Her last words sank like stones in water.

Several cadets whimpered.

Others began whispering in panic -

"It sounds like a goodbye."

"Are they planning to put us to sleep tonight?"

"Why letters, if it's just training?"

The air thickened with fear until Caelan Volke's voice cracked through it again like thunder.

"Silence!"

His command echoed through the hall. Everyone froze. Even the whispers seemed to crawl back into throats.

The woman's smile never faltered.

She tilted her ...