Rowana did not let Lysara forget the running.

  Not even for a minute.

  They had barely crossed the dorm threshold when Rowana turned, braced one hand on the doorframe, and said, “So.”

  Lysara froze.

  “Did you wash the book?”

  “I didn’t—”

  “You fled,” Rowana said cheerfully. “Full retreat. No warning. Very tactical.”

  “I panicked.”

  “I saw you run like a pack of Ashfur Wolves were chasing you.” A new voice chimed in.

  They both turned.

  “Tessa, before anyone asks.”

  “Lysara.”

  “So was that your first meeting Xyrion?”

  Lysara winced. “That’s his name?”

  “Yes Xyrion Zheadus. Third year. Top of his cohort. Perfect scores. Perfect posture. Perfectly incapable of warmth, overall Mr. Perfect.”

  “That’s not true, he smiles.” Rowana cut in. “I think it was an accident.”

  “Everyone knows him. He’s popular—well-known. Brilliant. Worshipped by half the faculty and the students.” Rowana continued.

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  “And feared by the other half,” Tessa added. “Which is more impressive.”

  Lysara sank onto her mattress. “He looked at me like I was… unstable.”

  Rowana snorted. “You were covered in goo.”

  “That’s not the point.”

  “That’s absolutely the point.” Tessa said with mirth barely contained.

  The door opened.

  Adeline Vaereth swept in like she owned the place, eyes immediately flicking to the window bed she still did not have.

  Rowana’s smile sharpened. “Careful. If you glare any harder, the glass might crack.”

  Adeline’s gaze slid to her. “Some of us prefer rooms that reflect our status.”

  “And some of us were assigned our beds. Wild concept.”

  Lysara and Tessa both shrank back instinctively.

  “At least I don’t embarrass myself by antagonizing instructors and seniors.”

  “At least I don’t need a window to feel important.”

  The temperature dropped.

  “Ethics class should cover humility,” Adeline said sweetly.

  Rowana laughed. “Ethics class should cover lying convincingly, since that’s all it seems to reward.”

  “Careful.”

  “Or what?”

  Tessa cleared her throat loudly.

  Lysara nodded along, pretending to adjust her blanket.

  Adeline’s eyes flicked briefly to Lysara, dismissive, then back to Rowana. “Try not to fail again.”

  The door shut behind her.

  Silence lingered.

  Then Tessa burst out laughing.

  Rowana grinned. “Worth it.”

  Lysara hesitated, then said quietly, “I don’t like ethics class either.”

  Both of them looked at her.

  “It’s… subjective, and they keep asking questions with no correct answers.”

  Tessa brightened. “Yes. Exactly. I’m trying to improve my control, not debate hypothetical morality.”

  “I go to the library instead, outside classes.”

  Tessa nodded eagerly. “Same. I’ve been focusing on drills. Quiet ones.”

  Rowana blinked. “Wow. Look at you two. Bonding over mutual disdain.”

  Lysara almost smiled.

  Tessa leaned closer. “If you ever want company—quiet company—I’m usually there after dinner.”

  Lysara nodded.

  Rowana flopped onto her bed with a satisfied sigh. “Great. I’ve created an alliance.”

  Lysara glanced toward the door, then back at the others.

  Somewhere between goo incidents, running away, and verbal skirmishes, she’d acquired… people.

  And this time, she didn’t feel the urge to run.