“My soul courses through this blade.” Duxton formed his right hand into a fist, which he held out in front of him. His left hand passed over his right in an arch, and a glowing orange blade appeared within his fist. “On this day, before the heart of Eisher, I forge a union between two souls.”

The black stones of Fogbloom’s bay glistened within the light of the setting sun. Duxton stood on a platform built on the beach. Before him, Udell and Valerie had kneeled. Both of their heads were dipped forward in silent prayer.

Duxton tapped his sword against Udell’s shoulders. “You took knee as a squire, but will rise as a knight. Now declare your vow. To whom do you swear your loyalty?”

Udell crossed his arms across his chest, so that his fingertips rested where Duxton’s blade had touched. “My oath is to the people. My hand is guided by retribution. My will is unbreakable in the face of suffering.”

Duxton’s blade now tapped against Valerie’s shoulders. “And what is your vow?”

Valerie matched Udell’s position. “My oath is to Udell. I will temper his rage when it burns, give him insight when he is blinded, and tend to him when he is wounded.”

“Have these vows been witnessed?” Duxton took a step back and outstretched his arms.

“Aye!” Resonated the crowd, who had been standing on the beach before the platform.

The orange blade was tossed high in the air. “The pact is forged,” said Duxton. His blade burst into glittering light, that began to shower down upon both Udell and Valerie. “Rise and be noble, Lord and Lady Tardival!”

Udell stood up and held out a hand for Valerie to take. He helped her stand and pulled her close long enough to gently kiss her forehead and whisper something in her ear. Before them, the crowd erupted in applause. They tossed polished glass, stones, and shells onto the beach, forming an aisle for the new couple to walk down.

The stones crunched underneath the couple’s feet, and the crowd formed a line behind them as Udell and Valerie headed towards the beach mansion. A reception was set up inside, with a full banquet and a string quartet. Udell immediately swept Valerie up and began to dance with her.

“I think I’m having a panic attack,” whispered Tabitha.

All of the students in Women’s Studies had been invited. Udell’s family was here, but Duxton had packed the place with other university students and local noble families. Many of them were only here on Duxton’s request, but those of Women’s Studies were just now realizing how many opportunities to fall in love were waiting here.

“How is my hair?” Asked Tabitha as she grasped onto Sybil’s shoulders. “And my makeup and my clothes and… And my personality and everything else.”

Sybil removed Tabitha’s hands and clutched onto them. “Just be yourself.”

“... They don’t teach us how to do that,” replied Tabitha in a thin whine.

“What matters is that you fall in love for love’s sake,” replied Sybil. “And not because you’re pretending to be something your not. Just go out there and ask someone to dance.”

Tabitha shook her head. “We’re really not supposed to do that.”

“Yes, I know there are all these rules of introduction, but I also know that you’ve been staring at that man in the blue suit since before the ceremony.” Sybil leaned in and whispered. “And I know he’s been stealing glances at you, so go say hi.”

“What, really?” Tabitha began to rapidly smooth out her skirt. “Yes, just go up and ask for an introduction. N-nothing wrong with that.” She quietly began to approach a group of young men and women.

And a little bit of time away from Tabitha was all Sybil needed to make her escape. This was a situation where Margret had to be here, but Sybil couldn’t afford to be seen. The party was flooded with members of the higher class, and it was likely that at least one or two of them had been after her head at some point. She quietly backed out of the main hall and made her way upstairs. Her fellow women were planning on leaving before midnight, and it would be better that she wasted time until they left instead of mysteriously vanishing.

The mansion was built to host Dukes and Duchesses of the other regions. It was meant to be a fully functioning estate, and that included a library. Whenever it wasn’t being used for its intended purpose, which was quite often for years at a time, members of the Violet Court could schedule it for special events.

Sybil opened the doors to the library and let out a low whistle. Two stories, wall to wall shelves. All this knowledge was hidden away in a private collection that likely never saw the light of day. She didn’t think that people ever came in here, other than to clean, because there wasn’t much dust on the tables.

She walked up to the front podium, which had a catalog of all the books present. While she flipped through it, the door opened behind her. Sybil ignored the footsteps as the newcomer walked up and looked over her shoulder.

“Biology?” Asked Patterfall.

She glanced behind her. “Yeah… Were you followed?”

Patterfall took a step back. “I’m unsure. I didn’t bother to hide my presence.”

Sybil closed the book and started to pull a ladder into position. “There’s probably some stalker here who wants to be your friend or lover.”

A nervous glance was given to the door. It was currently shut. “It shouldn’t be a problem,” he muttered. “Are you sure you want to stay here? We could get in line for the buffet. I needed to ask you for clarification on your recent notes.”

“I don’t like waiting in line for food, plus I never get a chance to go into the library in the university. I always get asked if I’m lost whenever I go in there.” Sybil began to climb up the ladder. “I’m more worried about someone showing up and starting rumors about us hanging out together.”

Patterfall frowned to himself. “No one is going to think twice about me being in my own library.”

“Your library?” Sybil glanced over her shoulder.

“Mother hates the palace,” replied Patterfall as he gestured to the room around him. “Too many deaths in the family. She also doesn’t want me traveling to Grand Temple late at night and the dorms aren’t secure enough. This mansion was the only compromise to be had.”

That was logic that Sybil couldn’t argue with. “So Duxton bullied you into letting him throw his party here?”

“Yes,” replied Patterfall. “He stated that a part of his arrangement with Mister Tardival was that his knighting ceremony be as extravagant as possible, as to impress his new wife. He and his manservant are just… Also living here until he leaves for the war.”

“So it’s a con?” Sybil grabbed a book from the shelf and began to climb down the ladder. “Because I’m going to have to tell Valerie if Tardival is toying with her.”

Patterfall walked along the shelves, grabbing the occasional book as he did so. “Unfortunately, that is information that I do not have.” He set his stack of books on a small table and flopped down in the chair next to it.

Sybil sat down in the chair across from him. She took off her shoes and pulled her legs into the chair, sitting cross-legged as she opened her book. “So why are you avoiding the party?”

“Do I honestly need a reason?”

Sybil glanced up from her book briefly before turning the back of the book, so she could go through the appendix. “Just wanted to see if hating crowds was this weird Aconite trait of it only applied to a certain pair of idiots.”

Patterfall held up a book so that Sybil could see it. There were gilded paisley marks and roses blooming around a flowery title. “Romance,” he replied. “My mother is a careful woman, and I can’t even share a room’s air with a woman without her doing a background check. Then she starts visiting me and telling me that these are the girls she likes and these are the ones I should avoid. Honestly, it’s like she cares more about having prosperous grandchildren than she does my happiness.”

Having met Elbellziara, Sybil could entirely believe that. “But you read sappy romance books?”

He narrowed his eyes. “Yes,” he bluntly replied. “My inability to have a love life and the enjoyment I get from reading this trash are two entirely different subjects.”

Sybil shook her head and flipped through the book until she found what she was looking for. “Would you mind putting a pin in your fantasy for now? I found something I want to show you.”

Patterfall stood up and stood behind her chair. “Dung beetles?”

“My mother told me about them. She saw them during the war.” Sybil looked up at him. “It’ll take me a bit to get their movements right, but I could use their design for the golems you wanted.”

Patterfall furrowed his brows. “How many of these golems would be needed to clean Fogbloom?”

She needed a moment to consider it. “I don’t know if they’ll be able to clean up all that quickly, but they would be low maintenance and would be able to work at night without interfering with the city life.” Sybil tilted her head as she did the calculations. “A couple hundred. I could look into having them work during the day in order to keep everything cleaner, but I’m worried about them being trampled on.”

A couple hundred finely tuned golems with intricate pieces. Probably days of work to make each one, only to bear the real risk of them getting trampled on by a horse. Even if he passed registration in Fogblom to close the streets down in the early mornings for cleaning, he wasn’t fond of the other aspects of the plan.

“What about the other bits of dirt and garbage that ends up in the streets?”

Sybil’s face went blank. “... I thought I was only supposed to clean the manure.”

“We need a golem that can be operated during the day, one that will clean pedestrian crossings and will sweep up any and all debris,” replied Patterfall.

“Pfft.” Sybil shrugged. “I’ll just design something else for that.” She twirled a finger in the air. “Something with big spinning brooms.”

Patterfall went back to his chair. “We need to think about cost-efficiency.”

“... Cost what now?”

“We need to minimize the overall cost of the project, otherwise it will never get approved. The complexity of golem, man-hours needed to put one together, cost of materials, and the hidden costs. What we need is a single golem that can be easily manufactured and will perform all the duties we ask of it.”

Sybil stared at him as though he were insane.

“Have you never worked with a budget? Have you seriously been working your whole life without one?” Patterfall scoffed while Sybil struggled to comprehend what he was saying. “There is an investment cost which we will have to put upfront, and it is up to the King’s Court if they wish to buy our design and allow us to begin manufacturing. I do not have limitless funds to create whatever whims you come up with.”

“A dear friend of mine lost her legs in an accident. We took whatever supplies we had to make her a new pair. Are you telling me that if something like that had happened outside of Carapace, I would have to spend months or even years designing a less than perfect set of legs for her?”

Patterfall was taken aback by the response. “Well… Yes. That’s exactly how the process-” He fell silent as Sybil held up a finger to her lips.

The door to the library opened. “Lord Patterfall, are you in here?” It was a woman dressed as a maid. “Prince Duxton has requested that you-” She stopped when her eyes fell on Sybil, who was using a book to hide her face. “Apologies, my Lord, I didn’t realize you had company.” She quickly closed the door.

A mixed expression of worry and exhaustion crossed Patterfall’s features. “... I do believe that mother will be visiting tomorrow, just to see how I’ve been doing.”

Sybil scurried about, rushing to put away the book where she had found it. “Duxton is going to barge in here the moment he hears word that you’re with a woman. I’ll be taking my leave before that happens.”

“I look forward to hearing from you later. What should I leave in our drawer this time?”

She froze. “... Ahhh, there isn’t time to think about it. Give me a week to consider everything you’ve said, alright? I’ll draw up a design and leave it in the drawer. Surprise me with whatever you’re in the mood for, okay?”

Patterfall blinked, and suddenly, Sybil had vanished. He had gotten used to her doing that by now. “Alright,” he whispered.

Sybil integrated herself into the party and did whatever she could to avoid anyone she didn’t know. She filtered out with the rest of her classmates and returned to the dorms. Valerie would be staying at the mansion with Udell for a few days, and then she would be returning to the dorms to finish off the school year.

Days passed in a mundane manner. Sybil tried to stay focused on her classes, but it was becoming more and more difficult to even try. The only “fun” activity she had was planning Valerie’s return party. She only planned on being involved because she didn’t want Valerie to be suddenly ambushed with awkward questions. Someone needed to be there to protect her.

“Oh hey,” said Tabitha as she peeked out the second-story window. “Valerie is back early. I thought she-” Tabitha suddenly let out a gasp of horror.

Sybil adjusted her glasses and looked out as well. Valerie was outside with a group of people. There was Udell and his manservert, along with… She took a cautious step back so none of them would see her. What was Shaw doing here? It was too early. Duxton was supposed to warn her when Shaw would be coming back, because he was going to use only Udell as their point of contact from then on.

And Shaw was the least of her worries. Zaniyah was with him, and she’d see through Sybil’s disguise in a second… But maybe they weren’t here for her. Maybe it was for Gwyn or, “... Fairy?”

“She may look like a fairy, but I assure you that that woman is pure evil,” growled Tabitha. “That’s the Ghost of Petalmist.”

Ghost? Who? Sybil stole a quick glance outside. Was she talking about Gwyn? “She looks rather alive to me.”

Tabitha clutched onto Sybil’s shoulders and shook her. “You don’t understand! She’s a terror! She’d rarely show up to school, but when she did… Bam! She was the very definition of perfect, and all the boys and teachers would be swooning over her!” Tabitha let go of Sybil and clutched onto herself. “I don’t know why she’s here, Margret, but I can assure you that it isn’t good.”

“Maybe we should just hide,” replied Sybil.

“But we absolutely need to see what they are up to,” said Tabitha with a nod of affirmation.

Sybil pointed to the window. “But that man and woman are wearing the coat of arms of the Arbutus family. I’m not certain what I’ve done, but Prince Duxton didn’t even spare me a glance at Sir Tardival’s celebration. It wouldn’t do me well to show up before his paladins, it may make me look desperate.”

Tabitha slowly nodded to herself. “Yes. He may be trying to break matters off cleanly, and we can’t have you embarrass yourself.” She frowned to herself. “You should hide in the theater and practice for the upcoming performance. I’ll keep them away from there.”

“Thank you for your sacrifice.”

But Sybil fully expected Tabitha to confront Shaw and force him to apologize to Margret for Duxton’s behavior. The theater was the last place she needed to be. As soon as no one could see her, she entered her mist step and left the student building. There was only one place where they wouldn’t look for her.

She entered the golem research building and carefully worked her way around their latest projects. Once she locked sight on Patterfall, she headed straight to him. A quick poof was all she needed to make herself visible.

“Do you want to play some Haztooth Blitz?”

Patterfall clamped his hand to his mouth to keep himself from crying out in surprise. His eyes widened at her as he let out a muffled grunt.

“You alright there, Patter?”

“Yes, fine!” Patterfall glanced away. “I pinched my finger, but it isn’t bleeding! I’ll be alright!” He looked back and Sybil, only to find that she was completely invisible again.

“You have to keep eye contact with me if you don’t want me disappearing. I can’t risk dropping the spell completely.” Sybil folded her arms and gave him a disapproving look. She had mentioned that before.

“Yes, you had mentioned that before,” muttered Patterfall. “Though I don’t know why you would risk showing up here during the day. It’s far too dangerous.”

“Shaw is at Women’s Studies right now, and it’s possible that either Tabitha or Valerie might lead him straight to me,” replied Sybil. “This is the only place they’d know not to look.”

Patterfall frowned at her.

“I’ll take off my wig and glasses, and you can lend me your jacket. No one will know it’s me.”

Patterfall flexed his hand. His mana formed into a violet screwdriver that he used to make adjustments to the beetled he was working on. “I’m too closely associated with people who would try to hide you. It’s not just my mother’s people who have eyes on me… You were right to be cautious to enter a partnership with me when we first met.”

He was using his magic to make the tools he needed? This was the first time that Sybil ever felt jealous over someone else’s powers. Though, he had also looked away from her, meaning that he was completely done with this conversation.

But that wouldn’t do. Sybil didn’t want to sneak out of here and find someplace to sulk for a few hours until she was safe to go back. Maybe the dorms, but Fairy was with them. She didn’t know why Fairy was here, but she could be trying to research this place for future applications. They would be checking out the dorms if that happened.

She needed to convince Patterfall to help her out. There was priestess magic in her. Sybil could reach out and force him to change his mind, couldn’t she? Her hand reached towards his cheek. Just a little bit wouldn’t hurt him, would it?

“Hey, Patter? Are you trying to hide a girl over there?”

Patterfall turned his head. “You’re visible,” he said with a whisper. He saw her hand in the corner of his eye and quickly took a step back. “What are you doing?” He asked in a hoarse voice.

Sybil’s eyes flashed from blue to dark as she struggled to regain control. “S-sorry,” she whispered. “I’m sorry,” she said more loudly, this time with a bow. “I’ll be on my way.”

One of Patterfall’s classmates had slid up. “Women’s Studies, huh?” He looked Sybil up and down. She was still wearing her uniform. “There were a lot of you at Patter’s mansion last Satyrday. Is that where you two met?”

“It isn’t like that,” muttered Sybil as she took a step back.

Patterfall’s face hardened. “She’s just being a nuisance. I was going to finish my work first before escorting her out.”

There were more students gathering around. Not staring, but moving close enough to be within earshot of their conversation. Their presence was enough to make Sybil feel claustrophobic. She looked away from the group, glancing around as a way to escape. To many people between her and the doors, and she couldn’t go invisible now.

“Escort her?” The classmate’s face widened into a grin. “Like a date?”

“It isn’t like that!” Sybil exclaimed. “I was only asking…” She had to protect both herself and Patterfall. There had to be something she could say that wouldn’t lead into someone looking into who she was. “I-I was only asking about… About Duxton!” She tightly clutched onto the edges of her skirt. “You see…

I-I thought I had garnered Prince Duxton’s favor, but he couldn’t be bothered to say anything to me at the party.” Because Duxton, for once, was trying to not draw attention to her. “I thought that I had done something to offend him, so I chose to invade your studies and bother Lord Patterfall with my needless questions.” She bowed her head deeply. “I hope that you accept my most profound apologies!”

The enthusiasm in the man’s face fell. “Hey…” He watched the tears slip from Sybil’s cheeks. “Hey, I was only teasing Patter. There isn’t a reason to cry.” He reached out to brush the tears away from her cheek.

Patterfall caught onto his wrist. “Do not pity this act of foolish desperation.” He tossed his classmate's hands aside. “Come on, Miss. You can put your face back together in our advisor’s office, but you must be on your way after you have calmed down.”

Sybil kept her head low and followed Patterfall into the office. She was about to ask who their advisor was, but realized that the office itself was rather bare. There were books on the shelves, and a lack of dust, yet the desk was unused. No stationary or personal items.

“This isn’t good,” muttered Patterfall. He ushered her in and closed the door behind them.

Sybil sat down and buried her face in her hands. “I’m sorry. I lost concentration on my spell.” And had to put on that completely humiliating display of playing an idiot girl.

“Bowing is a Crimson Region tradition. They’re going to know that you’re not a Western native.” Patterfall sat down on the edge of the desk.

Shit.

“They probably think I did it to hide my face,” replied Sybil.

Patterfall put a hand to his chin. “Maybe…” He shook his head and reached into his pocket. “Here.” He held out a handkerchief for her to take.

“Thank you.” Sybil began to dry off her face.

“If you’re having problems keeping up your spells…” Patterfall’s voice drifted off for a moment. “It’s best that we end our partnership for now. We can’t risk having anyone see you sneaking in or out of here.”

But Sybil needed to work on golems, otherwise, she was going to go insane. “My magic works fine, it’s just… Sometimes she gets bored or a little crazy and wants to go have fun, and I don’t always realize what I’m doing.”

“... What?” Asked Patterfall, his voice nearly cracking when it did so. His eyes glazed over as he struggled to comprehend what she just said.

Sybil poked her index fingers together. “They tried to subdue me last year by using enslaving magic on me, and now the priestess they put inside of me takes over sometimes.” Patterfall didn’t say anything, he just stared at the wall ahead. “Look, I know that’s not supposed to happen, but I have weird magic. Maybe it was something to do with my lineage?”

“The Priestess Act of 709,” muttered Patterfall.

“What?” Now Sybil was the confused one.

“It’s the companion bill attached to the Blood Iron Act of 247. We study it as a way to modernize old laws, because it created guidelines for medical experimentation and blood iron harvesting.” Patterfall stood up and began to pace back and forth across the room. “It states that blood iron can be retrieved in small amounts from humans as long as it’s for their own use.

However, it completely outlaws the withdrawal of blood iron from Priestesses of Eatha. The main reason given is due to their blood being a vital component in the conversion of slaves, but another example given was a medical study done by Father Omiro Alcea.”

Omiro Alcea was Sybil’s great-grandfather. He was the man behind the destruction of the Fogbloom family. “... What were these experiments?”

She already knew that he had experimented on Alessia Fogbloom, creating a bracelet out of her blood iron that allowed her to channel her time magic. Alessia had made it sound like she had been used as a tool, and that may have been the case. There were others though. Others that Sybil was frightened to find out about.

“The victim had been subjected to slave conversion, much like you had. Troubles began when the priestess within them completely took over their personality and began to lash out against those who murdered her. Father Alcea began his experiments so he could find out the cause and create a treatment for her.”

“... And that’s it? Were they treated?” Sybil would risk nearly anything to get this priestess out of her.

“I don’t know. Only enough information was revealed for it to be used as evidence during the construction of the Priestess Act.” Patterfall looked away from her, biting his lip as he did so. “It’s against the law to publish details about minors.”

That only meant that they were under the age of twenty, like Sybil was. “But it’s been nearly sixty years then. Do you know if there were any follow up studies done? There might be a case study somewhere.”

“The bill cites many victims of blood iron experimentation,” replied Patterfall. “However, the only reason why much of it went public was because the Alcea family was massacred in 708. The church ceased Father Alcea’s journals and limited what information was released.”

When Aeneas Alcea returned to Grand Temple and murdered his father and family. It wasn’t all about revenge for the Fogbloom family. “They must have been a member of the Alcea family.” Sybil felt a chill run up her spine. “He experimented on his own blood.”

“And there are those who still follow his teachings,” replied Patterfall. “That’s why I can’t risk getting in contact with you again. It’s too dangerous for both of us.”

“The Order of Alcea.” Both Veximarl and Duxton had told her that it was the organization that Paladin Buttonweed was working for.

“My mother is a member of that organization, along with several other members of my family,” said Patterfall.

“... Mother..?”

“Yes. That’s why it’s best that you-”

Sybil completely tuned him out. Her mind was flooded with thoughts of her mother. Lydia Larkin. Duxton claimed to have seen her on the day that Wulfert Aconite died. She hated the idea of it. Lydia was supposed to have died in Carapace, not be kidnapped and dragged to the other side of the country.

Did they experiment on her? Did they force her to drink blood iron and made her suffer? Tears began to spill down Sybil’s cheeks again. This time, they weren’t the forced tears she used to get her out of trouble, but searing drips of fear and anger. Who were these people? Why did they believe they have a right to do this to her and her mother?

“Sybil.” Patterfall knelt down in front of her. “I know that this is scary, but I don’t believe that anyone here will look into who you are. You’re safe for a little while, but you need to leave this university to keep it that way.”

“Are you a member of the Order of Alcea?” Sybil asked in a hoarse whisper.

“No… I’ve been refraining from joining, citing that I prefer to be a duke that separates law from religion,” he replied. “They have yet to pressure me into joining.”

“Do you know who the current head is?”

“Ah…” Patterfall’s eyes flitted away for a moment. “The Order’s leaders are supposed to be kept secret. The whole Order is a shadow organization, so…”

“Who is it?” Snarled Sybil.

Patterfall studied her face as it twisted up with rage. “... Father Laurent.” He was hesitant when he responded, but she didn’t believe he was lying to her.

“Laurent who?” Asked Sybil. “I need a last name.”

“Laurent Aconite. He’s my…” Patterfall struggled to remember the term. “Second cousin once removed? He’s the grandson of great-grandfather’s brother. Currently, he serves in the palace as King Howell’s religious advisor.”

“Right.” Sybil rubbed the handkerchief against her face. What absolute rubbish this was. “... You’re right. I can’t possibly hope to oppose someone like that, even with Duxton’s help. There’s also that chance that Duxton is toying me along and working with them.” She put a hand to her chin. “But it’ll be suspicious if I suddenly leave Fogbloom without saying anything.”

“I would say that disappearing as soon as you’re able to would be the safest option,” replied Patterfall.

“No, no…” Sybil stood up and stuffed the handkerchief in her pocket. “I’ll wash this and return it to you, along with any of the work I still have with me. That will give me enough time to plan my exit strategy.”

Patterfall stood up as well. “You shouldn’t force yourself. Your life is more important than my golems.”

“It’ll be fine. I can handle myself if an emergency happens.” She tried to sound reassuring, because Patterfall didn’t know her well enough to know that that was an absolute lie.

“... Alright,” Patterfall said begrudgingly. “I’ll walk you out of the building. I’m sorry I couldn’t distract you while Shaw was visiting, but I know you’ll find someplace else to hide.”

“I will. Thank you for your concern.”

But Sybil didn’t care about his concern. As soon as she was away from the building and certain that no one was watching, she vanished into thin air. Screw waiting around for Duxton. Sybil had her own plan for saving herself, and it all centered around Laurent Aconite.

She headed away from the university and to the shopping district. Though she didn’t like to steal, there were items that she couldn’t be seen buying. Nor could she actually afford them, it wasn’t like Duxton actually granted her an allowance. All of her housing costs and food was covered by her university scholarship.

Sybil waited on the side of the street in front of a store. A roof over her head and food was nice, but they didn’t have what she actually needed. The door to the store opened, and she took her opportunity to slide in as someone was walking out. Weapons and armor lined the walls. Expensive stuff, made for the elite within the king’s army.

A plan was forming in Sybil’s head as she glanced over the weapons. Sneaking into the palace was not an option. They had a way to keep her grandfather out, and she suspected those alarms were rune based. If her mother was a prisoner within the palace, and her mother also used mist magic, then those alarms could still be in place.

Nor did Sybil know what Laurent looked like. It also didn’t matter if Duxton was working with Laurent or not, he would do everything he could to get in the way of her plans. What she needed was a place that she could lure Laurent to.

Like the university performance happening in a few weeks. The elite of Fogbloom and Grand Temple would be there, eager to watch their children put on performances. Sybil could steal the stationery from the dean’s office and send a personal invitation for Laurent to show up.

Yes, that could work, she thought as she picked up a dagger. A terrible weapon when compared with the treasures Chickadee had made for her, but it was sharp enough to do the job. All Sybil needed to do was lure Laurent to the performance, and tear out his heart when it came to the climax of her performance.

Her afternoon was spent gathering the supplies that she needed. Stationary, addresses, anything else that she thought would be useful. It was getting close to dinnertime by the time she returned to the dorms. Hopefully, no one would ask what she was carrying in the bag. Maybe she shouldn’t risk it, and try to stay invisible.

“Margret?” Valerie walked up with a giant smile. “We’ve been looking everywhere for you!”

“Oh, sorry.” Sybil dipped her head. “I found that book you had suggested for me in the library, and I simply lost track of the time while reading it.”

“The first book from the Dear Maid series? I absolutely loved those mystery novels as a child!” Valerie beamed. “I’m so happy to know that you’ve been enjoying them too!”

Sybil had read them a while ago, just so she could use them as an alibi for a time like this. “Yes! I can’t wait to read the second.”

The smile on Valerie’s face faltered. “Oh, but now isn’t the time to be talking about that. Now, I’m sorry to say that I do remember you stating that you value your privacy.” She leaned in. “Due to the wig and all that, even though we said before that you needn’t be embarrassed about it,” she whispered. “But we had a new girl come in today, and she insisted that she had some separation issues due to an incident and we thought that she would make an excellent roommate for you!”

“Roommate?” Today? Like when she saw her friends, (and Shaw), show up earlier? The color drained from Sybil’s face.

“Yes! And we’ve already moved her in!” Valerie gestured to the stairs. “Why don’t you go up and introduce yourself?”

Sybil didn’t need to be told twice. She began to race up the stairs, jumping them two at a time. Roommate? Now of all times? It had to be Fairy, but Fairy was supposed to be in Carapace. Why was she in Fogbloom? Not only that, but she was fourteen! Did they grant her some early scholarship access or something because of her artistic talent?

No, no. Fourteen. They wouldn’t allow that. It had to be Zaniyah. Zaniyah must have seen something terrible at the Arbutus estate and begged to stay somewhere else, then made some excuse about wanting to be a proper lady and going to proper lady school. She even hounded Lady Marjoram about it, it wouldn’t surprise Sybil to learn that she was studying here.

Either way, Sybil had plans now, and it was impossible to get any assassination planning done if a roommate were involved. She had to find a way to get them out of her room as quickly as possible. Especially if it turned out to be a stranger. There’s no telling if it could be a spy or an innocent that would end up getting hurt due to Sybil’s plotting.

Sybil opened her door, and her body went numb at the sight unfolding before her. There sat a woman, not on her own bed, but Sybil’s. She was reading a journal, the one that had Sybil and Patterfall had been exchanging, and was eating a bagel that Patterfall had baked for her.

“It’s a pleasure to meet you, Miss Miller,” said Gwyn with a nod. “I’m sorry to be rude, but I must profess that you should take care when you store your treats, otherwise, we will risk an invasion of ants. Now, we wouldn't want that, would we?”