"Friendship is merely a form of mutual usefulness with emotional attachment complicating matters unnecessarily."

I smile at his cynicism, even as I feel a whisper of something warmer beneath it—something almost like fondness. The ancient water dragon rarely means what he says, and the tether constantly betrays the softness beneath his cold words.

As I exit the dining hall, I catch sight of Bastian slipping away from his table. He moves with the casual grace of someone accustomed to drawing attention while simultaneously knowing how to vanish when needed. Our eyes meet briefly across the corridor, and I know he wants me to follow.

I hesitate. Raith had been clear that we should approach Bastian together, but this might be my only chance to speak with him alone before the Crucible. After a moment's deliberation, I trail after him, maintaining enough distance to avoid suspicion.

He leads me through a series of corridors and up a narrow stairwell I've never noticed before, eventually emerging onto a small balcony overlooking the northern forests. The view is breathtaking—endless trees stretching to the horizon, their bare branches casting harsh silhouettes.

"We won't have long before someone notices I’m missing," Bastian says without preamble. "What did Voss want?"

I lean against the stone railing, considering how much to share. "Bastian… I still don’t know if I trust you. Not completely.”

"I gave you the book. I helped you disguise your mark. I haven't told anybody what you are. What more do you want?”

I chew my lip. "Yes... well, I think it's still smart to be safe with my trust. You're practically a stranger to me.”

"That doesn't matter. Being your friend would only make things worse for you. I know what you are, and I am motivated to keep you alive. Distrust me if you want, but all you need to do is look at my behavior to see I'm not lying. A word to my father about what you are and you would've been taken from your bed in the night, Nessa. That is something you can trust. You’re here. You’re breathing. You’re still walking this campus freely. Trust that."

His pure white eyes hold mine, and I feel a coldness creep into my bones. I believe him.

"So help me help you,” Bastian says softly. “Tell me what Voss wanted."

I hesitate for several moments. "He knows what I am," I admit finally. "He's been helping me understand my abilities."

Bastian's expression doesn't change, but I sense a subtle tension in his shoulders. "Has he asked you to do anything unusual?"

My heart skips a beat. "Only this morning... he said there's a place he wants to take me. Some sort of ruin that could teach me more about what I am and maybe even improve my abilities."

"A ruin… That sounds dubious, at best.”