Word spread fast.
Professor Ingris cornered Riven the next day, eyes narrowed. "You've been tampering with forbidden magic."
"I've been reclaiming what was stolen," Riven replied.
The professor's voice dropped to a dangerous whisper. "You're playing with spells outlawed since the Concord. Do you know what that means?"
"Yes," he said. "It means they were powerful enough to scare the ones in charge."
That night, Riven met Aurel beneath the moon again. "They know," he said.
"They always would," Aurel replied.
Riven opened the spellbook, flipped to a page titled *Binding of Equals*, and took Aurel's hand.
"Ready?"
Aurel's smile was a promise. "Let's rewrite everything."