Three

KAMARI POV

“This is insane,” Zena muttered the moment the doors to Father’s office shut behind us. She threw her hands into the air in frustration. “Those old fools sitting on the High Council, barking orders as if people’s lives are nothing more than pieces on a game board- they make me sick.”

Despite everything, a laugh escaped me.

Zena stopped walking and looked at me as though I’d lost my mind.

“You’re laughing?”

“What else am I supposed to do?” I asked, offering a weak smile. “I want to cry so bad, but I can't.”

She opened her mouth, thought better of it, and sighed. “I hate this.”

“Me too.”

For a moment, neither of us spoke as we walked down the long stone corridor.

Then I nudged her shoulder.

“So…” I said lightly, “are you going to help me pack, or are you planning to spend the rest of the afternoon cursing the High Council?”

A reluctant smile tugged at the corner of her mouth.

“I can do both.”

“I never doubted it.”

She looped an arm through mine, and together we headed toward my chambers.For now, pretending tomorrow wasn’t coming felt a little easier.

Neither of us spoke for a while.

“You know,” Zena said eventually, “I was supposed to stay for a month.”

I glanced at her.

“I’d planned to annoy Father every day, steal Cook’s honey cakes, and make you skip at least one healing lesson.”

A small laugh escaped me. “You always were a terrible influence.”

“I prefer ‘memorable influence.’”

I rolled my eyes. “That might work.” I laugh.

She bumped my shoulder with hers. “I even brought you something.”

“Hmm, presents..  I love.”

“It’s in my room.” A grin spread across her face. “I was going to surprise you tomorrow.”

My smile faltered.

Tomorrow.Everything seemed to come back to that one word.

Zena noticed. “I’m sorry,” she said quietly.

“For what?”

“For coming home too late.”

I frowned. “ You didn’t know.”

“I should’ve been here.”

“You couldn’t have changed the decree.”

“No.” Her jaw tightened. “But you wouldn’t have had to hear it so late and alone.”

I slipped my hand into hers and gave it a gentle squeeze.

“I’m not alone.” She looked at me, her eyes glistening. “I have you.”

For a heartbeat, neither of us moved.

Then she pulled me into another hug. This one lasted longer. Long enough for me to realize she wasn’t trying to comfort me anymore.

She was trying to not cry.

I wrapped my arms around her just as tightly.” You know,” I murmured into her shoulder, “if you’re going to cry, I’m going to start crying too.”

She snorted, quickly wiping at her eyes.

“I am not crying.”

“Liar.”

“It’s just dust.”

“We’re inside,” I said with a laugh.

“Very aggressive dust.”

We both burst into laughter, the sound echoing through the empty corridor. For a fleeting moment, everything felt normal again.

Like I wasn’t leaving tomorrow. Like my life hadn’t just been turned upside down.

I smiled at her. “Come on. Let’s go get my gift.”

A mischievous grin spread across Zena’s face.

“There she is.”

“There who is?”

“My little sister.”

She bumped my shoulder as we started down the corridor. “I was beginning to think she’d disappeared.”

“I almost did.” I let out a quiet breath. “It’s not every day you’re told you’re being shipped off to a death trap.”

Her smile faltered for the briefest moment before she slipped an arm around my shoulders.

“You’re not going to die,” she said firmly. “I won’t allow it.”

A laugh escaped me. “ Thank you, my lady.”

“Oh, don’t start.”

“What? I was being sincere.”

She narrowed her eyes at me. “You were teasing  me.”

“Maybe a little.” She nudged me again, earning another laugh.

“You know what?” she said. “Since today is your last day here, we’re making the most of it.”

“Oh?” I arched a brow. “And what’s the plan?”

“We’re going to pack your things, sneak into the kitchens, steal every honey cake Cook has hidden from everyone …”

“You mean hidden from you .”

“Thats not true.” She waved a dismissive hand. “Then I’ll finally give you your gift.”

I smiled. “And after that?”

“After that…” Her hand squeezed my shoulder. “We’ll worry about tomorrow.”

Thirty minutes later, we’d devoured every honey cake we’d stolen from the kitchens.

For a little while, we’d laughed, teased each other, and pretended tomorrow didn’t exist.

Now, as we stepped into my room, reality came crashing back.

My travel bag sat neatly at the foot of my bed.

Already packed.

Zena let out an exasperated groan.

“He’s unbelievably efficient.”

She nodded toward the bag.

“He could’ve at least let you pack it yourself.”

I walked over and knelt beside it.

Everything had been folded with Father’s usual precision. Spare clothes. A heavy cloak. My healer’s satchel. Even the worn journal I’d been writing in since I was thirteen rested neatly on top.

My chest tightened.

He’d packed it himself.

Without another word, Zena dropped her own pack onto the floor and began emptying it.

A pair of well-worn leather boots landed beside her, followed by gloves, a waterskin, a whetstone, and several small pouches.

““What are you doing?”

“What Leon did for me.”

The name alone made my throat tighten.

Before I could say anything, Zena pulled off her boots and slid them across the floor toward me.

“Can you use a sword?”

I shook my head. “ Not really. I can barely hold one properly.”

A faint smile tugged at my lips. “But I’m good with knives.”

“Oh?”

“I’ve spent years chopping herbs. That has to count for something.”

“It counts,” Zena said with a small laugh. “Just… not as much as I’d like.”

She slid the boots toward me.” Wear these tomorrow.”

I frowned. “ What’s wrong with mine?”

“Nothing.”

She glanced at the sturdy boots tucked beside my packed bag. “ They’re just not made for Wolfstone.”

She leaned back against the bed.

“You’re only allowed one bag. Every extra ounce becomes your enemy.”

I looked between the boots.” I don’t understand.”

“The Academy isn’t a place where you fall and a helping hand is just a reach away .” Her expression grew serious. “You’ll climb cliffs, run mountains, cross rope bridges, and spend days on your feet.”

My stomach tightened.

“If you’re too slow…”

She didn’t finish. She didn’t have to.

“You die ,” I whispered.

Her eyes met mine. “You die.”

The room was silent for a moment.

Then she nudged the boots a little closer.” So trust me.”

I reached for them. “I do.”