The morning bells chimed across Edgewater's grounds as Mai finished stretching beside his narrow window. Three days had settled into a rhythm—wake before dawn, review notes, and prepare for whatever the academy might throw at them. The guest dormitory room was sparse but clean, with a single bed, desk, and washbasin that caught the early light filtering through glass.

Dust motes drifted in the golden shaft, stirring with each movement as Mai rolled his shoulders and checked his packed satchel. His notes from yesterday's orientation lay neatly stacked on the desk—maps of the academy grounds, lists of faculty, guidelines for the entrance examination. He'd read them twice already, but routine kept his mind steady.

The corridor outside hummed with quiet activity. Other applicants moved between rooms, their voices muffled by thick stone walls. Mai locked his door and headed toward the lounge at the hall's center.

He found Iruminai slumped in one of the cushioned chairs near the tall windows, a cup of coffee steaming on the table beside him. His dark hair hung loose around his face, and his eyes held that unfocused look of someone still fighting sleep.

"Morning," Mai said, settling into the chair across from him.

Iruminai grunted something that might have been a greeting, then reached for his cup with deliberate care. His bandaged shoulder moved stiffly, but the healing had progressed well over the past few days.

"Sleep alright?"

"Define alright." Iruminai took a careful sip, winced slightly, then tried again. "Bed's too stiff. Definitely better than the cart, but still kills my back."

Mai chuckled, "Welcome to the commoners’ level, Your Highness."

Iruminai glared from behind his cup, before taking another sip.

Sunlight streamed through the high windows, illuminating the pristine furniture arranged around low tables. A few other applicants sat in clusters, their conversations a low murmur beneath the distant sound of academy life beginning another day.

"Exam's tomorrow," Mai said. "You ready for it?"

Iruminai nodded, looking more awake now. "Yeah. Arm’s almost healed—just the occasional sharp pain. You?"

"As ready as I can be without knowing what it involves." Mai responded.

They'd received only basic information—arrive at the central hall at dawn, bring minimal belongings, expect to be tested on practical skills rather than academic knowledge. The vagueness felt intentional, designed to test adaptability as much as competence.

Iruminai drained the last of his coffee, setting the cup down with a soft clink. “Whatever they throw at us, we’ll handle it.”

Mai’s smile tugged at one corner. “Obviously.”

Iruminai’s grin sharpened. “Think they’ll split us up?”

“Probably.” Mai had been wondering the same thing—most entrance exams tested individual skill over teamwork. “We’ll be fine either way.”

The morning bells chimed, marking the hour. Around them, other applicants began packing up, bracing for whatever the day still had in store.

"Hard to believe it’s been three days in Arcury," Iruminai said, stretching his good arm overhead. "And all we’ve seen are dorm walls and training yards."

Mai glanced toward the windows, where the sprawling city stretched beyond Edgewater's stone barriers. Market stalls dotted the distant streets, their colorful awnings bright against morning shadows. The harbor glittered further out, ships moving like toys across the water. Part of him itched to explore those winding paths, to lose himself in bookshops and quiet corners the way they had in Phasbar.

"Exam's tomorrow," he reminded himself as much as Iruminai. "Plenty of time to explore after we're accepted."

Iruminai rolled his shoulder experimentally, testing the range of motion. "Fair point. Besides, your drilling schedule would've killed any tourist plans anyway."

Mai had kept them busy, morning conditioning runs around the academy's outer walls, afternoon sparring sessions in the practice yards, evenings spent reviewing combat forms and footwork. Iruminai focused mainly on rebuilding strength in his injured shoulder, working through careful stretches and light sword drills. Mai pushed his reflexes, practicing the precise movements that had served him well in their final exam back at Windy Peaks.

Iruminai drained the last drops from his cup and pushed himself up from the chair, rolling his shoulders with care. The bandage beneath his shirt shifted slightly as he stretched his arms overhead.

"So what's the plan for today?"

Mai stood and rubbed the sleepiness from his eyes. "Probably smart to take it light. Don't want to exhaust ourselves before tomorrow."

"Makes sense." Iruminai nodded toward the hallway.

They walked through the corridor, past other applicants preparing for their own days. The gray stone walls echoes with distant conversations and footsteps, the academy already humming with morning activity. Mai pushed open the heavy wooden doors leading to the central courtyard.

Cool air hit their faces as they stepped outside. The training grounds reserved for applicants lay spread before them—marked circles for sparring, weapon racks gleaming in the sunlight, various practice equipment scattered across the designated areas. Applicants moved between stations, some already deep in morning drills.

Mai scanned the usual faces they'd grown familiar with over the past three days. But today brought some new additions.

An Ethrian boy caught his attention immediately. The newcomer stood before one of the lunis-infused training dummies, his stance loose but ready. He was tall and sharp-shouldered, his dark blue hair falling in uneven strands that caught the light when he moved. Narrow, pointed ears peeked through the mess. A pair of striking eyes, the same shade as his hair, lay focused on his target. A black tank top clung to his lean frame, balanced by gray combat pants tucked into sturdy black boots.

Mai nudged Iruminai's good arm, drawing his attention to the boy.

The Ethrian launched forward, his fists moving in rapid succession. A left hook connected with the dummy's torso, followed immediately by a sharp right cross. The dummy stumbled backward under the impact, its lunis core flaring brighter as it recalibrated.

Mai watched the combination flow seamlessly from one strike to the next. The boy's footwork kept him balanced despite the aggressive tempo, his whole body moving as one coordinated unit. When the dummy swung a retaliatory arm, the Ethrian slipped the strike and countered with another lightning-quick combination.

The dummy's core pulsed frantically, struggling to keep pace with the relentless assault. Finally, it staggered backward far enough to trigger its reset protocol, straightening up and returning to neutral stance.

The Ethrian stepped back, breathing hard but controlled. Sweat beaded on his forehead, but his expression remained focused.

Across the training circle, a mint-haired girl with delicate mouse ears crouched behind one of the weapon racks, holding what looked like a small camera. Her tail twitched as she angled the device toward the Ethrian boy, who had moved on to practicing different fighting stances.

Mai tilted his head, watching her careful positioning. She waited for the perfect moment—when the boy executed a particularly impressive spinning kick—then raised the camera.

The soft click carried across the courtyard.

The Ethrian's head snapped toward the sound, his sharp eyes immediately finding the mouse Ferlyn. A slow smirk spread across his face as he straightened from his fighting stance.

"Getting my good side?" he called out, then began flexing his arms in exaggerated poses.

The girl's ears flattened against her head, her face flushing bright red. She fumbled with the camera, nearly dropping it as she scrambled backward.

"I—no, I wasn't… sorry!" she squeaked, then turned and scurried away between the training equipment, her tail disappearing around a corner.

Mai couldn't help the quiet chuckle that escaped him. Beside him, Iruminai snorted in amusement.

"Well, that was—"

"Hey there!"

Both boys spun around to find a brown-haired Vesrin boy standing directly behind them, close enough they could see the friendly gleam in his hazel eyes.

Iruminai jumped backward, his hand instinctively moving toward where his sword would normally hang. "Shit! You scared the hell outta' me!"

The boy grinned wider, clearly pleased with the reaction. "Sorry about that. I'm pretty good at sneaking up on people."

He looked to be around their age, with wavy brown hair that fell loosely around a warm, open face. An orange cardigan hung casually over a plain shirt, paired with black joggers and relaxed shoes that made him seem more ready for a stroll than training. A small pendant rested against his chest, catching the light with a faint orange glint.

"I'm Ben," the boy said, extending his hand toward Mai first.

Mai accepted the handshake, noting the firm grip. "Mai. So what were you doing behind us?"

Ben chuckled, a little sheepish but still smiling. "I was just wondering if you guys were here for the entrance exam as well?"

"Obviously," Iruminai said, some of his sharpness returning.

"Right, dumb question." Ben chuckled, then leaned in conspiratorially. "So, you guys know anything about what we're actually going to be doing tomorrow?"

Mai glanced at Iruminai before answering. "Nothing useful. Just the same stuff they told everyone—show up at dawn, bring as little as possible, expect practical testing."

Ben's expression fell slightly, disappointment flickering across his face. "Damn, that sucks. I was hoping somebody had managed to get more details." Ben's expression softened slightly, not letting the news get him down. "All I've heard are rumors. Some girl from Faltra swears her cousin's on the exam board, says the exam can stretch on for days."

"Days?" Iruminai raised an eyebrow. "That seems… excessive."

Ben only grinned, shrugging off the doubt. "Hey, I'm just passing along what I heard. Who knows, right?"

Mai felt some of the tension leave his shoulders. Ben's easy manner reminded him of the better parts of their time at Windy Peaks—students gathering between classes, sharing ideas and complaints about upcoming tests.

The Ethrian boy approached from their left, his attention focused on toweling sweat from his forehead. His path intersected directly with their small group, but none of them noticed until his shoulder collided hard with Ben's.

Ben stumbled sideways, falling down. The Ethrian stopped, throwing the towel over his shoulder. His head turned, eyes narrowing as they swept over Ben, cold and unbothered.

"The hell's your problem?" Ben muttered. The lightness that Mai had felt from his words were gone, stripped away and replaced by something raw—sharp with hate, as if the Ethrian's mere presence had soured the air around him.

The Ethrian didn't answer right away. He let the silence linger, his gaze sweeping back over Ben with the kind of idle contempt reserved for something beneath him.

"Didn't realize standing upright was such a challenge."

The words carried dry, mocking the boy on the ground. His eyes slid lazily past Ben to Mai, pausing for a beat—an almost acknowledgment—before sliding over Iruminai. They snagged on the bandaging at his shoulder, then moved on without a flicker of interest, as if he'd already decided the boy wasn't even worth the glance.

The slight cut deeper than the shove. Ben's breath hitched, heat spiking sharp in his chest until it drowned out thought. His jaw clenched as he surged back to his feet. His fist snapped forward, aimed right at the Ethrian's jaw.

The blue-haired boy tilted his head slightly. Ben's knuckles whistled through empty air.

"You piece of—"

Ben launched another punch, this one aimed at the ribs. The Ethrian stepped back, hands still loose at his sides. A left hook followed, then a right cross, each strike flowing into the next with surprising technique.

The Ethrian moved like water, shifting just enough to let each attack pass by harmlessly. His expression never changed—bored, almost disappointed. He didn't bother raising his guard or preparing counters. Ben might as well have been swinging at shadows.

Mai watched the one-sided exchange for three more punches before stepping forward. "Ben, stop."

Iruminai moved at the same time, catching Ben's extended arm mid-swing. "That's enough."

Ben struggled against their grip, breathing hard. "Let me go! This asshole thinks—"

"I think you're wasting my time," the Ethrian said, straightening his tank top with casual indifference. His dark blue eyes swept over Mai and Iruminai once more, lingering on them with something that might have been mild interest.

"Don't get in my way next time."

He walked away without looking back, his stride unhurried and confident.

Ben's shoulders sagged as the Ethrian disappeared between the training equipment. The fire that had burned so bright in his eyes flickered out, leaving behind something hollow and defeated.

"Sorry," he muttered, not meeting their gazes. His hands shook slightly as he smoothed down his orange cardigan. "That was… I shouldn't have done that."

Mai released his grip on Ben's arm. "It's fine. He was being a dick."

"No, it's not fine." Ben's voice dropped to barely above a whisper. His face flushed red, but not from anger this time—embarrassment painted his features as he stared at the ground. "I just made a complete fool of myself in front of everyone."

A few other applicants had indeed stopped their training to watch the brief confrontation. Most had already returned to their exercised, but Mai caught a few lingering stares.

Ben cleared his throat, still not looking up. "I should… I'm just gonna get going. Good luck with your training today."

He started walking toward the dormitory entrance, then paused. "I'll see you guys tomorrow."

Mai watched him retreat, noting the slumped posture and hurried steps. His eyes lingered on the empty doorway for a few moments longer, still trying to make sense of the whole encounter.

The other applicants had all moved back to their drills, the clatter of weapons and low grunts filling the air as if nothing strange had just happened. Mai rubbed at the back of his neck, then finally glanced toward Iruminai and the practice field.

"So… training?"