In stealth mode, I make it past Toivo’s room and perch at the top of the stairs, straining my ears. Mom, Dad, and Toivo are deep in conversation. Of course no one thought to include me. Guess I’m just easier to ignore.

“…really quite bizarre,” Dad says.

I’m glad he’s home. At least dinners will be edible again.

“I just don’t understand why someone strong enough to get past six battle mages wouldn’t take anything,” Toivo says.

“They broke enough.” Dad sighs. “Many irreplaceable relics. I’d almost prefer it if they’d stolen the items instead.”

Now here’s a story! Even Cludd might be impressed to know someone got the better of seasoned battle mages. Although, that feat is as terrifying as it is impressive considering battle mages only really became a thing during the Chaos Wars, when mages started training in combative elementalism. They were forced to swear a hard-core oath to uphold mage law. Theoretically, no one but a chaos mage should be able to take on a battle mage, but chaos magic was outlawed after the wars when the corrupt mages were imprisoned in special dungeons, if not killed outright. There are no more chaos mages in the world. But then, who could’ve defeated six battle mages? The question knifes through my thoughts.

Someone powerful. Very, very powerful.

I suppress a shudder and keep listening.

“Juha, do you think…” Mom sounds uncharacteristically nervous. “Do you think they’re after it?”

“Haven’t they always been?” Dad responds.

“It, oh you mean…” Whatever Toivo says next, he says too softly for me to hear.

I drop a step lower, wary of the creaky spot.

“Clearly they didn’t know it wasn’t in the vault,” Toivo says. “So it’s safe, right? I mean, we’ve always kept it safe.”

What are they talking about?

“We thought the vault was safe too,” Dad says.

“And look how that turned out.” Mom’s incredulous. “But enough for tonight. Let’s get some sleep.”

Three sets of footsteps start for the stairs. I scurry back to my bedroom and leap into bed just in time. My pulse is still racing when Dad comes in. He pulls the covers up over my shoulders like I’m four, leans in to kiss my cheek, and whispers, “It’s nothing for you to worry about, Taika. You’re safe. We’ll always keep you safe.”

To prove the point, he waves his hand and lights up the wards on my windows. One of them is the Hannunvaakuna, a complex knot for protection and good luck. It’s also the school’s emblem.

“Love you, kulta.” Dad smooths my hair before leaving the room.