On the other side of the room, Adam was busy making his rounds. He had positioned himself near a group of female cadets, his grin wide, his voice smooth. He was telling a story, his hands gesturing dramatically.
"...and then the monster just collapsed! I barely broke a sweat." He leaned in, his tone conspiratorial. "Of course, I'm always at my best when there's something worth protecting."
Here we go again, all those present thought this.
The cadets exchanged glances, their expressions a mixture of amusement and skepticism. One of them, a young woman with fiery red hair, raised an eyebrow.
"Is that so?" she asked. "I heard you were trapped under a falling tree and had to be rescued by a passing merchant."
Adam's grin faltered. "That... was a different mission."
"Was it?" another cadet asked, her voice dripping with sarcasm.
