LYRA

The common room felt too warm after training. Bodies pressed together, voices overlapping, the smell of perfume and sweat mixing until I wanted to escape back to my chambers. But Mira had insisted we stay, said it would look suspicious if I kept isolating myself.

So I sat in a corner with her while the others gathered around low tables covered with tea and small pastries. Afternoon social hour, they called it. A chance to bond and form alliances before the real trials began.

I just ...