Liam went still for as the name echoed in his hand.
The thought did not feel far-fetched once it formed. In fact, it settled too easily, as if his instincts had been circling the shape for days and only now allowed his mind to name it.
Isolde was the student president. She had experience, access, and status. She had been mentoring Sheila under the perfectly reasonable explanation that Sheila would likely take over the role after graduation. She knew enough about student leadership to understand how a full-year cooperation assessment could shape or break command. She might have known about the Bastion Assessment, either because the third-years had undergone something similar or because her position gave her more administrative proximity than ordinary students.
She was also close to Sheila now.
Close enough to observe. Close enough to learn. Close enough to pass information.
The reason remained unclear.
That was the part Liam did not like.
