"It is quite crowded in here, I suspect she's waiting outside in the hallway, maybe getting a breath of fresh air."

"I suppose so," said Natalia in disappointment.

"You'll have to excuse me," said Master Gregori, "I need to console the men's team on their loss. Good work today, Natalia, keep it up. You'll go far in the Stormwind family, I have no doubt of that."

"Thank you," she said, but the instructor had already started moving across the room.

She made her way to the hallway and turned to watch as the other students came out of the room, most on the way to the dining hall, where a celebratory feast waited. Natalia scanned the crowd, but still saw no sign of her friend.

Thinking that Katrin might have returned to her room, Natalia made her way to the dormitory. As she approached her friend's door, she noticed it was open. She slowed, then quietly moved forward, intent on a good scare. Jumping into the doorway, she was ready to yell surprise, only to be met with an empty room. She saw naught but a bed, devoid of blankets, and a dresser, its drawers half pulled out.

Natalia looked again at the door, half convinced that she had picked the wrong room, but the number that stared back at her confirmed it was Katrin's. She asked a few of the students wandering about the dormitory, but none of them knew anything of Katrin's whereabouts.

Next, she sought out Mistress Tatiana. The woman was in the dining hall, overseeing the celebration from a corner of the room. Natalia approached cautiously, waiting for her presence to be noticed.

Mistress Tatiana looked at her, a smile crossing her face. "Natalia, why the long face? You did well today, you should be proud. Is something wrong?"

"I was wondering if you'd seen Katrin?" she asked.

"She is gone," the mistress replied, with no further explanation.

"What do you mean, gone?" asked Natalia.

"She was showing insufficient advancement in her studies."

"I don't understand?"

"She failed too many classes," the mistress explained.

"But she's a high-born," Natalia argued, "from one of the founding families."

"High-born or low, it matters little if they can't master what they are taught."

"So she's gone? Just like that?"

"It should come as no surprise," said Mistress Tatiana, "after all, you've been tutoring her for months now. You, of all people, should have realized how badly she was doing."

"How do I get in touch with her?"

"You don't," the mistress replied. "She has been removed from the Volstrum, you are no longer to have any contact with her."

"But Mistress-"

"No excuses," interrupted the mistress, "and no more talk of Katrin. Celebrate your victory today, and be glad of your success, you have earned it." The mistress walked off, leaving Natalia with her thoughts. Here she stood, in a room full of students, but to Natalia, she was once again all alone.

Master of Flame

Summer 1103 SR