It was the middle of June.
Winter had arrived on the Ascent Isles.
Yes, winter. In June.
While the rest of the Central Safe-Zone was being baked under a cruel summer sun every single day, we Apex Cadets up here in the sky were layering on jackets and scraping frost off our windows.
The streets were always covered in snow, and the training grounds had to be cleared before drills.
Someone in my dorm building had already slipped on the stairs this morning. Twice.
…No, it wasn't me!
And yet, despite the cold afternoons and freezing nights, I couldn't just wrap myself in blankets and hibernate like a brown bear, no matter how much I wanted to.
Because half-yearly exams were starting tomorrow.
Everyone was busy — either studying or training.
Even the main characters were occupied with their side quests.
Juliana was still helping Ivan with his love life.
