CHAPTER 203: KEEPING HER EYES & EARS OPEN

Evaline:

I stepped out of the dining hall and into the gentle hush of snowfall. The entire Academy was glowing softly under a thick blanket of crystalline white.

The night air bit at my cheeks, but I pulled my fur-lined coat tighter and set off toward the administrative building. Despite spending more than three months here, I still got taken aback this place’s sheer beauty. Every step felt like stepping into a storybook - the corridors, the lamp-lit paths, the warriors patrolling around the place.

But my own breath felt taut, mixed with the anticipation of the evening ahead.

Halfway through the West Wing, I passed Professor Aldric and another second-year instructor. I offered a polite nod and "Good evening," and received friendly smiles in return as we headed our respective ways.

Snowflakes were falling heavily now, clinging to the hem of my coat as I took a shortcut through a courtyard. A wave of warmth greeted me as I entered the office area. The heaters kept the place warm - a stark contrast to the cold outside.

Once I arrived outside Kieran’s office, I rapped gently on the door. Within moments, I heard the soft authority of his voice inviting me in.

Inside, the room was glowing in golden light as the fireplace roared softly, spraying sparks across the hearth. The air was thick with warmth and the faint scent of woodsmoke. I looked up to see Kieran not at his desk, but curled on the long couch, an arm draped across a pile of papers, loose strands falling into his face as he looked up. He gestured to the space beside him, and I made my way there.

"Thank you," I said, holding a paper bag in my lap that held his coat from previous night. I sat down as he leaned forward, pushing the hair from his eyes and taking a look at the bag.

"I sent it for dry-cleaning at the Academy laundry, and I... well, I used a light-scented perfume of mine. I hope you don’t mind." I forced a shy smile.

He froze on his way to take the bag from my lap. I realized my mistake and my heart tightened. "It-"

He inhaled, the air shifting between us.

"You smell different," he said quietly.

Panic flashed behind me. Oscar’s scent lingered on my skin. My chest tightened. I had feared this... so I had prepared in advance. I just hoped it would work. "It’s Kyros’s coat," I lied smoothly. "Mine got food on it. He gave me this so I wouldn’t freeze."

His eyes flickered. He opened his mouth and then closed it. Silently, he rose and made his way to the only closet in the room. When he returned moments later, he had a dark fur coat in his hand - heavy, plush, impeccably tailored, and definitely expensive.

"Can you please take off the one you are wearing?"

I stared at him, stunned and confused. "I-Professor-"

"Miss Evaline," he interrupted, "Please."

I shouldn’t have done it, but I did. Even before I realized it, I stood and my hands were taking off the coat. He then draped his coat around my shoulders and pulled it tighter around me.

"This will do a much better job of protecting you from the cold," he said softly.

It felt like being wrapped in more than just wool - like a shield made of concern and something deeper. Not knowing how to respond, I just whispered, "Thank you."

His gaze held mine for a moment too long, and then he pulled away. He gestured to the tablet sitting on the coffee table. "Let’s start."

I nodded and both of us settled down on hhe couch. Switching on the tablet, he pulled up the profiles of second-year students and handed the gadget over to me.

The snow drifted down outside the frosted window panes while I scrolled. A picture of one of the two faces I remembered from the corridor encounter came into view just moments later.

"Professor," I said softly, tapping on the screen to get his attention to the profile. He immediately leaned in, taking his first proper look at the student whom I just recognized.

"This one," I said, pointing to the profiles. "The one from the corridor."

He nodded and typed something on his phone while I continued to scroll. Merely seconds later, I found the other one from second-year and showed her profile to Kieran who once again typed something in his phone.

Then I immediately shifted my attention to third-years and five minutes later, I had two more students identified, these were the ones whom I noticed slipping inside the tower previous night.

I wasn’t able to recognize anyone else after that, but Kieran looked satisfied with my help.

He smiled slightly. "Very good." His tone was businesslike, yet something warmed behind his eyes - pride, relief, maybe even affection. "We focus on these four. Discreetly."

I nodded, setting the tablet back on the tablet. "I can watch them dyring meals, in the library, or study halls. I’ll keep quiet."

He immediately looked displeased with my idea. But before he could have said anything, I quickly added, "I promise to not do anything dangerous like last night. I’ll just keep my eyes and ears open to make sure I don’t miss anything important. And if I ended up finding anything at all, I’ll come to you first."

He was silent. Though he didn’t approve, he also didn’t reject immediately which meant I had the chance to convince him.

"Professor, please. Let me do this, and I promise to not give you another chance to feel disappointed in me."

I gave him my most genuine pleading look. And it worked.

"I never felt disappointed in you, Miss Evaline. Never!" He corrected before adding, "And I never will."

I nodded, a warm feeling filling my heart at the trust and pride I saw in his eyes toward me.

He then let out a small sigh. "Fine. You can do your spy work. But no going out of your way to get any information. And definitely not putting yourself in danger. Are we clear?"

"Yes." I nodded mh head almost mechanically.

"Miss Evaline," he said quietly, "stay safe." His voice carried something deeper than caution.

I managed another nod. "I will."