"Then," Selaira said, holding Noa's hand, "I will turn him into the academy's greatest warrior."
"What?"
"She has to be joking, right?"
"Or is this some kind of experiment she is conducting?"
"There is no other explanation for why someone of her station would take his side."
"But the strongest warrior? The Graveworm boy? That's just not possible."
As the elders conversed among themselves, their interest in Noa had deepened. They wanted to know what she had seen in him.
However, the oldest elder had an idea of his own.
"It's not about the boy. She doesn't give a crap about him. All she wants to do is show us her authority and act as she pleases."
"I second that. Her attitude shows that she is testing her limits—to see how far she can push us."
"What if," the muscular woman chimed in, "what if she helps the boy, and he does become something?"
For a moment, the room fell silent.
