Michael had no idea of the teacher's thoughts.
When his vision steadied again, he was back in the quiet, familiar walls of Thornvale.
The study.
He found himself standing in the center of the chamber. For a heartbeat he didn't move. Then, almost by instinct, his steps carried him toward his chair.
His palm brushed the surface of the desk, fingers dragging across the wood as if to anchor himself in the present.
The exam had demanded little of his body, but his mind was another matter. The cascade of events left a heaviness behind his eyes. That, and the loss.
Two undead.
Michael let out a slow breath, lowering himself into the chair. The familiar creak of its frame grounded him. For a while he didn't move, his hand still on the desk, his eyes half-closed.
However, it didn't take long for Michael to sit up straighter with a faint smile tugging his lips.
For all the unexpected turns, what he had gained outweighed what he had lost.
