At sunrise, the western practice grounds smelled of wet grass, iron, and fresh bread from the kitchens. Raze arrived to find three dozen students assembled around a wooden board. Most wore Academy training coats rather than their kingdom's colors. That small change had done little to erase the divisions between them.
The Westia students stood together. Two delegates from Astoria had claimed the shade beneath a tree. A group of independents compared equipment while pretending not to watch everyone else. At the far end, a tall student with a scar through one eyebrow was arguing with an instructor about the meaning of the word introductory.
"Does introductory mean safe?" the student demanded.
"No," Professor Merrow said. "It means we are introducing you to the consequences of your choices."
Raze stopped beside Fedora. "I think she enjoys saying things like that."
"She enjoys watching you realize they're true," Fedora replied.
