Zara
The rush of cold air hit me the moment we burst out of that godforsaken tunnel. Atlas’s grip on my wrist was firm, almost too firm, but I couldn’t bring myself to pull away — not when my legs still trembled from the close calls we’d had in there. His breath came fast, harsh against the quiet night, his body tense like a drawn bow.
He didn’t stop running until we crossed the main gate we’d entered through. The iron structure loomed above us, casting long, jagged shadows under the pale light of the academy’s torches. Somewhere in the distance, a bell tolled, low and slow, signaling the end of the test.
“Winners!” the instructor’s voice boomed, echoing across the courtyard. His grizzled face broke into a rare smile as he marked something on his clipboard. “King and Blackwood, first o
