"It is Thalor Draycott."
When the name was revealed, the room took the name and ran.
"The First Seat," a girl two benches down said, in the tone of someone reciting a ranking. "Against a fifth-place Martial student. It's hardly a match."
"He's the Draycott heir," another voice added. "The Tower's chosen disciple, not merely a student of it."
"And Magister Marisse is preparing him herself." The boy from the row behind Elara had abandoned his page. "Months of that. Nobody beats months of that."
"Fifth is only where the written paper put him," someone said, less certainly. "Have you read his practical marks?" Nobody answered, and the argument closed over the gap.
"First Seat may not be why she chose him," Selphine said quietly, her pen still. "She has months to prepare him. She may be choosing for what he can become."
