Morning sun rays filtered through the windows, falling across silk sheets in golden bars.
Alaric opened his eyes, already fully alert—a habit he formed from the months of Fredrick's dawn training sessions.
He rolled out of bed, muscles protesting slightly.
The past two days of investigating Risvolk corruption had kept him up late.
And today, was the day for the entrance examination of the Pheonix Academy.
After freshening up, Alaric dressed in his usual clothes.
He stepped out of his room and noticed that the hallway was pretty quiet as he made his way toward the dining hall.
Then...
Tap! Tap! Tap!
He heard the footsteps echo from his side.
Elina emerged from the corridor. When she saw him, her expression went as cold as winter frost.
He smiled cheerfully. "Good morning, sister," adding a small wave.
But she huffed in response and strode past without a word, her scarlet hair whipping behind her like a banner of indignation.
Since the day they met, she'd been doing this.
