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"Everyone here is awful."

He smiles faintly. "Your manifestation."

I stop joking. "What about it."

"You stopped fighting yourself." I look ahead. The wall curves east. Nothing but darkness beyond.

Dax continues. "Last time we fought, every time Blood Echo reacted, you reacted harder."

"I know."

"You acted like the power doing something meant you had failed." I don't answer. Because yes. That was exactly it. "Now?" He shrugs. "You let it exist. Then use it when you want. Don't when you don't."

I glance at him. "Are you becoming wise?"

"Fuck off."

I smile.

We walk another twenty yards. "Don't depend on the Chiefs."

That gets my attention. "What."

He looks toward the Academy. "During drills. During an actual attack. Don't build plans around us being there."

I frown. "Comforting."

"I'm serious."

"I know."

"We can get injured. Separated. Sent somewhere else." The last one sits strangely.

I look toward him. "Sent where."

"Anywhere." He shrugs. "Council decides another kingdom needs support tomorrow, some of us go."

Something uncomfortable moves through me.

"You were fine this morning." Dax says. "When Vayne took us out."

"Fine is generous."

"You gave orders."

"I gave suggestions."

"You shouted them."

"Details."

He looks at me. "People listened." I don't know what to do with that. "Don't get excited." He adds. "I'm not nominating you for Chief."

"Devastating."

"You're first-year."

"Ageist."