The convoy yard at Sparkshire's processing center buzzed with subdued energy—hundreds of candidates disembarking, collecting their belongings, saying goodbyes to personnel who'd transported them across Republic territory for months.
Bright stood with his squad near their transport, waiting as House Aurin mercenaries efficiently organized the unloading process. Captain Selene supervised with her usual professional detachment, checking the manifests, coordinating with the Academy staff, treating the candidates' arrival as a contractual obligation completed rather than a significant milestone.
"End of the line," Duncan observed quietly, looking at the convoy that had been their home for months. "Feels strange. Like we're leaving safety behind."
"The convoy was never safe," Mara corrected. "Just mobile. Now we're here. Now we face whatever Sparkshire actually means."
