The board loomed ahead, crowded by the crush of boys jostling to read their fate. Laughter echoed—sharp and smug in some corners, groans and muttered curses in others. The official rankings were printed in bold, inked letters on thick parchment and nailed to the wrought iron display like a list of war heroes—or executions.
Kael walked straight up to the board, his tall frame parting the crowd without effort. He didn’t even seem to scan the list. His gaze zeroed in on the very top—where his name had already drawn stares and murmured approval from others.
#1 — Kael Stormvale
No surprise. No contest.
He stood there a moment, unreadable. Then stepped back without a word and turned away, vanishing into the murmuring crowd like smoke fading into the wind.
Rian hesitated on the edge of it al
