's advice. Darius looked at Armand. He knew Kael well enough to understand what this moment meant. Kael never said things like that without a reason. The doors opened. Two Black Ravens brought in the second prisoner. He was placed in the chair. Kael sat across from him again. This time, he didn't even look at Armand. — Your name. The second man hesitated. Then: — Valen. Kael slightly raised his eyes. — Why did you come to Asteria? — We were given a mission. — What mission? — Find something. — What? The prisoner hesitated. Kael waited. — An access point. Kael's gaze hardened. — Access to what? — A lower level. Armand frowned. — A-02? The prisoner suddenly turned his head toward him. Kael did too. For several seconds, nobody spoke. Then Kael looked at Armand. His expression had become completely cold. — Captain. Armand immediately understood. — Yes. — I warned you. Armand said nothing. The prisoner looked between Kael and Armand. — You shouldn't be here. Kael turned toward him. — Why? — Because you don't understand what you're opening. Kael remained silent. Then: — Who told you about A-02? The prisoner pressed his lips together. — No one. — Wrong answer. Kael calmly placed one hand on the table. — You know the name. The prisoner didn't answer. Kael continued: — You know my father. — You know about A-02. — And you knew we'd eventually find this place. The prisoner lowered his eyes. Kael understood. He didn't need anything else. — Darius. — Yes? — Have the Imperials leave. Armand immediately turned his head. — Patriarch— Kael looked at him. This time, his gaze left no room for argument. — Captain. Armand fell silent. Kael continued in a calmer voice: — You've already heard enough. He paused. — Trust me on this. Armand looked at the prisoner. Then at Darius. Then at Kael. Finally, he nodded. — Very well. He signaled to his three men. The Imperial Knights left the room. Armand was the last to leave. Before stepping through the door, he turned around. Kael was already seated across from the prisoner again. His face was perfectly calm. But Armand now knew Kael well enough to understand that this calm didn't mean he was relaxed. It was the calm of a man who had just realized that a boundary had been crossed. The door closed. Darius remained alone with Kael and the Black Ravens. He looked at his friend. — You could have told him more clearly not to look further. Kael stared at the door. — I did. — I know. Darius sighed. — He's going to keep looking anyway. Kael remained silent. Then he answered: — I know. He looked at the prisoner. His expression didn't change. — And that's exactly what worries me. --- In the corridor, Armand walked in silence. The three other Imperial Knights followed him. One of them eventually spoke. — Captain... Armand raised a hand. — Not now. They continued walking. After a few meters, Armand stopped. He looked back at the door behind which Kael still remained. He thought about the previous day. Kael giving orders in the middle of a battle. Nyxara taking her true form. Then today. Kael standing before a prisoner. His cold gaze. His perfectly controlled voice. And that strange way he had told Armand not to go any further. Armand felt as though he had glimpsed an invisible boundary. A boundary between what Kael was willing to show the world... And what he was truly protecting. He finally murmured: — I think I understand now why I shouldn't have asked that question. One of the knights looked at him. — Are you going to stop looking? Armand remained silent for several seconds. Then he answered: — For now. He resumed walking. But deep down, another thought remained. Kael had told him not to look any further. And Armand had enough experience to know that an warning that serious usually hid something much larger. He only hoped he hadn't already gone too far.

The Line Not to Cross