Alya crouched on the ridge tiles of the baron's manor, a paper twist of candied chestnuts clutched in one gauntlet. Three in the morning was quiet over the capital, every street asleep below her except for a single lit window.
Her orders were simple: study the opponent before the Semifinal, learn his habits, find his weakness.
'This is reconnaissance. Nothing more.'
The voice that gave the order was very clear about the deadline, then fell silent for hours.
She sat on her heels with the spear across her knees, motionless as a cat watching a mousehole. The halo above her head burned low, the way it always did when she wished to be unnoticed.
'A Hero Candidate does not skulk. She observes from a height.'
She popped another chestnut into her mouth with grave dignity, refusing to examine why she bought a snack at all. A Hero Candidate did not need sweets to scout a rival, yet the little paper twist was nearly empty already.
