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His head tilts slightly. "What else?"

I almost smile. "We notice people."

"What else?"

The desire to punch him resurfaces. "We notice ourselves."

The silence that follows feels different. Not uncomfortable. Expectant. Rhyven finally nods. "Closer." He steps forward. "Sky Wing exists for one reason." He looks around the circle. "We buy time." Confused expressions meet him. He continues.

"If Ash Wing reaches the enemy first, they fight. If Dawn Wing arrives, they organize. If Tide Wing arrives, they coordinate. If Root Wing arrives, they adapt." He pauses. "If Sky Wing does its job correctly everyone else arrives prepared." Something clicks. Not only for me. For all of us. "We are usually the first to see danger." His voice grows quieter. "Which means we're also the first to ignore it." He lets that sink in. "The difference is attention."

The afternoon bells ring somewhere across the Academy. Training is nearly over. Students begin gathering their notebooks. No one speaks much. Everyone looks thoughtful. Even Anika. Especially Elias. He keeps absentmindedly touching the compass before catching himself. Mira notices. Smiles. Neither says anything.

As we begin walking back toward the residence paths, Mara falls into step beside Rhyven. They're several meters ahead. Their voices are low. I remain several paces behind, my notebook suddenly feeling heavier in my hands.

When we reach the central courtyard, the Wings separate. Students scatter toward afternoon classes. Rhyven waits until Sky Wing has nearly dispersed. "One last thing." We stop. He looks around at all twenty first-years. "You all improved today." Relief spreads instantly. Then— "Except Vaelith."

Twenty heads turn toward me. My mouth falls open. Rhyven continues before I can object. "You'll redo today's observation exercise tomorrow morning." He adds.

"What?" My voice is louder than I expected.

"Sunrise." He says.

"You're serious?"

"Unfortunately." The corners of his mouth almost move. "Dismissed." He turns and walks away.

Elias winces sympathetically as he passes me. "Good luck."

Tessa pats my shoulder. "At least he thinks you're worth the effort."

I scoff. "I'd rather he thought someone else was."

She laughs. "I don't believe you."

That evening, as I sit alone in my room rewriting every observation from memory, I realize something unsettling. I am no longer trying to prove Rhyven wrong. I'm trying to notice what he would notice. And somehow that may be exactly what he intended all along.

Chapter Fourteen

The roar of the crowd nearly drowns out the music. Someone slams a mug onto the nearest table. Coins scatter across scarred wood.

"You're cheating!" Someone shouts.

"I'm winning." Rowan smiles.

"That's different!"

"No," Rowan replies with complete sincerity. "That's strategy."

More laughter erupts around the table. I lean back in my chair, trying—and failing—not to laugh as Rowan calmly sweeps another pile of coins toward herself. Across from her, a second-year wolf points an accusing finger.

"You changed the rules halfway through." He says.

"I adapted." Rowan grins.

Cassian, seated beside me, doesn't even glance up from his cards."She's terrifying."

"I've been saying that for weeks." I take another sip of warm cider.