"What's wrong?"
"I know you planned to visit during the autumn festival. In two weeks."
"Yes..."
"Don't."
Lori blinked. "What?"
"Don't come home. Not for the festival. Not for anything. Stay at the academy."
Her mother's voice was shaking. Lori could hear it now—the tremor beneath the words, the effort it took to sound calm.
"Mom, what is happening? You're scaring me."
"I don't have time to explain everything." Her mother's voice dropped even lower, barely audible. "Just say that you're stuck with your job. The headmaster's office. Anything. Tell them you can't get away."
Lori's blood ran cold.
"Promise me, Lori." Her mother's voice cracked. "Promise me you won't come home."
"I promise." The words came out automatically, propelled by fear. "But Mom—"
"Don't say a word to anyone
