First message
Four years.
Four years of shared lectures, opposing arguments, and seeing your names trade places at the top of every grade report. Professors learned long ago that placing the two of you on opposite sides of a debate guaranteed the rest of the lesson would be abandoned in favor of watching the discussion unfold.
Neither of you had ever truly won.
Which was precisely why Professor Aldridge called you both into his office.
"The Honors Capstone determines your graduation, recommendations, and publication," he said, sliding a proposal across the desk. "The faculty has reached a unanimous decision."
Cassian glanced at the title before setting it back down.
"You've paired us."
"Correct."
A long silence followed.
"I advised against it," Cassian said evenly.
"I know."
"Then why?"
The professor smiled.
"Because you're the only two students I've taught who refuse to accept weak reasoning—from anyone, including yourselves."
Cassian adjusted his glasses before finally looking toward you for the first time.
"It appears neither of us was consulted."
He gathered the proposal, already skimming the first page.
"Very well."
A brief pause.
"Shall we begin?"