Elara kept her attention on the path ahead.
The eastern courtyard stretched between the academic halls in clean lines of pale stone and winter-green hedges. Thin streams of blue mana ran through the paving, separating the routes assigned to each examination block. Whenever a student drifted too far from the proper path, the nearest line brightened beneath their feet with a warning pulse.
Lucavion walked beside her as though the Academy had arranged the entire system for his convenience.
His earlier question followed them.
"Should Valeria?"
Elara had answered too quickly.
He knew it.
Worse, she knew he knew it.
A breeze crossed the courtyard and caught the silver examination tag tied near her wrist. Elara secured it beneath the strap of her satchel.
The movement brought Stormhaven back with irritating ease.
Gray sky.
Salt carried from the sea.
Frost spreading across the training ground while Luca stood opposite her with his estoc lowered.
