They round the corner into a stairwell. Through open heavy doors (designed to keep the ferals out), Aoife descends. Elysia is mentioned, and she hesitates for a moment. Not because it pains her, because that pain is so old and dull she barely feels it anymore, but because she can't remember the name of the school off the top of her head. She's so tired, it's all jumbling together.

"I went to medical school there," she says finally. "Lived on some street or another? Either way, it was a nice city, even with the collaring. I miss the royal events. If I had time off, maybe I'd head in to see the King's birthday."

It's a paradox. She's always loved the color and lights and regalia of the royalty, even if she can recognize that they're little more than a disease. "Haven't really made it out to Navir. They've kept me busy here since I finished my residency." She spends her vacation days every year sleeping, or unsuccessfully trying to date.