Cain smiled at me when I entered Ritual Magic class.

That was the first warning.

“Good morning, Rhen. You're looking well today.”

I stopped beside my desk for half a second. “Good morning, Professor.”

He nodded pleasantly and returned to arranging his notes. No cold stare. No pointed questions about my progress. No attempt to make me uncomfortable in front of the class.

Instead, he greeted students as they arrived, asked about their research, and praised a first-year for an ...