I woke to the sound of quiet, measured breathing nearby. Not the infirmary's crystalline ceiling this time, but an ornate dome painted with constellations that shifted and realigned themselves with hypnotic precision. The Headmistress's office. I was curios to see how it looks, but definitely not from this angle; flat on my back on a floating divan, feeling like I'd been hit by several carriages in succession.
"Ah, he returns to consciousness. How... predictable."
Professor Nihil's voice slithered through the air like a knife through silk. I turned my head, wincing at the wave of nausea that followed, to find him standing rigidly by an enormous window that overlooked the Academy grounds. In the pale light, I could see destruction spreading outward from the Rift Garden in concentric waves, the platforms still tilted at impossible angles, the gardens withered to dust or exploded into jungle-like overgrowth.
"I told you this would happen, Astra." Nihil didn't turn from the window. "The boy is a statistical aberration, a tear in the fabric of causality. And now look."
"That's quite enough, Nihil."
The voice came from behind me, gentle yet carrying unmistakable authority. I managed to push myself up on my elbows to see Headmistress Astra seated behind her desk. Unlike the professors who embodied specific forces, she seemed to contain multitudes, her skin shifted subtly between pale alabaster and deep obsidian, her hair a swirling galaxy of colors. Her eyes, when they met mine, contained neither anger nor compassion, only deep, unsettling awareness.
Liora sat on a chair near the desk, looking utterly composed despite everything. Of course she did. Her hair and uniform remained perfect, while mine felt singed around the edges. She acknowledged my awakening with the barest nod, though something flickered in her eyes that I couldn't identify.
"Where are my friends?" I croaked, my voice raw as though I'd been screaming.
"They are with Althea," Astra replied, "along with the others affected by your... interaction."
Nihil turned sharply. "Interaction? Is that what we're calling it? A catastrophic breach of probability barriers that destabilized an entire sector of the Academy?"
Astra raised one elegant hand, and Nihil fell silent, though his skeletal jaw clenched visibly.
"Mr. Ardent," she said, focusing entirely on me, "do you understand what happened tonight?"
I started to nod, then shook my head. "Not entirely. Liora was teaching me to control my... luck." The word felt inadequate. "Something went wrong when we…" I faltered, the memory of the accidental kiss burning through my mind.
"When your inherent probability distortion field collided with the personification of Fortune herself," Nihil interjected. "A resonance cascade through the probability matrix. It's a miracle the Academy didn't collapse entirely."
"It wasn't his fault," Liora said suddenly, surprising me. "I suggested we attempt the harmonization."
"Which was expressly forbidden," Nihil hissed. "I advised against allowing a Personification to attend as a student. I warned you about bringing this..." he waved a dismissive hand toward me, "this anomaly into the Academy. Now we see the consequences."
Astra's expression remained unreadable. "And yet, here we are. What's done is done, and we must address what is, not what might have been."
She rose from her chair with fluid grace, circling her desk to stand before us. Up close, I noticed fine lines of silver tracing her skin like rivers of starlight.
"This is not the first time probability has been... challenged within these walls," she said. "Though perhaps the most dramatic in recent memory."
Nihil scoffed. "You cannot seriously intend to let this continue?"
"What I intend," Astra said with sudden steel in her voice, "is to follow protocol. They will visit Althea for assessment, and we will proceed according to her findings."
"Headmistress," I began, finding my voice, "what about the damage? The other students who were affected?"
"An excellent question, Mr. Ardent," she replied. "One that demonstrates you understand, at least partially, the consequences of your actions. That will serve you well in the coming days."
"The coming days?" Liora asked, speaking for only the second time.
Astra's smile didn't reach her eyes. "Did you imagine there would be no consequences, Lady Fortune? Even for you?"
For the first time, Liora looked uncertain. It was such a strange expression on her perfect face that I almost forgot my own anxiety.
"This situation requires further study," Nihil insisted, stepping forward. "The boy should be isolated, his connection to probability measured under controlled conditions…"
"The boy," Astra interrupted, "has a name, Nihil. And he is a student of this Academy, entitled to all the protections that status confers."
The tension between them crackled like static electricity, making the hair on my arms stand on end. Whatever their history, this disagreement ran deeper than just me and Liora.
"You will both proceed to Althea's sanctuary," Astra said finally. "She is expecting you. Once she has completed her examination, we will discuss appropriate... adjustments."
The way she said "adjustments" sent a chill down my spine.
"Headmistress," I said, standing shakily, "I take full responsibility. Liora was only trying to help me."
"How gallant," Nihil murmured sarcastically.
Astra regarded me thoughtfully. "Responsibility is rarely singular, Mr. Ardent. Particularly where probability is concerned." She gestured toward the door. "Now go. Lady Althea doesn't appreciate being kept waiting."
As we turned to leave, Astra added, "And Mr. Ardent? Do try not to touch anything, or anyone, on your way there."