shadows. The scent of damp stone and aged parchment filled the air, mingling with the faint metallic tang of old blood-a remin

against her ribs. Her boots scuffed against the cold stone floor, the echo bouncing off the narrow h

haring with another recruit m

rd to make it this far-she couldn't let something a

survive

r voice carefully neutral. "Please tell me

n bother glancing back. "None

stomach

he strap of her bag, knuckle

surface scarred with the marks of countless occupants. One n

orm

breath

bane? The Kie

gates. The strongest warrior. Unrivaled in combat. Untouchable in skill. A wol

the entire Academy, fate

oor before pushing it open. "This is yo

t, his footsteps f

lit by a single lantern hanging from the ceiling. The scent of leather, steel, and something d

was alre

lver eyes remained fixed on the blade in his hands, sharpening it with slow, deliberate s

t, damp with sweat, clung to the contours of his torso, the fabric strained over solid

ing with calculated precision as she began arranging her things. She had spent years pe

t acknowledge

oo

ping her head down. She co

lence s

he

u st

ost lazy, but they cut th

h fr

had been unfolding. Her pulse slammed again

fference before turning slightly, just

finally

rets from her skin with just a glance. His silver eyes flick

d, returning to his blade. "Get o

ened to weaken her stance. He wasn't suspicious. He just

oo

rk. "Not my fault you've go

The whetstone scraped against the blade again, th

nds trembled slightly as she finished sett

ake would cost

-

r Tha

t echoes of sparring sessions, muffled grunts of recruits training past

ected the Academy to be brutal, but the first day alone had pushed her limits. Every muscle ached f

ared to the real threat

n Stor

even in the dark. His scent-earthy, crisp, laced with something unmistak

d t

shi

of fabric, but he

ad slightly, just

fixed on the ceiling. His face was unreadable, but something about the way h

f wasn't

eld her

look of a predator sensing som

H

remain still, to keep h

t know.

nally flicked toward her-just for a momen

pects s