Aria’s POV

The Academy had its fair share of nonsense, but nothing and I mean nothing—prepared me for waking up to the Headmaster’s booming voice through the old, crackling speaker:

“There will be no breakfast this morning. All students assemble in the Great Hall immediately for purification.”

Purification? At dawn? My stomach cried betrayal before my brain even processed the words. I swear, whoever came up with this schedule was an enemy of food.

By the time I dragged myself into ...