The major’s expression was unreadable, though his eyes flicked briefly between us before settling squarely on me.
“You’re wanted on the Ascension Grounds,” he said, tone clipped. “There’s a trial set for you. Now.”
Remy arched a brow, leaning back in his seat. “It’s a bit late for a trial, don’t you think?”
Kaler didn’t so much as blink. “We had the whole day off due to… circumstances.” His tone made it clear what he meant. “Now the schedule resumes.”
I stood, setting my drink down slowly.
The last thing I wanted to do was fight. But the last thing I’d ever do was back down.
I left Remy without a word, the quiet sound of his chair creaking behind me as I walked out.
The night air bit against my skin as I stepped onto the Ascension Grounds. Torches flickered in the wind, casting dancing shadows along the wide-open space.
Major Ledor stood at the center, arms behind his back, his red cloak snapping gently at his heels.
“The trial begins now. Hold the line of illusion. Observe it,” he said without looking at me.
I opened my mouth to ask what kind of trial, but I didn’t get the chance.
The world around me twisted.
The torches vanished. The wind changed.
The cobblestones beneath my feet softened into wild grass, cool and damp with dew.
The courtyard had become a wide-open field, swaying with tall golden reeds. Stars blinked above, too bright to be real.
I knew that this was Ledor’s power. An illusion made tangible. Magic that wrapped the world around me into something else entirely. A Reality Weaver at his best.
I turned slowly.
Across the field stood Perin.
Or what looked like Perin.
He smiled, calm and dangerous, before drawing a long blade from the scabbard at his hip.
My heart kicked in my chest.
I didn’t know if it was truly him.
But illusion or not, he intended to fight me.
I pulled my short sword free, the familiar hiss of steel meeting air grounding me as I stepped forward into the illusion. The grass whispered around my boots, too real for comfort, the cool night wind biting at my exposed skin.
Perin didn’t speak.
He simply watched me with that smug smile, blade solid in his grip, his eyes like a predator waiting for the precise moment to strike.
I circled him, muscles tight, breath even.
“Is this really what you wanted?” I whispered in the stillness. “To fight a girl, you mocked for not belonging?”
No answer.
Just a twitch of his fingers around the hilt.
