Here's the chapter:
The committee room was vast, its tall ceilings lined with dark oak beams, polished to a reflective sheen that caught the late morning sunlight streaming through the narrow windows. The air smelled faintly of aged parchment and wax polish, a reminder of the weight of decisions made here over generations. The five senior members of the school's governing council sat around the long polished table, their faces a mixture of sternness and curiosity.
Headmistress Orla sat at the center, fingers steepled, her eyes sharp as they followed the two students who were being ushered into the room. Leon and Ivan entered side by side, their postures perfect, their expressions carefully neutral. Yet beneath the controlled surfaces, tension coiled like a predator, ready to spring.
"Leon," Orla began, her voice calm but authoritative. "Ivan." She paused, letting the names resonate in the room. "I trust you understand why you are here."
