Three months passed. The seasons changed outside the fortress walls, but within the Academy, the routine was an unchanging grindstone. Lucian was no longer the scrawny, clumsy boy who had arrived from the Outskirts. The nutrient paste and relentless training had sculpted his frame into one of lean, wiry strength. The baby fat was gone, replaced by the hard lines of a fighter.
He still wasn't the strongest or the fastest, but he had become one of the most technically proficient students in his division. After mastering the basics of the quarterstaff, the Sleepers were allowed to specialize. Many chose longswords or axes, weapons of power. Lucian chose the short sword. It was a weapon that rewarded speed, precision, and intelligence—qualities he had in spades.
In the sparring ring, he was a ghost. He moved with an economy of motion that baffled his opponents. He didn't use flashy techniques; he used perfect timing. He would parry a blow at the last possible second, using his opponent's momentum against them, and reply with a quick, decisive counter-attack to a designated weak point. He won far more matches than he lost, earning him a quiet, grudging respect.
He remained a loner. He spoke only when necessary, his grey eyes observing everything. He saw the cliques form, saw the bullies and their victims, the leaders and their followers. He saw it all as a pointless distraction. The only alliance that mattered was with his own strength. His only focus was the trial to come.
One afternoon, a new batch of Sleepers arrived. The news spread through the Academy like wildfire, a fresh wave of potential rivals and future corpses. Lucian was practicing his forms in a training courtyard when he overheard two other students talking.
"...some highborn girl from the Citadel, they say. A real diamond." "Heard there were a couple from the Outskirts, too. More gutter rats."
Lucian's movements didn't falter, but his attention sharpened. He finished his training and made his way towards the main processing hall, keeping to the shadows of the colonnades. He watched from a distance as the new arrivals were sorted.
He saw her first. It was impossible not to. Even in the drab grey uniform, she stood out like a flame in the dark. She was tall, with hair the color of spun gold and eyes that held an unwavering, almost regal confidence. Nephis. Changing Star. She was exactly as the novel had described her. Beside her stood a smaller, more timid girl with silver hair, her gaze cast downward. Cassie.
Then, his eyes found him. Standing apart from the others, radiating an aura of sullen distrust, was a boy his age with dark hair and a familiar, grim expression. Sunny. A fellow ghost from the Outskirts.
They were here. All the key players were finally on the board. Lucian turned and walked away, a cold, predatory smile touching his lips for the first time in a very long time. The wait was over.