Three days later, the Veyron estate had regained an almost normal appearance. Almost. The servants had returned to their usual routines. The Black Raven knights, however, continued to keep a closer watch over the estate than before. Kael stood before the estate's great gates. A travel case rested beside him. Nyxara sat a few meters away. Even in her smaller form, she remained imposing. Kael looked back at the residence one last time. He would have preferred to stay. Not only because of L-03. Ever since he had discovered what was hidden beneath V-17, he had felt that every hour spent away from the estate only created more questions. But the Academy was waiting. And the director's request was not optional. Darius approached. — Everything is ready. Kael nodded. — The guards will stay here? — Yes. Aldren has increased patrols around the greenhouse and the old north wing. Kael looked toward the gardens. The greenhouse was almost invisible from the entrance. Yet he could already picture it. The flowers. The plate. The hidden passage. The box. His father's voice. The door isn't at Asteria. His jaw tightened slightly. That sentence had taken on an entirely different meaning since their discovery of L-03. Darius watched him. — You're thinking again. Kael turned his head. — I'm always thinking. — I know. Darius smiled slightly. — But you're thinking more than usual right now. Kael sighed. — L-03 is real. — Yes. — And we don't know what's there. — Not yet. Kael looked toward the road. — I don't like that. Darius crossed his arms. — Because you don't have all the answers? — Because someone might. Darius immediately understood. The prisoner. The Watcher. Darian. Perhaps even Cassian Rovenhart. Too many names were beginning to appear around the same story. Kael didn't like coincidences. — We'll find out who knows what, he finally said. Darius nodded. — And at Asteria? Kael picked up his coat. — I'll listen. — And if the director asks you about everything that happened? Kael stopped. A faint smile appeared on his face. — He won't get everything. Darius laughed softly. — I was wondering when you'd say that. --- The journey to Asteria took several hours. This time, Kael traveled in a small Veyron carriage with Darius. Ethan had decided to remain at the estate with Aldren to oversee the investigation. Lucian, meanwhile, would return to the Academy a few hours later. Kael watched the landscape pass by through the window. He had brought several documents with him. The report on V-17. A copy of the Imperial document concerning the Rovenharts. A few notes from his father. And a blank sheet of paper. The last one had remained untouched. He had deliberately placed it on top of the others. Darius eventually noticed it. — What are you planning to write? — I don't know. — Then why bring it? Kael looked at the sheet. — To write down what I discover. Darius nodded. — Good idea. A silence settled between them. Then Darius added: — You could also write, "Noah talks too much." Kael slowly turned his head. — That wouldn't take much space. Darius burst out laughing. --- Several miles away, Asteria was returning to its usual rhythm as well. The students were gradually returning to the buildings after the holidays. The corridors were once again filled with conversation. Noah was the first to complain. — I want to leave again. Lysandra looked at him. — You've been here for twenty minutes. — Exactly. Adrian, Kael's friend, closed his book. — You said you were looking forward to coming back. — I was young and naive. — That was twenty minutes ago. — A lot can change in twenty minutes. Lysandra smiled. — You mostly saw your schedule. Noah pulled the sheet from his pocket. — Three theory classes this week. — Tragic. — And two training sessions. Adrian raised an eyebrow. — You'll survive. — I'm not sure. A voice came from behind them. — You're still just as loud. Noah turned around. Kael was walking down the corridor. Noah froze for a second. Then his face lit up. — Kael! He rushed toward him. Kael stepped back slightly. — Easy. — You're back! — Yes. — How was it? — Normal. Noah stared at him. — You're lying. Kael raised an eyebrow. — Why? — Because whenever you say "normal," something always happens. Lysandra approached behind Noah. She looked at Kael for a few seconds. Her smile appeared almost immediately. — Welcome back. Kael nodded. — Thanks. She studied his face. Then her gaze dropped toward the bag he was carrying. — You look worried. Kael hesitated. — A little. Lysandra didn't ask anything. She simply walked beside him. Kael noticed the gesture. He didn't know why, but it made him feel better. Adrian joined them. — The director is waiting for us. Noah grimaced. — Now? — Now. — I just got my freedom back. Adrian looked at him. — You were never free. — That's very philosophical. Kael smiled faintly. They headed toward the director's office. --- Several people were already waiting inside the office. The director. Lucian. Two representatives of the Imperial administration. And a man Kael didn't know. He wore the uniform of the Imperial Guard. The director stood. — Kael. Welcome back. Kael inclined his head slightly. — Director. His gaze moved over the others. The Imperial representative spoke. — The palace wishes to obtain more information concerning the recent incidents. Kael remained calm. — Which ones? The man paused. — The ancient systems. Kael didn't answer immediately. They already know something. He didn't know how much. But the wording was too precise to be innocent. The director intervened. — We aren't asking you to reveal everything today. Kael looked at him. — What exactly are you asking for? The director placed a file on his desk. — Cooperation between the Academy, House Veyron, and the Empire. Kael opened the file. Several reports were inside. A-02. The prisoners. The magical anomalies. The ancient archives. Then one final page. Kael read through it. His gaze stopped. — An Imperial mission? The director nodded. — In two weeks. Noah, standing behind him, muttered: — Why are there always missions? Lysandra nudged him with her elbow. The director continued. — Several major noble families will be involved. Kael slightly closed the file. — Which ones? The Imperial representative answered: — The principal noble houses of the capital. Then he added: — House Rovenhart as well. Kael remained perfectly still. But his mind immediately started moving again. Rovenhart. The document found at Veyron immediately came back to him. A request for access to the western archives. An old request. Much older than the recent events. And now Cassian Rovenhart would be involved in an Imperial mission. The coincidence might be real. But Kael still didn't like coincidences. — Very well, he answered. The Imperial representative seemed surprised by how easily he accepted. — You agree? — I'll be there. The director studied Kael. He had probably understood that there was something else behind that answer. But he didn't ask. --- Later, the students left the office. Noah walked beside Kael. — You don't look very happy about this mission. — I'm not particularly happy about having to talk to several hundred people. — I like it. Kael looked at him. — I know. Lysandra joined in. — Do you know many noble families? — A few. Adrian thought for a moment. — There will probably be several influential families. Kael nodded. — Yes. Noah looked at Lysandra. — Will your family be involved? She thought about it. — Probably. Kael glanced toward her. — The Valennes? Lysandra nodded. — My father will probably be there. Noah smiled. — This should be interesting. Lysandra sighed. — I can already tell you're going to do something embarrassing. — Me? — Yes. — I'm always perfectly respectable. Adrian looked at him. — You asked Veyron's cook if you could take the desserts home. — It was a legitimate question. Kael shook his head slightly. Lysandra smiled. — At least the holidays were useful for something. Kael looked ahead. He didn't answer. But he enjoyed the moment. For a few seconds, he didn't have to think about V-17. Or L-03. Or his father. Only his friends. Then a voice interrupted them. — Veyron. Kael stopped. Adrian Rovenhart stood a few meters away. Their eyes met. Noah immediately looked at Kael. Lysandra remained silent. Adrian Rovenhart approached. — I didn't know you had already returned. Kael answered calmly: — I arrived this morning. Adrian nodded. — I heard about what happened at the Veyron estate. Kael studied him. — A lot of things are going around. — Yes. Adrian hesitated. — Are you all right? The question slightly surprised Kael. Not because it was strange. But because it was sincere. — Yes. Adrian nodded. — Good. He was about to leave when Kael spoke. — Rovenhart. The young noble turned around. — Yes? Kael hesitated for a second. He could have directly asked what his father knew. He didn't. He probably doesn't know anything. There would be no point. — Nothing. Adrian frowned slightly. — All right. He walked away. Noah waited a few seconds. Then looked at Kael. — You wanted to ask him something. Kael stared at him. — Maybe. — And you didn't. — No. Lysandra studied Kael. — Because you think he doesn't know anything. Kael looked at her. She had understood. — Yes. Adrian spoke calmly: — So you'd rather talk directly to his father. Kael didn't answer. The silence was enough. --- Several corridors away, Darian Valcroix closed a book. The classroom was empty. He was waiting for someone. A few minutes later, a letter appeared on his desk. No one had entered. There had been no sound. Only a black envelope deposited there by a transmission spell. Darian picked it up. The seal bore the symbol of House Rovenhart. He opened the letter. Only a few lines. His expression hardened. The Veyron patriarch has returned to Asteria. Darian remained silent. Then he read the second sentence. Cassian will be involved in the Imperial mission. He slowly folded the letter. The third sentence was shorter. Do not let him discover L-03. Darian remained motionless. Then he whispered: — Too late. He looked toward the window. In the distance, the towers of Asteria stood against the sky. Somewhere inside the Academy, Kael Veyron had just returned. And this time, several sides were beginning to move their pieces. --- That evening, Kael found himself alone in his room. He had opened the director's file. The Imperial mission was scheduled for two weeks from now. He placed the document on his desk. Then he took out the copy of the Rovenhart file. Two documents. Two different periods. The same family. Kael picked up his pen. He also opened the blank sheet he had brought from Veyron. After a few seconds of hesitation, he wrote: V-17 — House Veyron. Then: L-03 — probably Lorn. He thought for a moment. He added: Rovenhart — western archives. Then he stopped. He looked at the three lines. He didn't know yet how they were connected. And he refused to draw conclusions too quickly. His father had left him fragments. Not answers. Kael put down the pen. I'll figure it out eventually. He looked out the window. Asteria was glowing in the night. And somewhere inside the Academy, a professor had probably just finished a conversation he never should have had. Kael didn't know it yet. But the next piece of the puzzle might no longer be hidden beneath an ancient estate. It was already in Asteria. And someone was doing everything they could to make sure he didn't find it.

The Shadows of Asteria