The sun was setting, casting a soft orange glow over the academy grounds as Harper and I walked together toward the barracks. It was strange—Harper had barely spoken a word during the trials, but we had worked together so smoothly in the strategy test, it felt like we had been on the same team for years. His quiet intelligence had been crucial to our success, and now we both had something to celebrate.
“I’m not sure how we pulled that off,” Harper muttered, glancing sideways at me as we walked. His glasses slid down his nose, and he pushed them up absentmindedly.
I smirked. “It wasn’t luck, that’s for sure. You’ve got a good head for strategy.”
Harper shrugged, clearly uncomfortable with the praise. “I just like puzzles. You did most of the heavy lifting.”
“Nah,” I replied. “It was a t
