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"Thank you," she said after a moment."For actually teaching me, not just tolerating Maven's arrangement."

Kaine shrugged, his broad shoulders rising and falling beneath his soot-stained tunic."You have genuine talent.It would be wasteful not to develop it."He paused, then added more quietly, "And it's...refreshing to work with someone who approaches metal as a collaborator, not a conqueror."

Thalia was about to respond when something caught her eye — an anomaly in the stone wall behind the unused furnaces.In the shifting shadows cast by distant fires, she noticed faint indentations in the rock face, partially obscured by years of soot and grime.

"What's that?"she asked, pushing away from the furnace and moving closer to the wall.

Kaine turned, following her gaze."What's what?"

Thalia reached out, her fingers brushing against the rough stone.As she touched the surface, something strange happened — a faint tingle ran up her arm, like the subtle magical current she'd just been learning to detect in metal.She drew back, startled, then looked more closely.

"There are carvings here," she said, excitement quickening her voice."Under all this soot."

Kaine frowned, stepping closer."That section should be solid bedrock.Part of the mountain itself."

"Well, someone carved into it."Thalia found a relatively clean cloth and began gently wiping away the accumulated grime.Kaine hesitated only a moment before joining her, his larger hands making quicker work of clearing the surface.

As layers of soot fell away, an intricate network of symbols began emerging — spiraling patterns interwoven with what appeared to be ancient cryomancy runes.Some were familiar from basic spell craft classes, but others Thalia had never seen before.The symbols radiated outward from a central point, forming a complex mandala of ice magic etched deep into the living stone.

"These look like cryomancy symbols," Thalia said, recognizing similarities in certain recurring patterns.“Like the ones on frost gloves.”

Kaine nodded slowly, his expression intent."Some of them, yes.Traditional Northern runic structures for enhancing ice magic."His fingers traced over one particular symbol — a vertical line bisected by three horizontal dashes."But this...I've never seen this configuration before.And this one here —" he pointed to a spiral surrounded by what looked like jagged lightning bolts, "— this isn't Northern at all."

As they leaned toward the carvings, Thalia found herself becoming acutely aware of Kaine's proximity — the heat radiating from his body, the controlled strength in his movements, the surprising gentleness in hands that could hammer metal into submission.

"What do you think they mean?"Thalia asked, trying to focus on the carvings rather than her sudden awareness of him."A message of some kind?"

Kaine nodded, his shoulder brushing against hers as he leaned in to examine a particularly intricate section of the carving."Could be.It looks like written language, but I’ve never seen runes quite like these."

“A mystery, then,” she murmured.

He turned toward her, and suddenly the space between them seemed charged with more than just academic curiosity.The heat of the distant forges made their closeness feel even more intense, sweat glistening on Kaine's throat, his pale blue eyes reflecting the ambient firelight.

Thalia found herself unable to look away.The man before her, dangerous by reputation, an outcast by circumstance, had shown her nothing but respect and gentleness.His usual severity had softened into something more complex, more human, his eyes searching hers with an intensity that made her breath catch.

Kaine leaned closer, the movement so slight it might have been unconscious.Their faces were inches apart now.Thalia felt her heart racing, not from fear but from a different kind of anticipation.Her eyes fluttered closed, the world narrowing to the diminishing space between them, the heat of his breath against her lips.

"What exactly is going on here?"

The sharp voice sliced through the moment like a blade of ice.Thalia's eyes snapped open as she and Kaine quickly stepped apart.In the archway leading to their secluded corner stood Senna Drake, her silver-gray eyes narrowed to frosty slits, her posture rigid with barely contained fury.

Heat flooded Thalia's cheeks, embarrassment mingling with a strange sense of loss.Kaine's expression had instantly reverted to its usual guarded neutrality, though a muscle ticked in his jaw.

"Research," he said flatly, gesturing toward the uncovered carvings."Greenspire noticed something unusual in the stonework."

Senna's gaze flicked to the wall, then back to Thalia, clearly unconvinced.The Northern girl's pale skin seemed to carry its own chill, her beauty as sharp and dangerous as the ice daggers she crafted with such precision in combat classes.

"How fortunate that you two found time for...exploration," Senna said coldly.She didn't move from her position, forcing them to remain awkwardly separated by her presence."However, I came with news that might interest you more than graffiti, Kaine."

Kaine crossed his arms."What news?"

Senna's expression remained glacial, but something like grim satisfaction flickered in her eyes."The Wardens have been busy.Three supply caravans ambushed in the past week alone."She directed her next words specifically to Thalia, her tone sounding almost pleased."The academy's cut off.No new shipments of Southern herbs or food supplies will be reaching us for the foreseeable future."

Thalia felt her stomach drop.Without supplies from the South, especially food and medicine…

"The administration has called an emergency assembly," Senna continued, her eyes never leaving Thalia's face."All students are required to attend.Now."

As Senna turned to leave, she cast one final, poisonous glance over her shoulder, her gaze lingering on the small space that had so recently separated Thalia and Kaine's lips.