Moments before, Casryn had just left the hall after the assembly. No one walked with her as she hadn't really made any real friends or acquaintances since she arrived.
She reached for her pockets and pulled out a copper drachma, flipping it in the air. It was already a habit of hers, before she used to chew her nails to handle anxiety, but later found a much better alternative.
The coin spun once in the air, twice. She caught it cleanly in her palms. The corridor outside the hall was quiet. Distant footsteps echoed somewhere far behind her, swallowed quickly by the cold metal walls.
She flicked the coin again upwards and was barely able to catch the moment someone's hand caught it midair.
She looked up.
The boy who caught it stared at the drachma with mild fascination, turning it slowly between thumb and forefinger.
It was Damon Valerion, Casryn realized, pushing down the flicker of surprise before it could reach her face, the number one candidate in Echelon.
"Interesting habit."
He flicked the coin back toward her.
Casryn caught it on instinct, her fingers closing around it a second later than she would've liked. She shot him an annoyed glance and stepped to the side, intending to walk past him.
Damon slid in front of her, just enough to block her path.
She bit back the sharp words that came to the edge of her lips, deciding it wasn't worth it to make an enemy of a nobleman, regardless of age or his status.
"What do you want?" Casryn asked bluntly. Damon studied her even more now, his eyes never abandoning that curious glare. He was dressed in a simple black T-shirt with leather pants, but even that wasn't as simple as it sounded, perfectly fitted with a subtle elegance written all over, a silver ring wrapped around his left finger.
Casryn wondered whether all noblemen were obsessed with how they looked or if it was only the asshole standing in her way.
"You are hiding your power," he began. "Why is that?"
Casryn eyed him.
"I have no idea what you're talking about."
He chuckled lightly.
"Yes, I believe you do." Damon began slowly, "How else could someone like you have taken down one of my men with a mere piece of metal?"
She shrugged, unimpressed.
"I don't know what you're saying, but I believe that if one of your men could be taken down as easily as that, then they truly aren't as strong as you believe."
She gave him a sweet smile.
"And if they aren't, neither are you."
Damon took a step closer to her, a deadly calm surrounding him. Casryn felt like space itself was closing in on her, leaving her with no room to escape.
'Interesting...' She thought, realizing that he had released his aura.
"I know who you are." He began studying her face.
Casryn held her breath. No way, he couldn't possibly...
"My perfect rival."
She released an inward sigh. He was only delusional; her secret was safe.
"I was wondering when I'd find someone worth noticing." He studied her again.
Damon seemed like he was about to say something else when he stopped. A frown appeared on his face as his eyes locked on something behind her.
Casryn looked behind her, confused as to what Damon was seeing.
In the blink of an eye, Damon was behind her, his right hand closed around something in the air.
His fingers tightened. Then slowly opened to reveal nothing. A quiet curse slipped under his breath, and an annoyed expression formed on his face.
Casryn turned fully now, watching him with narrowed eyes.
For the first time, his composure had cracked just a fraction. She stepped past him.
"This isn't over, Casryn." She heard Damon say behind her in his annoyingly polished accent.
Casryn internally rolled her eyes. Without looking back, she flipped the coin once again, catching it cleanly this time.
She had other things to worry about.
***
The remaining few days flew by with Xaden constantly practising with the red energy and Ariadne's Thread to better understand his skill set. He had also figured out one certain skill of the thread he couldn't wait to use when the proper time arose.
He hadn't seen Lieutenant Ryven since the day he woke up, so he hadn't really had the opportunity to ask him what he knew about what happened to him. He doubted he would have a chance before the second crucible came, which was now only a day away. The thought of which created something uncomfortable in the pit of his stomach.
No one knew what the next trial would constitute, only that it would certainly be more deadly than the first.
Xaden pushed aside his remaining dinner with a deep sigh. He really was eating like royalty here at the Echelon. A shame he didn't have the stomach to finish it all.
Xaden stood up and headed to his dorm room to continue practising. He hadn't seen Leo in a while, as some of the wealthy folks who had seen him in action actually paid to get him a private tutor. Couldn't really blame them, they had probably all already bet on him winning and couldn't risk losing their investment, not that Xaden really cared. If anything, being alone suited him better—
He stopped. At the far end of the corridor stood Lieutenant Ryven. Leaning against the wall like he had been there the entire time. A fitted black shirt clung to his frame, sleeves rolled just enough to expose the gold tattoos winding down his arm. He also wore dark combat pants, clean and unarmored.
Xaden frowned. "You stalking me now?"
Ryven didn't look up.
The dagger in his hand flipped once.
Twice.
Then stopped.
"Follow me."
Once again, no room for argument.
Xaden hesitated for half a second… then moved. He still had questions he felt only Ryven could answer.
They walked in silence.
Again.
Ryven's pace wasn't fast, but it wasn't slow either—just enough to force Xaden to keep up without thinking twice.
They turned into a quieter corridor, the noise of the Echelon fading behind them. Ryven finally stopped.
He turned to face Xaden fully now, his expression blank and unreadable.
"The next Crucible…" he began, voice low, "isn't going to be like the first."
Xaden crossed his arms. "Yeah, figured that much."
Ryven ignored the comment.
"…If you survive it," he continued, "I might consider helping you."
Xaden let out a quiet breath. "Might?"
"You're not worth the effort yet." He deadpanned, just as the Lieutenant stepped past him. And when Xaden turned towards him, he was already gone.
Xaden stood there for a moment, jaw tightening slightly.
"…Yeah," he muttered.
"Really helpful."