"You're a fast learner."
Victoria's voice cut through the quiet concentration of the Runic Arts Club. Ronan glanced up from his paper, meeting her expressionless gaze.
She wasn't looking at him as much as she was looking at his work.
"Thank you."
He kept his tone polite, neutral. Around him, the twenty runic symbols he'd memorized in the first hour sat neatly arranged across the page. Victoria's platinum hair caught the light as she tilted her head slightly, studying him with clear detachment.
"Is this your first time seeing them?"
Ronan paused. The original Ronan had likely touched runic theory at some point – most noble children did – but how much? How well had he retained it?
"I studied a little before coming here," he lied easily.
Ronan had entered this world knowing nothing about runes beyond what appeared in the novel.
