Chapter Fifteen. Vape

Walden returns to work after Nikki’s breakdown, finding the infirmary empty and Ebele’s door closed. She leans into the rhythm of school, taking on after‑school sweep duty in the locker rooms amid the chaos of dismissal.

In the basement, Walden discovers chalk marks around a vape detector and forces out a tiny cherry-scented imp feeding on students’ offerings. She wards the detector herself, standing on a dragged classroom chair to finish the job.

Startled by Mark Daubery’s arrival, Walden slips; Mark cushions her fall with wind magic and catches her, mixing charm with calculated collegiality. In her office, they discuss the building’s former minor possessions and the abrupt losses during the major incursion.

Mark outlines his mandate to deliver a tidy readiness report. Walden directs him toward the Marshals and Todd Cartwright, the Keymaster, and urges a cross‑section of student interviews beyond sixth form. Light banter about past student vices underscores their generational and stylistic differences.

Strategically, Mark proposes adding regular planar patrols to stabilize the area after Old Faithful’s death. Walden, wary of workload but recognizing the risk of territorial shifts, agrees. Mark offers to help directly and suggests a Sunday afternoon session to demonstrate his capability, marking the start of a working partnership.