In the House Aurin convoy compound, Captain Selene felt Rowan's emergency beacon and made a rapid assessment.
It was an adept level distress signal used in the republic to display a significant threat that required a rapid response.
Then she made a second assessment: Not my problem.
She was House Aurin convoy commander. Her responsibility was transporting the Academy candidates safely to Central. That was it. Nothing in her contract, nothing in her obligations, required her to engage in Vester's internal crises.
"Captain," one of her guards said, clearly having felt the signal. "Should we—"
"No." Selene's voice carried finality. "We just have to maintain the compound security. We protect our primary transport assets if they get here. Let Vester's Adepts handle Vester's emergencies."
"But if they're overwhelmed—"
"Then the Republic will dispatch reinforcements from the neighboring outposts," Selene said evenly. "Standard protocol. It doesn't involve me—or this convoy."
