Emilia found them inside the service corridor before they reached the east-wing border. She came alone with her clipboard locked beneath one arm against her ribs. Enough green light surrounded her wrists to make every old vine in the walls lean toward her.
Nox stopped beneath a cracked emergency lamp, while Yeda checked the route behind Emilia for another signature. Kendra held the forward junction, and Vasa opened her ledger without needing to be asked.
Chloe stayed near the stained corridor wall where Emilia could clearly see her. Neither girl spoke about the information traded inside the east wing, because the next collection time had already made blame less useful than terms.
"I need you to break the library contract because the Index Keeper moved me to the top of its collection list," Emilia said, standing outside the party's formation.
"I know," Nox said, watching the green fade unevenly around her left hand.
