As we moved away from the firing positions, the captain walked down the line, examining each target with a critical eye. When he reached mine, he paused.
"Not bad, Cadet Strom," he said. "Consistent grouping, good control." He moved on to Codric's target and raised an eyebrow."Impressive, Cadet Teress. I assume you've had military training." A statement, not a question.
Codric smiled that charming smile of his. "I have, but it's also a sport I enjoy."
"Sport?" The captain looked perplexed. "Are there shooting competitions in Eluria?"
"No, sir. I meant hunting."
Kaveek humphed. "Pampered Elurians. When Elucians hunt, it's not for sport but to put food on the table."
"We eat what we kill," Codric said defensively. "We don't let it go to waste."
Kaveek seemed only partially mollified. "Well, that makes it a little better, but I still have a problem with you calling it a sport."
"Yes, sir. I won't from now on."
I stifled a smile. For a change, Codric had wisely chosen to acquiesce and shut up.
The next exercise was more advanced, shooting moving targets. Small discs zipped across the range at varying speeds and heights. It was significantly more challenging, and my performance wasn't quite as stellar as before. Still, I managed to hit more targets than most, again coming second to Codric, who seemed to possess an almost preternatural ability to track and lead his targets.
I was lining up a shot at a particularly fast-moving disc when the training hall door opened, distracting me, and as I saw Alar enter, accompanied by a second-year cadet, my concentration broke completely, and my shot went wide, missing the disc.
"Focus, cadet," Kaveek barked at me.
"Yes, sir," I said, steadying my aim for the next shot.
I forced myself to concentrate and hit the disc, then the next one.
When Kaveek finally called a halt, the second-year cadet approached him, and after a brief exchange, Kaveek turnedtoward me. "Cadet Strom. You're to report to Shaman Fatewever. Cadet Voss will escort you."
My heart skipped a beat.
I was being called, too?
What could the shaman possibly want with both Alar and me? Had rumors about us being a couple reached the shaman, and he decided to intervene for some reason?
According to the rule book, we weren't doing anything wrong. Heck, we hadn't done anything other than kiss yet, and I was sure that was allowed.
I caught Alar's eye as I moved to join Cadet Voss. His expression was frustratingly neutral, but he gave me a small reassuring nod.
"Good luck," Shovia whispered as I passed by her.
The journey to the shaman's office was filled with anxious speculation. Cadet Voss wasn't much of a conversationalist, answering my attempts at small talk with monosyllabic responses. Eventually, I gave up and climbed the stairs in silence, saving my breath and concentrating on putting one foot in front of the other.
As we ascended toward the upper floors of the Citadel, the stairway widened, the stone steps giving way to polished marble.
The twelfth floor was breathtaking. The ceiling soared at least thirty feet above us, and the corridor was wide and airy, lined with ornate columns and illuminated by both electric lights and the natural glow filtering through the windows.
The walls were decorated with intricate murals depicting scenes from Elucian history— the Dragon Pact, Elu handing the Precepts of Truth to the first shaman, dragons and riders soaring through the sky, epic battles against the Sitorian forces, and more.
I wished I had time to study them properly. As an artist, I was fascinated by the technique and detail. Some of the muralslooked ancient, while others seemed to have been added more recently, creating a visual timeline.
Cadet Voss led me to a set of massive double doors carved with the symbol of Elu, the Two-Faced God, one half of the face on each door. The image captured the dual nature of Elu—the beneficent creator on one side, and the dark destroyer on the other. The effigy was as beautiful as it was intimidating.
"Please, wait here," Voss instructed, before using the heavy knocker to announce my presence.
As I stood before those imposing doors, I studied the emblem of Elu. The artist had created a perfect balance between the two aspects, neither overwhelming the other, each distinct and powerful in its own right. The light face was serene, radiating a gentle glow, while the dark face was fierce and menacing. The craftsmanship was extraordinary, the details so fine that the effigy seemed almost alive, watching me with its dual gaze—one loving and encouraging, the other judging.
