The first person waiting outside the combat hall was Liora Ashveil.
That was already a problem.
Most students understood the proper order of academy politics by instinct. Nobles waited for nobles. Commoners waited until someone important finished using the air. In Astral Zenith, even hallways had rank if enough expensive shoes stood inside them.
Liora stood in the center of the corridor with a practice sword over one shoulder and the expression of someone who had never been taught the value of stepping aside.
Three Iron students pretended not to stare at her. Two Gold students made the mistake of staring too openly. A maid carrying folded towels slowed down, decided survival was more important than curiosity, and hurried away.
I checked the exits first.
