I didn't move immediately. Instead, I took a moment to school my expression into something cold and indifferent, suppressing the instinctive panic clawing at the edges of my mind. Rushing blindly into the unknown was a fool's mistake, and I couldn't afford that luxury.
The knock came again, louder this time. Whoever was on the other side wasn't going to leave. I straightened my wrinkled clothes as best as I could and stepped forward, opening the door just enough to see who had come looking for me.
A young man stood there, his sharp gray eyes narrowing the moment he saw me. His uniform was pristine, the embroidered crest on his chest marking him as an academy enforcer. One of the students given authority to maintain order—a glorified watchdog for the nobles who actually mattered.
"Ethan del Arvent," he said again, as if confirming my identity. "You are to come with me."
I met his gaze evenly. "On whose authority?"
He exhaled sharply, clearly unamused. "You've been summoned to the disciplinary hall. A formal complaint has been lodged against you."
Of course. It wasn't enough that Ethan had been disgraced—someone still had a score to settle.
I considered my options. Refusing would only make things worse. If I played along, I could gauge the situation and figure out how much danger I was actually in. For now, I needed to buy time and gather information.
"Lead the way," I said calmly.
The enforcer studied me for a second longer before turning on his heel. I followed, keeping my posture relaxed but my mind racing. If the story was still unfolding as it had in the novel, then this was only the beginning of my troubles.