The Institute quickly appears, the yard coming into full view, giving access to hallways that stretch ahead. We walk inside, lights coming from the windows. Faint echoes of shouting and shifting weights in the distance guided the path. My stomach sinks.
“Let me guess. We’re heading to physical training.”
Nalaka nods. There’s a flicker of sympathy in her eyes, but no apology. I respect that, I don’t need anyone sugarcoating reality. She pushes open a heavy door, and the smell hits me before I even step inside. Sweat, rubber mats, and cold metal. As the air practically hums with the sound of fists hitting pads and bodies tumbling to the floor.
“Fantastic,” I mutter, stepping inside as the door shuts behind us. “Nothing says welcome like push-ups.”
“Then you’re going to love today’s warm-up.” Nalaka grins as she tosses me a towel from a nearby stack beside what I assume are the locker rooms, judging by the carved drawings on the door.
Okay… maybe I don’t totally dislike her.
The room is massive.Too clean, too bright, and packed with enough training equipment to prepare for a small war. Climbing walls, sparring rings, obstacle courses. Around me, students are buzzing.
Nalaka steps up to the instructor. A tall man who looks like a samurai with sharp eyes, pointy ears and the kind of calm that only comes from breaking bones for decades. He’s dressed in traditional martial arts gear, posture as steel, and his voice a command.
Kai walks in, followed by Wyll. He goes to join the professor, passing me. Not looking in my direction, two strangers. Which we are, but why does it feel like it’s a lie?
A few others, at the corporal level, join them.
“Four rounds of drills before you pair up for combat,” the instructor announces. Striding in like he owns the floor, which, I guess, he does. The others immediately break into motion, as if someone pressed play. I just stand there, trying to figure out where I’m supposed to even begin and hating that I look like a fish out of water.
That’s when I hear the footsteps. The girl is tall, with short black hair, and comes my way like she already claimed victory,on what? No fucking clue. Two others copycat in a different font, are trailing behind.
Great.
“Aren’t you ashamed?” she says, as if we’ve already been in a conversation I missed.
“Excuse me?”
“You heard me. I can’t believe you used your dad’s injury to get a head start in the Legion. That’s low.”
I blink, incredulous. “What are you even talking about?”
Crossing her arms, chin high, as if she’s delivering some grand truth, voice dripping with venom.“Everyone knows you didn’t take down a norous alone. Especially not as a mundane who's never even touched Kvirr. You should just come clean before it gets more embarrassing.”
I feel the heat rise in my chest. Oh, she picked the wrong fucking day. I tilt my head, unimpressed.“Why would I lie about something like that?”
She smirks, all smug superiority. “Why wouldn’t you?”
Folding my arms, I match her stare. “Right. Listen, whoever you are, I don't have the energy to entertain your insecurities. And if your whole personality hinges on being jealous of new recruits? That’s just sad.”
Her composure slightly cracks; it’s small, but I see it before she throws her head back, laughing, forced and brittle.“Please. I’m not jealous of a nobody who’s too fat to run from danger.”
My smile sharpens, cold, just shy of dangerous.“Let’s test that theory,” I say, stepping forward. I lock eyes with her, steady and unblinking. “Because if weak insults are your best defence, it’s no wonder you feel threatened.” Her jaw tightens. She’s about to fire back when?—
“Enough!” The instructor’s voice cuts through the room like a thunderclap. Everyone stops mid-breath.“You can duel after the drills.”
Duel?
Wait, he’snotgoing to punish her? Not even a lecture?
Seriously? He saw the whole thing! But everyone falls into motion, some of their eyes still glued to us. My new best friend glares at me sharply, enough to burn a hole through my skull.
Cute.
I turn and head toward the training gear, where Nalaka’s already waiting. She gives me the look like, ‘I saw that whole disaster unfold.’
“Didn’t start it,” I say, not that it matters.
