The alarm went off, and for once, I didn't feel like smashing it. Kane had declared a half-day after yesterday's spar left Lyra and me looking like we'd been thrown through a grinder. My ribs still ached when I breathed too deep, but at least there weren't laps or sword drills waiting for me the second I rolled out of bed.
"Rest while you can," Kane had said flatly after dismissing us. "Tomorrow, I'll be testing you in a way I haven't yet. Something special. Something… harsher."
The way he said it had stuck with me, and for once, a day of breathing room sounded more like a blessing than a trap.
Still, instead of peace, there was something else sitting on my desk, a thin envelope.
I cracked the seal and pulled out the card inside. My first stipend. My first paycheck. Not much compared to what nobles threw around for fun, but it was mine. I turned it over in my hands a few times, not sure whether to feel proud or laugh at how quickly it would vanish.
The door banged open.
"Zane!" Lyra strode in, already dressed, hair tied back like she'd been awake for hours. "Get up, we're going shopping."
I groaned. "Shopping? Now?"
"Yes, now." She crossed her arms. "You got your money, didn't you?"
"So?"
"So we're going shopping, and it doesn't matter what you think. We need stuff. Clothes. Food. Decorations. Actual furniture that doesn't look like Elera staged it for a catalog."
I rubbed my face. "Can't it wait until tomorrow?"
Before Lyra could argue, another voice cut in.
"She's right, you know."
Adrian leaned against the doorframe like he'd been there the whole time, arms folded, casual smirk plastered across his face. He wasn't in training gear; instead, he wore dark jeans and a jacket, a look that made him blend into the city crowd yet still radiate confidence.
Lyra perked up instantly. "See? Even Adrian thinks so."
I stared at him. "Why are you here?"
He shrugged. "Because Kane told me to check in on you. And because I was curious what kind of taste the two of you have outside of daggers and swords." His smirk widened. "My guess? None."
Lyra ignored the jab and tugged on my arm. "Come on, before you think of an excuse."
The city was alive by the time we hit the streets. Vendors shouted over each other, the smell of roasted food mixed with exhaust fumes, and the sidewalks were packed with people rushing to work or taking their time to browse. The sun reflected off the glass-and-steel towers, painting everything in harsh gold.
I hadn't realized how quiet the penthouse felt until we were swallowed by the noise.
Lyra walked ahead like she owned the place. Adrian blended in effortlessly, hands shoved in his pockets, somehow drawing stares anyway. I trudged behind, already regretting this.
"You look thrilled," Adrian said dryly.
"I'd rather still be in bed."
"Of course you would. Figures."
Lyra glanced back and rolled her eyes. "Ignore him. First stop: clothes."
The shop Lyra dragged us into was one of those high-end boutiques with too much lighting and not enough space to breathe. Racks of sleek jackets and shirts stretched wall to wall, mirrors everywhere, making it feel twice as crowded.
I made the mistake of saying I didn't need anything, which immediately doomed me.
"You're not wearing those ragged training shirts everywhere," Lyra said, shoving a pile of clothes into my arms. "Try these."
"I don't need—"
She shoved me into a changing room.
By the time I came out, Adrian was lounging on a bench, clearly enjoying himself. His eyes swept over me, and he snorted. "Not bad. Almost makes you look civilized."
Lyra circled me critically, then grinned. "Definitely better than your usual black-on-black uniform."
I deadpanned. "It's functional."
"It's boring," she shot back.
I sighed and turned toward the mirror. For once, I didn't hate what I saw. The jacket fit, the shirt underneath wasn't suffocating, and the jeans didn't restrict movement. Not bad.
Still, I muttered under my breath, "It's been almost four weeks since we started training with Kane…"
Lyra groaned theatrically. "Don't remind me. Feels like four years."
Adrian chuckled. "Feels like four days. Maybe that's because you two are still slow."
Lyra threw a hanger at him. He dodged effortlessly, smirking.
After clothes, we moved to groceries and house items. The cart filled quickly — though not with the things I expected.
Lyra piled it high with snacks, candles, pillows, and random kitchen gadgets we definitely didn't need. I tried to keep it practical: low-level healing potions, earplugs, eggs, and chicken.
Adrian strolled along behind us, occasionally plucking bottles of expensive wine or exotic sauces off the shelves and tossing them in.
"Who's paying for that?" I asked.
He raised a brow. "Didn't you just get paid?"
Lyra laughed. "Put it on Zane's tab."
I groaned, pushing the overloaded cart. "Why am I the one paying for all this?"
"Because you're the oldest one," Adrian said smoothly. "This way, you at least get to contribute to our fun."
I glared at him, but he looked completely unfazed, strolling down the aisle like he owned it.
"Aren't you like 3 months older than me?"
He didn't answer and continued on his way.
We passed a small stall selling charms and trinkets near the exit. Lyra slowed down, eyeing a silver pendant carved with faint runes. "Space reinforcement," the vendor explained. "Stabilizes short jumps. Not strong enough for combat, but handy for practice."
Lyra's fingers twitched toward it, but she pulled back. "Later," she murmured, almost to herself.
I caught the look on her face and said nothing.
Our last stop was a gear shop. The place was quieter, filled with the metallic glint of weapons and the faint hum of mana-charged equipment.
Lyra immediately gravitated toward the daggers, sleek, curved, some embedded with gems that shimmered faintly with enchantments. Her eyes lit up, but she didn't pick one.
Adrian tried on a pair of gauntlets, flexing his hands as faint sparks of lightning jumped between his fingers. He grinned, tossing a glance at me. "What do you think? Should I ditch my blades for these?"
"You'd still beat us either way," I muttered.
"True." He smirked, setting them back.
I found myself staring at a wall of blades: longswords, shortswords, twin blades. My hand lingered on one hilt before I pulled it back. I didn't need it. at least not yet.
Adrian noticed. His smirk softened for a moment. "Don't get too comfortable, Zane. The entrance exam won't be forgiving."
I met his gaze but said nothing.
Lyra broke the silence, holding up a set of throwing knives. "Think these will fit in the kitchen drawer?"
I groaned.
By the time we left, our arms were weighed down with bags. Lyra promptly handed most of hers to Adrian.
"You're the richest, so u probably have a spatial storage on you," she said sweetly.
Adrian shot her a look, but didn't argue. He promptly stuffed all our stuff in his space ring and continued walking.
We walked back through the crowded streets, Lyra humming happily beside us, Adrian grumbling under his breath, and me trailing behind with a small smile tugging at my lips.
It wasn't training. It wasn't fighting. It wasn't survival.
For once, everything . . . just felt fun.
And I realized, maybe I needed that more than I thought.