A full week passed in the floating terrarium of Zenith Academy.
The oppressive winter that had gripped the continent finally began to break. The high-altitude winds howling across the white-gold spires lost their biting edge, replaced by a heavy, humid dampness. The pristine snow covering the cobblestone paths actively rotted, turning the academy grounds into a treacherous landscape of grey slush and melting ice. Spring was forcing its way in, and the transition was ugly, wet, and relentless.
Inside the climate-controlled halls of the main academic building, the elite first-year class settled into a tense, highly functional rhythm. Instructor Rowan pushed them through brutal combat evaluations, preparing them for the shifting environment of the outdoor sectors. Professor Vyla lectured on the thermodynamic properties of high-density ether.
Vane attended every class. He took meticulous notes and continued to train in the freezing, muddy dark of the Villa 1 courtyard every night.
