Professor Hale finished writing before he looked up. The incident report was open on his desk, with the disposal certification already attached.

  The tent was quieter than it had been earlier. Fewer people moving through. Fewer interruptions. The instruments were laid out in deliberate order now, no longer triage haste.

  “You’re scheduled to report back to the Academy,” he said.

  “Yes,” Lysara replied. “After my break. Professor Vern has signed off on it.”

  Hale studied her over the rim of his spectacles.

  “You’re not requesting reassignment?”

  “No.”

  “Nor independent research?”

  “No.”

  A pause.

  “Why now?”

  “Because Black Hollow is closer from here than the Academy,” she said evenly. “And because delaying it would serve no one.”

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  Hale leaned back slightly, fingers steepled.

  “You understand this is not approval for unsanctioned investigation.”

  “I do.”

  “Very well,” Hale said. “Take your break. Report to the Academy immediately afterward for debrief.”

  He made a note, already moving on.

  “Don’t disappear,” he added.

  “I won’t.”

  She left the tent without ceremony.

  X-17 was already forming up.

  The unit moved with the same precision it always had — gear checked, straps adjusted, lines falling into place without comment. Someone laughed softly. Someone else tightened a buckle.

  Kayden stood with her at the edge of it, hands relaxed at his sides. No one questioned why he wasn’t falling in.

  Xyrion approached as the final checks were called.

  He stopped in front of Kayden, posture straight, expression unreadable.

  “You’re cleared to step off,” he said. “Vern has logged it.”

  “Yes.”

  A pause.

  “You’ll report back as directed.”

  “Yes.”

  That was all.

  No commentary. No revision. No judgment added or withdrawn.

  His gaze shifted to Lysara, then back to Kayden.

  Xyrion held his eyes for a moment longer, then nodded once.

  “Move out.”

  X-17 moved as one.

  Lysara watched them go — Tessa caught her eye and gave a brief nod.

  When the last shape vanished into the trees, the forest folded back over the path as if it had never been used.

  Kayden exhaled slowly.

  “That’s that,” he said.

  “Yes,” Lysara replied.

  She bent, lifted her pack, and settled it onto her shoulders. The weight felt familiar. Manageable.

  They turned away from the clearing together.

  No formation.

  No orders.

  Just the next stretch of ground, waiting to be read.