"I have no father."
Lyandra's tone was absolute.
Alaric's voice came out softer but firmer.
"Ezra, we're not having this conversation again. You know our position."
Ezra leaned forward, his professionalism cracking slightly.
"Your son has drawn attention from people in our generation. I know Headmaster Kaiser made his position clear to the SFD, but you're both old enough to know what that actually means."
He paused, watching their faces.
"How many of Kaiser's disciples lived past twenty?"
The silence that followed was heavy.
Alaric's jaw tightened but he said nothing.
"All of them died," Ezra continued quietly. "Every single one. The Headmaster is a great warrior, but he doesn't protect his students when real pressure comes. He teaches them to fight and lets them face the consequences alone. That's always been his way."
Lyandra's hands clenched into fists.
"We don't need–"
