came s

e tall dormitory windows in landi

faint groan, instinctively tur

issful moment, she

s at home, still Serena,

sharp pain flared up from her r

ay's in

. the dormit

s snapp

om was

mething she hadn't got

p and out to where e

ed, letting the air

eminine scent, no change in he

f relief washe

, getting a full

ell sti

the bed and rose, her fe

warmth of the sun, letting it groun

shook the wall

ay, already dressed up, his dark

said evenly. "Be do

has conse

med over her, a li

and left withou

door

smaller withou

exhaled

min

y to the mirror bolted

erself, s

man star

, broad shoulders

st to her nose and

e m

l," she whispered

today

nto the corridor, her mask

l was chaos wh

stretched across th

light streaming through high windows. The air sme

rupted in

quietly, collecting a tr

ahead of her muttered jus

ed it too, but

ropped thick slices of meat and coarse b

y, observing the

re fillin

ed one near

ak

to an

it's taken

th

same reply, t

if they were truly taken or

pt the hall

y chair

it... Damien

posture relaxed but comma

dared to sea

ne wasn'

p breath as she wa

e w

dropped her tray onto t

s locked

d slowly, deliberately,

he asked witho

ad," she rep

amusement tou

etaphors, you n

calmly. "Well,

e studied he

eak much abou

sn't muc

he countered casually. "That

und her fork, but she

ued, his

the others around here.

mean it's best I

k, my tone

h each question Damein asked

t kept

hould stop s

uckle es

s. That's what

forward

you hidi

eyes witho

we'll nev

ce stretched

er could pr

ning hall door

the room like thunder an

in the room

ority was Elder Vasyers of

uncil member, his prese

Damie

nfused, Serena f

hem like livestock

days," he began, voice

was a

will not surv

nsion passed t

omfortable. You were brought here

swept acr

ouncil has authoriz

ce sharpen a

od Moon

broke lik

s cont

tegy. It's conducted beyond the Academy's protectio

l felt

smoothly, "you will

lln

compete

n in the r

he said evenly, "i

ippled

ongst you twelve you'll contest in more varying games to

of Alpha Domi

rise tomorrow. You will decl

silence and then

ng to secure the best alliances and t

s were immedia

remaine

approac

not. Why w

r it to be over so she pair with the ot

to fade slwoly, a shado

hhe conversations qu

urned to the

t look at

oked

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all f