It had been sixteen years since the world began falling apart. Most of their students could barely remember the world before the end – if they had even been alive.

Luke had been doing quite a bit of yelling at Regine over the last decade and a half, so when it came time for this conversation, Reid and Laurel took point. They let themselves into their boss’s office and waited, patient but implacable, until she acknowledged them.

Laurel started. “Since the Gods’ War, we’ve been seeing more kids either staying in the Village after graduation or leaving their children there.”

“Yes.” Regine nodded. “That is what the Village and the creche are for.”

“The Village is an option, Director. Not the option.”

“It’s safe and comfortable.” They had not yet gotten her attention. Laurel raised an eyebrow at Reid.

“You either need to get rid of power and running water in the school and most of the Village, or you need to provide the students with the resources and aid to set those things up in settlements of their choice out in the world.” He had a good no-nonsense voice, Reid did. It made Regine raise an eyebrow.

“I am not interested in the world outside and neither is Addergoole as an institution.”

“Bullshit.” Laurel could be polite if she chose, but at the moment, being rude suited her better. “This school was built to save the world.”

“It was built to save fae. I do recall, I was there.”

“You’re splitting hairs, Regine.” Only Reid could pull off scolding like that. “As you yourself have told me, fae needed to be saved to save humanity.”

Regine sighed. “It puts them in danger. They are safe here.”

“They’re stagnant,” Laurel countered. “You’re raising an entire generation of children who will care not one bit for the outside world. They’ll be insular, and with each following generation, they’ll only get more so.”

“The Council was insular,” Reid followed. “And they have failed and fallen. You can’t take the children out of the world, Regine.”

“The world needs them.” Laurel folded her hands in front of her and waited.

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