The next morning, at the crack of dawn, Eli had already dragged Juli out of bed and down to the front of the inn.

"Just a few more minutes of sleep, pleaseee..."

Eli sighed, palming his face.

’I mean we did talk all night.’

"Eliseee, pleaseee..."

Exasperated, Eli gave her a light tap on the head.

"Weren’t you all serious yesterday? Elise, what do I need to do. You can sleep however much you want after this."

"Ughhh."

Juli was the last person he expected to be a sleepyhead, yet it suited her image perfectly. A hardworking girl deserved her beauty sleep.

"Hold this."

Eli handed her the parcel like it was a live bomb. Those important documents should be in the hands of someone reliable like Juli, not his clumsy ones.

Besides, he was busy carrying the wine package, the real diplomat of the morning. A 640 Renault, cradled like an infant against his chest.

"Alright, let’s go."

Juli yawned wide enough to crack her jaw and shuffled after him.

The streets of Florentine still belonged to the night, barren and quiet; the only people around were vendors carrying crates of goods out to their respective awnings.

As the crates hit the cobblestones, the faint, peppery aroma of roasted coffee beans lingered in the air.

They had walked maybe a block or two before Juli caught up to his side.

"Elise!"

Eli glanced at her. It seemed her drowsiness had worn off.

"Hmm?"

Juli pressed the parcel tighter against her chest.

"I’ve been doing some thinking. You said Joanne’s gotta leave."

"Mhm."

"But we’re about to tell her there’s an attack waiting the second she’s gone."

Eli nodded.

"Yeah."

Juli tilted her head, her eyes still puffy from sleep.

"So... are you sure she’s still gonna leave? Despite that?"

Eli shrugged.

"I’ll just have to make her leave."

She glanced sideways at him, her mouth pulling to one corner.

"Sounds like a lot to ask of someone who loves her students like her own children. Hey, walk into the trap for us."

Juli’s concern wasn’t without merit, but he trusted Joanne’s experience as a Seven-Song Mage, someone who had gone through hell and back.

Eli huffed a small laugh and adjusted the bottle.

"That’s why I bought this wine."

After ten minutes of walking, the academy’s iron gate came into view.

The outer arch was unmanned as usual. Eli passed under the decorative leaves and made for the inner gate ahead.

This time, two new faces flanked the inner archway, same swords and uniforms. The one on the left raised a hand.

"Hold."

He stepped forward.

"The campus opens in an hour. Please wait and state your business then."

And again, just like last time with Ravi, Juli stepped up beside him and cleared her throat, pulling out her identification card from her pocket.

"Julianna Owens. The lady beside me is Elise Moreau of House Lagranche. We’re here for Madame—"

Both guards straightened the same instant.

"M-Miss Owens. Miss Moreau. Our apologies."

’Déjà vu.’

The one on the the right was already turning toward the side door, keys jangling at his hip.

"Please, this way."

The process was largely the same as last time. As soon as the guard opened the door, Eli thanked him and brisked towards the Faculty Wing.

The frowning old man was also there to greet them, but instead of his usual scrutiny, he let them past with a single glance. 𝗳𝚛𝚎𝚎𝘄𝕖𝕓𝕟𝕠𝚟𝚎𝕝.𝗰𝕠𝐦

They took the stairs, walked to the end of the hallway, and stopped in front of the oak door. Eli knocked twice.

"Come in."

He pushed the door open.

The room remained the mess it was yesterday — nothing had changed, except for the fresh coffee brew on Joanne’s table.

Joanne stood in her travel robes, sorting out the cluttered pages by hand. She didn’t look up.

"Elise. Julianna. You’re here early."

Eli closed the door behind them.

"Headmistress."

"Ma Joanne!"

She set a page onto the table and smoothed it flat. Her pen made a quick mark. Only then did she look up.

Her amber eyes touched his face, then slid to the wine in his arm.

"Is that Renault?"

Eli huffed a small laugh.

"It is. Six-forty."

Joanne’s eyes refocused on his face, and then she chuckled.

"Is this a bribe?"

Eli approached the chair she sat on the last meeting.

"Depends on how you see it."

She set the pen down.

"Just one bottle? I didn’t know House Lagranche was this stingy."

Eli smiled.

"But it’s the six-forty, Headmistress. The House only has two left, which means we only have one more in our cellar than you do."

Joanne let out a short, dry laugh and set another sheet of parchment onto the table.

"Then I suppose I ought to be flattered. Though I’d hate to think I’m depriving the House of a third six-forty."

Eli chuckled.

"Better to drink it now before it really goes past its prime."

Joanne bloomed a light smile, her wrinkles pronounced.

"Navia told me she taught you all about wine. Prodigious sommelier, she said. Then I must listen to you."

He waved it off.

"I’m alright. Her Ladyship often exaggerates."

Joanne hummed and slid the next page onto the stack.

"Don’t be modest, Elise. Navia rarely exaggerated when it comes to her loved ones."

She swiveled the chair back toward the desk and settled into it. Eli took the seat opposite, setting the bottle down with care.

"Now, what’s the bribe for?"

’Right to it, then. You can do this, Eli! You too, Elise!’

He glanced toward Juli.

"Juli. Can you give me the parcel?"

With a nod, she stepped forward and placed it in his hand, then she returned in the same position as yesterday by the door.

Eli undid the cord, slid out the bundle of papers, and laid them flat across Joanne’s desk. He pushed them gently toward her.

"Before I say anything, read these first."

Joanne looked at him, then drifted to the documents. She picked up the top sheet and tilted it toward the lamp.

She read.

For a long moment, that was all she did. The room was silent.

Eli glanced at Juli. She gave a quick wink and a thumbs-up, making him almost slip a giggle.

Then his gaze returned to Joanne, and it saw her eyebrow drawing in slowly.

"What am I looking at here."