The room was soon empty after the class had ended; no one dared to linger, and each had their own things to do.
Ren looked at Morena before leaving, his expression uncertain, like he wanted to ask something but didn't know where to begin. Elara was much the same, though she hid it better, and Liri looked as though she wanted to stay but didn't dare.
Morena didn't say anything to them.
She simply remained seated while the rest of the class filed out one by one, the quiet scrape of chairs and slow footsteps eventually fading until only she and Varra remained.
The older woman stood near the front of the room, one hand resting against the desk as she watched the last apprentice leave and the door shut behind them.
Only then did she look directly at Morena.
"How long have you been sensing it?"
Morena didn't pretend not to understand what she meant and just replied.
"A few days."
Varra's gaze remained steady.
"Like I thought, even before the others."
"Yes."
