Ariana’s POV
The results were posted just before midday, and the hallway outside the main hall filled almost instantly. Students who pretended not to care pushed forward first.
Others hovered at the edges, waiting to see reactions before checking their own names. I would have waited, but Leah refused to let me escape.
She scanned the board quickly and exhaled sharply when she found her ranking. Ethan leaned over her shoulder, offering unnecessary commentary. I stepped forward more slowly, not expecting anything unusual.
When I found my name, I had to read it twice.
First in Combat Theory.
First in Strategy.
Third overall.
It didn’t feel triumphant. It felt exposed.
The shift in the air around me was subtle but real. The whispers weren’t mocking this time. They were uncertain.
“S
