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"Secondary corridor."

"Why not primary."

"Experience."

"Good."

"Ward team?"

"Inner anchor."

"Why."

"If outer fails, they don't get trapped."

"Good."

"Where are you?" I pause. There it is. Yesterday's mistake.

"Command point."

"Where."

"Central intersection."

"Protected?"

"Mostly."

Rhyven looks at Mara. "Line of sight to all three routes." She says. Rhyven nods. Good. Then he changes it. "Central intersection collapses." Asshole.

"Move command."

"Where."

"Lower lecture entrance."

"Blocked."

"North stairs."

"Dragon down."

"You're enjoying this."

"Immensely."

I keep going. Again. Again. Again. Every plan breaks. I make another. That's the exercise. Not winning. Continuing. By the time he finally says stop, my head hurts more than after combat. No bruises. Somehow worse. Mara leaves with the others. I stay behind to collect the maps. Rhyven starts erasing the board.

"Seventeen." I say.

He doesn't turn. "Yes."

"That is irresponsible."

"No."

"You're giving me first-years."