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"It was absolutely your fault." Caelen doesn't even look up from his plate.

"You weren't there." Dax says.

"I was. You were unconscious."

"I woke up."

"For the part where you crashed into the pond."

"I landed." Dax insists.

"You sank." Caelen says.

"Details."

The table erupts into laughter. Even Maelis looks up from her book long enough to mutter,

"It was incredibly embarrassing."

I glance toward Rhyven. He's eating. Quietly. Occasionally rolling his eyes when Dax becomes particularly dramatic. Otherwise nothing. No attempts to join the conversation. No need to be the center of attention. Honestly he almost seems comfortable letting everyone else fill the silence.

A first-year dragon rider rushes past our table. He's carrying what looks suspiciously like three textbooks and an entire loaf of bread. Professor Vayne intercepts him before he reaches the doors.

"Mr. Aster."

The boy freezes. "Morning?" He says.

"Would you care to explain why you're stealing Academy property?"

The boy slowly looks down at the loaf. "In my defense..." Professor Vayne waits. "I was hungry?"

The professor pinches the bridge of his nose. "Return the bread."

The boy sighs dramatically. "You're making this really difficult." He says.

"I'll survive."

He reluctantly places the loaf back on the serving table. Then quietly slips two pastries into his pockets while Professor Vayne isn't looking. Dax watches him leave.

"He's going to make it." He says.

"Absolutely." Caelen nods.

"He's an idiot." Rhyven adds.

"The Academy runs on idiots." Lyss adds.

"Highly talented idiots." Maelis corrects without looking up.

The doors to the dining hall suddenly swing open. Conversation falters. Not stops. Just softens. Several fourth-years enter together. Their uniforms are different. Black jackets embroidered with silver wings across the shoulders. I recognize the insignia immediately. The highest-ranking students in the Academy. They move with quiet confidence. Not arrogance. Experience.

One of them—a wolf—waves toward Dax. Another salutes Rhyven. He answers with two fingers without looking up from his coffee. I lean toward Caelen.

"People know him." Caelen glances at Rhyven.

"Yeah." He says.

"Why?" I ask.