"I don't like anomalies," he said, voice calm but clipped. "They make things... unpredictable."
I crossed my arms. "So I'm an anomaly now?"
"Your kind isn't in any of the archives. Not on any registry. Your essence is unreadable, your casting is nonexistent, and now it seems your body rejects magic like oil rejects water."
He stopped walking. Turned toward me.
"That either means you're a threat… or something much worse."
My mouth went dry. "I didn't ask to be any of that."
"No. But you are." His gaze softened just slightly. "And you should know… this school protects many secrets. But it doesn't tolerate disruption."
I stared at him, jaw tight. "So what am I supposed to do? I'm clearly not like the rest of them?"
He smiled faintly, but it wasn't kind. "Well then. Survive long enough to find out what you really are."
With that, he turned and strode away, leaving me in the shifting shadows.
