로그인Serena's POVI pulled on my jacket and stepped out of the clinic. I headed straight for the female hostel. There were so many things I needed to fix.My senses were sharper than usual as I approached the female hostel. I heard voices clearer and saw color in brighter shades. I felt alive, refreshed.~Where's my phone? I'm sure Mira will know where it is.~I pushed through the dorm door and found Mira arranging clothes in her closet."Mira?"I ran over and threw my arms around her in a tight hug.She let out a laugh as she hugged me back."You're back," she said. "I was going to check on you after lunch."I pulled back from the hug. "Tyrell said I can go. He didn't see any poison in my blood and my memory is back.""So you remember everything?""To a reasonable degree, yes.""You remember I'm your best friend, not Vessa?""Vessa? Have I ever interacted with Vessa? You're the only friend I have on this campus. You and Josh.""Oh, you remember Josh, too? You know he's your boyfriend?""Y
Tyrell's POVI knocked on the door of Veron's office with a folder of injury logs tucked under my arm."Come in."I stepped in and saw Lord Veron closing a book on his desk and pushing it aside. His brows knitted as I stepped closer. "You're the student doctor helping us at the clinic?" "Yes, My Lord. My name is Tyrell Roland." "Doctor Roland, please sit." He gestured toward the chair across from his desk. "What brings you here?""I wanted to raise a concern," I said, sitting. "About increased difficulty in the training and combat levels"That got his attention. He leaned forward. "Go on.""I've documented it all here." I slid the folder across his desk. "There are too many injuries. Broken bones. Dislocations. Concussions. Ruptured spleen." Veron flipped through the pages slowly, but his expression remained unreadable. "Okay?" "I'm not saying the students shouldn't be pushed, but the training and combats levels are too brutal. I'm asking you to have a word with the organizing co
Aldric's POVThe first person I called when I got back from my search for the First Elders was Orven."Come to the palace now. We need to talk."He arrived within the hour. He wore a blue robe and looked better rested, compared to the last time I saw him. "My Lord." He bowed his head. "This search has taken a toll on you. I think you need a long rest.""How can I rest when there are so many problems to solve?" "You need to take it easy, My Lord." I shook my head. "I can only rest when I know the Dractharis are no longer a threat." Orven nodded, realising there was no point arguing with me. I wasn't interested in taking a break. I leaned back in my chair. "What have you found from the Dracti? Anything useful." His face told me the answer before he spoke."Nothing conclusive," he admitted. "I've examined its blood, its scales, tissue samples from every part of it I could safely reach. The Dracti's body resists analysis the same way its hide resisted our blades.""So we can't get a
Caden's POVI ate alone at the far end of the dining hall, slowly munching the mac and cheese in front of me. My friends were still in the hostel, talking the about tactics they needed to beat our enhanced opponents. I wasn't in the mood for all that talk. I wanted to be alone and nurse my thoughts.I tried not to think about Mira as I ate. She made it clear during our last argument that she didn't care if things worked out between us. She kept hanging around that Tyrell guy.My fists clenched as I remembered the way she rested her head on Tyrell's shoulder. He held her so close, like they were lovers. Yet, she refused to apologize for it. She claimed she wasn't wrong.I swallowed my pride to fix things and she still didn't make it easy.~I can't blame her. Dad messed things up with that announcement.~Ever since he told everyone I would marry Vessa, Mira had turned her back on me. Every attempt to fix things was frustrated.I couldn't think of any way out with Mira. We hadn't even s
Josh's POVI stood outside the female hostel, trying to work up the courage I needed to face Mira.The corridor was quiet. A few girls passed me on their way out, barely glancing in my direction. I had my hands in my jacket pockets and my back against the wall. I was trying to work out what I was going to say before I went in.It had been more than a week since I said what I said to Mira. I had spent each of those days in agony. At training, I struggled to focus. I would stare at her in the dining hall and then look away before she caught me.~I can't keep going like this.~The next rounds of combat would be tougher than what we'd experienced so far. Lord Veron had made that clear. I'd watched what the simulated monsters did to students in training. I needed my head clear to avoid elimination.I pushed off the wall and knocked on the door of the one of the rooms. Her room.A girl opened up after two knocks."Is Mira in?""Yeah, let me get her."Mira showed up a minute later. She was i
Tyrell's POVThe brown-haired student on my table couldn't put weight on his foot at all."How bad is the pain?" I asked, pressing gently along the swollen arch. "On a scale of one to ten.""Nine," he said through gritted teeth. "No, it's ten. My foot is on fire."I'd seen the fracture on the scan already. His metatarsal was broken. He said he got it after landing badly from a jump. A simulated beast was chasing him. I sighed and picked up a splint. "I'll give you something for the pain.""Thank you.""But you're not walking on this for at least three weeks," I wrapped the splint tight. "I don't care what the training schedule says. Don't stress this foot.""I'll be removed from the rankings if I miss three weeks.""It's better to be pulled from the rankings than to limp permanently."The boy pressed his palm to his face and shook his head. He knew his participation in the contest was over. Even shifters without injuries were struggling. There was no way he could cope. "Is there a w
Mira's POV The crowd pulled back to give us space.I rolled my neck and flexed my wrists. My ankle was still throbbing from the leopard fight. My forearm had a long red scrape from where I had hit the ground. I did not look at either injury. Looking at things made them hurt more.Caden stood acros
Mira's POVJosh rushed over to me. He stepped between me and the Ironridge boy and put one hand on my shoulder. His grip was firm."What are you doing?""I'm trying to make him eat his words."An instructor cut through the crowd before Josh could say something. He was a thin man with permed hair an
Mira's POV We arrived at Ironridge Academy by bus the next day. Josh sat beside me and pointed out buildings to me. He had been here before. The students here were built differently. Not just physically, though that was part of it. It was the way they carried themselves. The confidence. The aura
Mira's POV"Yes!"The scream came out before I could stop it.It bounced off the lockers and down the hallway.Heads turned in my direction. A few people stared.I pressed my hand over my mouth.Josh's locker was three away from mine. He shut it and came over."What happened?"I thought about the g







