A plaque from Cecilia, too.
I turned the golden insignia over in my palm. It was heavier than it looked, the Slatemark crest pressed so deep into the metal that my thumb caught on the edges.
Rachel's sapphire plaque was an invitation.
Cecilia's felt more like a hook.
Why was she doing this? Boredom? Curiosity? A cat batting at a mouse not because it was hungry, but because the mouse kept doing interesting things?
I slipped it into my spatial ring next to the sapphire one and decided not to think about it.
It wasn't as if I had any reason to visit the Empire during the break anyway. Arthur's parents had already left with my sister on a tour of academies. They were trying to find one that suited her, since Mythos and Slatemark Academy were both out of reach for her this year.
So my plans were set. North, to the Creighton estate.
And from there, somewhere much more dangerous.
Before any of that, though, I had a one-on-one meeting with Professor Nero.
