They were summoned to the Spire's lower annex the next day. Not an office, but a sterile monitoring room full of screens showing flow rates and pressure graphs.
Roxana Soladorn was there, leaning against a console. "The dynamic duo," she said with a thin smile. "We heard you've been doing some… extra-curricular scanning. How very diligent of you."
Charlotte stood by the main viewer, her back to them. "Unauthorized use of Syndicate equipment is a ration violation," she stated, not turning around. "Your data is property of the Aqua Vitae Authority."
"We found an anomaly," Valentine said, her voice admirably steady. "A potential safety issue in the conduit. We were acting within our maintenance purview."
"Safety?" Roxana chuckled softly. "Sweet. The system is perfectly safe. A little magical resonance is just… spillage. Like steam from a kettle. Nothing to write a dramatic report about."
So they knew. They knew exactly what caused the fracture.
Charlotte finally turned. Her gaze was like a pressure lock sealing. "Your 'purview' ends at data collection. Analysis is conducted here. Interpretation is ours. You will delete the anomalous readings from your device and file a standard structural fatigue report."
It wasn't a request. It was a rewriting of reality.
"And if the anomaly represents a risk to the conduit's integrity?" Sage asked, forcing the words out.
Charlotte's eyes pinned him. "The integrity of the system is managed. Your role is to service the parts you are shown. Focusing on shadows is a fast track to dehydration, Mr. Pendragon. Do you understand the mechanics of that?"
The threat was absolute. Valentine subtly nudged her foot against his.
"Yes," Sage said.
"Good." Charlotte turned back to the screens. "Roxana, see them out. And credit their ration ledgers for their… enthusiasm."
Roxana led them to the door. As Sage passed, she sighed, a sound of profound boredom. "You should really take the bonus, you know. Charlotte's feeling generous. Next time, she might just decide you're a leak that needs plugging."
The heavy door hissed shut behind them, leaving them in the cold, polished hallway of the Spire.