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"Center," Nyra warns.

I block her. Lucen holds the human. Not elegantly. Enough. The wolf breaks from Rowan.

"Behind you."

I turn. The strike catches my shoulder instead of my head. I stay upright. Thirty seconds. Forty. The bell rings. The marker remains. Not victory. Survival. Professor Vale gives one small nod. It feels better than applause.

After class, students leave more quietly than they entered. Bruises bloom. Egos limp. Rowan walks ahead with Aricia, already explaining how she would have won their first exercise if Professor Vale had allowed biting. Lucen disappears without saying goodbye. Nyra and I move more slowly.

My ribs ache. Her pale braid has mostly fallen apart. For several steps, neither of us speaks. Then she says, "You know I can stand beside you."

I glance toward her. "I know." I say softly.

"You kept stepping in front of me." She adds.

"You were about to be hit."

"So were you."

"I'm trained." I add.

"I noticed." Her tone is light. Not angry.

I slow. "I wasn't trying to make you feel incapable."

Nyra shifts her books against her chest. "I know." A pause. "It was only difficult to see around you."

I look at her. She looks back. Completely serious. Then the corner of her mouth lifts. I laugh.

"I'm not that tall." I finally say.

"You moved a lot." She finally smiles.

"That is generally encouraged in combat."

"Not when someone is using you as a window."

I shake my head. "Fine."

She looks at me. "Fine?"

I nod. "Next time, I'll give you a better view."

Nyra smiles. "Next time, let me help." The request is gentle. So is the answer.

"I will."

She nods. "Good." A moment passes. "You were very impressive."

I look toward her. "You just criticized my entire approach." I laugh.

"Both things can be true."

Professor Neris' lesson returns immediately. I smile despite myself.

"That may be the most dangerous thing I've learned here so far."

When I return to the residence, Rowan is lying across her bed with one arm hanging over the edge.