ment, not sure if she

so she had no choice

d toward it and t

ed smile and a small blanket

"I just wanted to check on you. How was

ide. "Um, it was okay. Weird. But okay.

stepped inside. "This school gives me weird vibes. B

in surprise. "You w

em cool. And besides, I think it'l

"I don't think that wor

you're the first person I talked with, I wa

seemed distant or too focused on themselves. She didn't know how to start a conversation wit

said softly. "

said goodnight. Ivy watched her leave and smiled to h

. The hallways were full of life. Students moved quickly in group

ie warned. "Comba

lready?" I

day. We need to head to the

we have combat c

board. To" Sophie replied, sipping her jui

didn't know the first thing about combat. Would she be expected to punch someone? What if she

sand and soil. A large open space waited ahead. It was surrounded by tall walls and scattered training equipment targets, dummies, weapons, and mats. They

oated aroun

ally comi

someone last year

rings, one for every fight he

ve. One for

o Sophie. "Who are

ered quietly. "One of the

the crowd kept quiet. Someo

, and he wore one ring on each finger. They were shiny, silver, and shaped differently. One had a dragon head, another looked

. As he stood in front of

firm. "For today, I'll be observing. Your real in

cross each one like he was reading their souls. His gaze pause

d. "You either survive... or you fail.

ty. The more she stayed here, the more she realized that this school w

anded on Ivy again, who stiffened, then it moved to Sop

blinked

Step f

at Ivy once, th

on your feet,

ck sweep of his leg sent her falling ba

ga

't wait for her. He came at her again, this time his hand sho

king to pushing to pushing and each ti

r sometime. "That's wh

und, her hair was messy

ation trial, weakness will not be allowed.

sink in befo

e point

listene

medicine, or anything else. This is not a cha

oked at each ot

oor of the west building. You take on task

ay, his black boots kic

ophie, who was

ay?" she as

"It's fine. Just pain here and t

the dorms, Sophie was leani

Ivy said. "Why d

ttered. "Maybe I loo

Dorian entered a large room where they

ything special. Are you sure that girl

She was marked. I saw

r. "Then let's wait. It's not

Sophie sat in their

normal," Ivy said quietly. "Like books and no

look. "You live under

blin

Sophie said. "It's famous for its combat training and we

uld she want to be a warrior? Why was she g

She now understood why no one else had been surprised on the first

e didn't know the inside news of this academy. She was sure Mrs. Harrington and M

the initiation trial... then you'll really

used. "If I survive'? W