Evaline:
Morning arrived too fast.
I sat on the edge of my cot, the gray light of dawn streaming through the cracked windowpane. A slight chill clung to the air, making my skin prickle. The tension was thick—pressing against my chest, coiling around my spine like a weight I couldn't shake.
Kyros and Mallory waited for me outside the dormitory. They were already dressed in dark training gear, looking far too calm for a day like this.
"You ready?" Mallory asked, her usual energy dampened slightly, but her smile still sincere.
I shrugged, trying to mimic some sort of casual bravado. "Not sure. I've never had to fight someone in front of a crowd for a spot in an elite academy."
"Then it's a good day for a first," Kyros said, offering me a crooked grin.
I arched a brow. "You're awfully cheerful."
"Not cheerful," he corrected. "Just optimistic. You'll do better than most."
I didn't answer right away. The truth was—I wasn't so sure.
