11
Alina.
I woke to weak sunlight streaming between the curtains and the usual heaviness in my chest, the feeling that every day here was just another test of endurance. I wasn't sure if I dreaded the routine or if it was the fact that every corner of Umbra Noctis seemed to hold another secret, another trap. I went through the motions; washed my face, straightened my hair, tried to ignore the bruises from yesterday's drills, and headed to breakfast before anyone could notice how slow I was moving.
The dining hall was a blur of noise and early-morning bravado. I'd already learned to keep to the edges, to eat fast and keep my mouth shut, especially when the other dorm boys were watching. They had their rituals, their seating orders, and no matter how many weeks passed, I was still a guest at someone else's table.
