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"Elarion has seventeen missing."

"Yes."

"Lyssara is preparing for an invasion."

"Correct."

"And we're having exams."

Nyra finally looks at him. "Also correct."

Cassian looks personally betrayed. "I hate education."

The dining hall erupts. Not panic. Outrage. Possibly worse. Students crowd the announcement board. Someone actually laughs. A third-year says something about the Council losing its collective mind. A first-year beside me whispers: "They can't be serious."

Professor Vayne walks into the dining hall at exactly the wrong moment. Or right one. Depends who you ask. The complaints turn toward him. "Professor—"

"Why aren't they postponed?"

"What happens if Tiravell—"

"We've barely slept—"

"Sir, there's literally—"

Vayne raises one hand. Silence. Eventually. He looks around the room. "War has historically shown little respect for academic calendars." Cassian closes his eyes. I bite the inside of my cheek. Vayne continues.

"Neither have Hollowborn." Oh. "This is not an academic examination." That changes things. Vayne walks toward the notice. Pulls down the original page. Turns it over. The other side contains today's schedule. COMPREHENSIVE READINESS EVALUATION Not examination. Evaluation. Vayne looks around. "Your instructors no longer care whether you can recite theoretical ward construction while sitting comfortably behind a desk."

Somewhere behind me, someone whispers. "Thank the gods."

Vayne's eyes snap toward the voice. "Don't worry. You'll still be tested on it." Silence.

"Monster." Cassian mutters.

Professor Vayne continues. "Today's evaluation determines whether you can function when circumstances stop cooperating." Wonderful.

"First-years report to the eastern field at zero eight hundred. Second-years, western grounds. Third- and fourth-years will undergo separate command evaluations." My eyes flick automatically toward the Chiefs' table. Rhyven isn't there. Neither is Caelen. Again. Probably already being evaluated. Or planning ours. I don't know which is worse. "No student will be evaluated by their direct Chief. Assessments will be conducted by faculty and cross-Wing command."

Nyra glances toward me. I know. No Rhyven. Good.

Probably. Vayne folds the schedule. "Eat." Nobody moves. "You're going to need it." That works.

At seven fifty-three, I arrive at the eastern field. It doesn't look like an examination. It looks like someone built a small war and put numbers beside it.

Ward stations. Combat rings. A mock village structure. Three dragons. Medical tents. Obstacle routes. Manifestation markers. Smoke crystals. Wonderful. Nyra stands beside me. "I feel sick."

"Nerves?"

"No. Breakfast."

"Comforting."

Cassian joins us. "If I fail, I'm transferring."

"Where."

"Somewhere without war."