After Aeryn prepared herself a fresh salad with the vegetables she had been growing on her balcony, she began to pack her bag for the academy.
'Erdaes told me Alyssa was meeting with Orphon, so I'll just go by myself to the tree arch,' Aeryn thought as she locked the door to her dorm behind her and started down the steps of the tower.
The air of the late summer evening felt refreshing. A soft breeze brushed against her face, bringing a calmness that made her wish she could just sleep under the open sky instead of going to class. Determined to make her way to the tree arch, Aeryn climbed the stone stairs that led toward the academic section of Paredhel.
The "tree arch" was what the students called the academy's garden. It was a long, natural tunnel made by trees whose branches curved and met above, creating a cool shade. At the entrance stood the arch itself. On one side were several benches, and on the other, the academy's main notice board — one of the busiest spots on campus.
'Why don't I check it on my way to the tree arch?' Aeryn thought as she approached the entrance. But something felt off. Instead of the usual flow of students chatting and scattering to their classes, everyone seemed to be rushing in the same direction.
'I wonder what's going on,' she thought, slowing her steps.
Just then, Leighla — one of her classmates — ran past her.
"Leighla, do you know what this is about? Did something happen?" Aeryn called out.
"Well, yes! There's something," Leighla said, slightly out of breath. "Actually, it'll be easier if you see it yourself. Come on, let's go to the tree arch!"
When they arrived, the garden was packed. Aeryn couldn't even glimpse the notice board through the dense crowd. It seemed as if every student in the academy had gathered there.
"Excuse us, please — we just need to take a quick look," Leighla said as she carefully pushed through the students, guiding Aeryn closer.
And there it was — a new poster.
'But I don't remember any contests being held this season,' Aeryn thought.
"I'll leave you here to check it out," Leighla said, slipping away into the crowd.
Erdaes, who had been standing nearby, walked over. "So, have you read the notice board, Aeryn?"
"Yeah," she replied, scanning the poster quickly.
The announcement described a contest to be held in teams of four. Each group would be evaluated by mentors through a series of sessions and graded on their performance. As Aeryn read further, something caught her attention — the seal printed at the bottom.
The Diescuss seal.
"Erdaes, the Diescuss seal…" Aeryn began, but he finished her thought for her.
"Yeah, looks like the military's the one organizing it. It's going to be a tough one. Alyssa and Orphon already know."
The contest involved several sessions, including some dangerous challenges. One, in particular, caught Aeryn's eye: Session 5 — Escape Game. Still, she wasn't worried for herself — more for the students daring enough to enter.
'They must be really skilled to survive that,' she thought, her gaze lingering on the poster as the bell rang.
The crowd began to disperse, and Aeryn followed Erdaes toward the academy's main hall. Though she knew she didn't have anyone to form a team with, her eyes kept darting back to the contest notice until it vanished behind the trees.
---
All throughout the day, Commander Ecthelir behaved as though nothing unusual had happened. Her sharp, disciplined tone remained unchanged, and she barked orders with the same unwavering authority. She taught military drills, corrected mistakes, and scolded slackers — all as usual.
Her behavior was so typical that Aeryn couldn't tell whether she was acting indifferent or truly unaffected.
'No, she's probably not nervous,' Aeryn thought as she slashed her wooden sword toward Leighla, her partner for the session. 'She's too confident for that.'
The students, however, were the opposite of calm. The news of the contest had spread like wildfire. Some were thrilled by the excitement of something new; others were eager to prove their skills. It was that time in life when everyone believed they could do anything — and maybe, Aeryn thought, that was exactly what Ecthelir wanted to inspire.
By the time the class ended around five, everyone was exhausted. Ecthelir finally dismissed them with her usual crisp tone.
Aeryn wiped the sweat from her forehead with a towel and sat down on a nearby rock. She had no particular plans for the evening, but secretly wished someone would invite her out — to dinner, a walk, or even a quiet boat ride.
She glanced at her mentor, who was now cleaning the practice grounds with magic. The thought of her sister Alyssa popped into her mind. Alyssa's schedule was always full a week in advance — something Aeryn disapproved of, yet sometimes envied.
"You should have disappeared from here exactly fifteen minutes and thirty-three seconds ago," came Commander Ecthelir's cold voice.
Aeryn looked up. The commander's gaze was piercing — as if she could see through her, reading her past, her hopes, and even her current mood.
"I was going to leave," Aeryn said, keeping her tone neutral. "Did you want to finish cleaning this place quickly?"
"If you won't interfere, you can stay. But if you intend to, then you may as well leave," Ecthelir replied without looking at her.
A heavy silence fell between them. Aeryn fidgeted slightly, feeling a mix of discomfort and frustration.
"I'll go now," she said finally, jogging away as if she had somewhere to be.
As she reached her dorm, that familiar loneliness returned — soft but heavy. She pushed it aside, locked the door, and began making herself dinner. Her usual salad, for the third day in a row.
Back at the clearing, Erdaes ran in, holding a sheet of paper in his hand. He scanned the area, looking for someone. Only Ecthelir was there, sipping from her water pouch.
"Have you seen Aeryn, my lord?" he asked.
"Aeryn? She left for her dorm a few minutes ago," Ecthelir replied.
"Oh, I see," said Erdaes. He turned to leave, muttering softly under his breath,
"I was going to ask if she wanted to have dinner with me."