The first sign something had changed wasn't the training halls.
It was the schedule.
Lucas noticed it when he checked his interface before breakfast. Normally the academy rotations stayed predictable for weeks at a time. Training blocks shifted slowly, and most students could guess what their next few days would look like.
Not today.
Half the morning slots had been rearranged.
Practice groups that normally trained separately were suddenly assigned to the same rotation. A-tier students were paired with B-tier formations. Even a few C-tier squads appeared in drills they normally wouldn't touch.
Lucas stared at the screen for a few seconds.
"Well," he muttered, "that's new."
Dreyden glanced up from across the table.
"What is?"
Lucas turned the interface toward him.
"They mixed the tiers."
Dreyden studied the schedule.
"Yes."
Lucas frowned.
"That's it?"
Dreyden handed the device back.
"It was going to happen eventually."
Lucas leaned back in his chair.
"Why now?"
