By breakfast, three noble houses had decided Cedric Valdrake was ruined.
Two had decided I was hiding something.
One had decided both, which made them the smartest faction in the Great Hall.
The scoreboard hung above the eastern wall like a public execution delayed for better attendance. Names shimmered in rank order beneath academy sigils, each one carrying more weight than any official speech. Astral Zenith did not need to announce hierarchy. It fed students under it.
Aiden Crest stood at the top of the first-year provisional board.
Naturally. Nothing sharp arrived alone.
Golden letters. Golden boy. Golden route.
AIDEN CREST — GOLD CANDIDATE / COMBAT INSTINCT: EXCEPTIONAL / TEAM IMPACT: HIGH.
Students whispered his name with the hungry relief people felt when the world performed according to expectation. Heroes comforted crowds simply by existing in the correct place.
Liora Ashveil occupied second among non-noble combat candidates and fifth overall.
