Inside the study, my father closed the door firmly and turned to face me with his arms crossed. The warm father from dinner had been replaced by the calculating Duke who commanded armies.
"Speak," he said simply.
"I know about your trip," I stated directly.
My father's expression remained carefully neutral. "I don't know what you're referring to. I have various duties throughout the duchy—"
"Father, please. I know the King has ordered you to eliminate the monster threat that's taken control of the town. I know about the Transcendent forces you have to fight against."
His composure cracked, shock flooding his features. "How could you possibly know that? Royal orders are classified at the highest level. There's no way that information could have leaked to the academy."
"How I found out doesn't matter," I said, refusing to explain the Book of Hints. "What matters is that you're walking into a death trap."
My father's expression hardened. "Adrian, this is not your concern—"
