“People have friendships and rivalries and love affairs in real prisons, too,” Stephen says; possibly a kneejerk rudeness if they hadn’t known each other so long and Stephen already liked the other man so well. It’s just stating a fact, not intending to start a fight.

But. A library is a library, and he can imagine taking refuge in a place very much like this. He unconsciously echoes Julius and runs a finger along one of the shelves closer to him, and wipes the dust off on his trousers.

“Considering,” he says, “that you did learn magic here, you did have teachers, and you did become a teacher yourself. It’s not absurd to think that this prison also functioned as a school and a community and a solace. Because, well, ethically, I imagine it’s at least simpler if your Circle’s named the Gallows and the flaws are more overt. Whereas something like this, you can’t see the forest for the trees.”

Especially when it’s all you know.

Stephen cocks his head, thinking. “What we discussed, about mage children these days. It’s not too far out of the realm of possibility to imagine a schooling system, a mage’s academy similar enough to a Circle. People do need to learn how to safely use their abilities somewhere.”

The rifter’s not a loyalist — far from it — but it is, at least, the extension of an olive branch. Some understanding, of the position Julius had once come from.