Te’s cafeteria—one of three scattered across the expansive campus—was a wide open space with tall windows that stretched from floor nearly to ceiling, flooding the hall with natural light.

  Like much of the campus, Natalie wouldn’t ht call the space opulent, but wealth showed in less obvious ways: the enormous windoerfect liness, to name one, but also in the array of choices avaible, all of it appetizing. Various stations packed the hall, every sort of food Natalie could imagine. All of it free. Te like to grind its students down in all manners of way, but they ate well. Which had a practical purpose; it took a good diet to stay in fighting shape.

  Natalie sed the cafeteria for Jordan. The first-year students had been dispersed by the lecturers and were responsible for making it to their appoi—uniform fittings—on their own. A delving student who couldn’t handle something that simple was useless to Tehe academy expected, and enced, autonomy. Because of course they did. What use was a delver who o be hand-held? The trust given to even a first-year was ahiing the bat school apart from a typical military academy, despite the simirities.

  Jordan was off in the er, as Natalie instinctively searched first, knowing her dark-haired friend preferred to stay oskirts, away from attention. Jordan didn’t see her looking; she was already eating.

  Her soon-to-be table located, Natalie’s attention turned back to the various food stations. She picked the first few few things that seemed appetizing. She’d explore the cafeteria—and its surprisingly entig options—ter. She didn’t have the mental wherewithal to be g about food, at the moment.

  Sad made, and a few heavier options piled onto her pte, Natalie slid her tray onto the table, settling into the chair across from Jordan. Jordan looked up and nodded iing.

  “How’d yo?” Natalie asked.

  Orientation had been split into several csses, and Jordan hadn’t been in Natalie’s. Which was a shame for a few reasons—first, because hanging out with Jordan would’ve made the m pass faster, and sed, because Harper had been a delight. As far as orientatio. It still hadn’t been the most engagi of her life.

  “Fine,” Jordan said. “You?”

  “Better than expected, actually. Got this snarky fourth year, Harper. She was … funny. And I learned a lot.”

  “Like?”

  Natalie shrugged. “Teuff. And insight. Perspective of a fourth year.” Not that Harper’s views would be monolithic. Hers was just one of many, at a guess. “Sucks we didn’t get the same barracks. Think we could trade?”

  “With someone else?”

  “So we’re together, yeah.”

  “I … don’t think that’s allowed.” Though Jordan seemed tempted to try. She’d wao be put into Natalie’s barracks, too.

  Eventually, ohey’d earned some of Te’s proprietary ‘tokens’, they’d be able to buy their way into a shared dormitory. But that was a ways off.

  “And?” Natalie asked.

  Amused, Jordan said, “It’s the first day. Let’s hold off on pushing boundaries yet. Get a feel for things.”

  Jordan knew better than to suggest something as ridiculous as ‘follow the rules entirely’.

  “It’s not like they assigned beds,” Natalie argued. “You think they check? Let’s just s.”

  Jordaated, but held firm. “Better to py it safe.”

  “B.”

  “Besides,” she said. “It’s only where we’ll be sleeping. So what’s it matter? Not gonna be spending any more time there than I have to.” Her nose wrinkled. “It’s loud. And crowded.”

  Natalie had had simir thoughts, and she was more sociable than Jordan. Who would spend their free time in the barracks? Better to head to the library, the guilds, explore campus, or whatever else.

  A student of Te shouldn’t have much free time, anyway. Not one who wao excel. Which, presumably, would be every student who’d made it into the prestigious academy.

  “Where’s Sofia?” Jordan asked.

  “Ugh. You know I got the bed o hers?” Natalie realized she hadn’t answered the question, but Sofia’s name had dragged the respo instantly. The way a hand on a stove snapped back … or sour milk made someone gag. Natalie liked the sed one. Much better for Sofia. “How would I know? She’ll show up.”

  “You two got the same barracks?”

  “Unfortunately.”

  Jordan seemed amused by the development. “You two should work out your …” she paused. “Rivalry.”

  “What was the pause for?”

  “I was going to say hate-crush,” Jordan said, “but decided I didn’t want to start anything.”

  Natalie stared at her.

  Jordan ughed. She picked at her food, chewing then swallowing, before finally quirking an eyebrow at Natalie’s tiare. “What?”

  “You’ve ruined my appetite,” Natalie said. “Even as a joke.”

  “Who said it was a joke?”

  Natalie faked nausea, pretending to heave onto her pte.

  “You’re such a drama queen,” Jordan said. “And, heads up, here she es.”

  Sofia slipped into the spot left of Natalie. Jordan had picked a four-seat table in the er of the expansive cafeteria, so Sofia was between both of them. She unfolded a napkin and put it on her p.

  “Jordan. Natalie,” she said in introdu, nodding her head politely. “How’s your m going?”

  Natalie raised an eyebrow at Jordan, as if to emphasize, ‘See? This is the problem.’

  Who did Sofia think she was? Why did she always act like this? So prim and proper. She was just some girl from the backwaters, same as Jordan and Natalie. Who the hell folded a napkin on their p for cafeteria food? Gods, she was so pretentious.

  ‘Hate-crush’. Jordan’s previous words sent a shiver down her spine. As if. When it came to Sofia’s feigned royalty, the way she carried herself like a noblewoman with perfect assured fidenatalie was ohing: annoyed. It didn’t do anything for Natalie. Definitely not in that way, even in a rivalrous manner.

  And why did she always wear so much perfume? The fresh floral st was distrag; she could barely think straight when Sofia was close. Gods, this girl was aggravating. Natalie was fidgeting just being near her.

  Really, Natalie could only stand Sofia when they were in a sparring ring together. She wasn’t as annoying, or as much of a distra—the aggravating kind—then. Though, losing to Sofia was a headache of its oas she so good at fighting, when she was so perfed dainty? Like some delicate piece of art?

  Er, that was too fttering of a parison. Unfortunately, she couldn’t find a better one.

  “Oh, fine enough,” Jordan said, answering Sofia’s question. “It was the same stuff for everyone, right? Tokens, guilds, extracurricurs?”

  “And a lecture on abstinence,” Sofia said, lips quirking. “Did you all get that?” She picked up her knife and fork and began to eat, cutting into the slice of pork roast she’d picked out.

  “Abstinence?” Natalie asked, amused. “Miold us to use s.”

  Sofia paused, the first k of food raised to her mouth. She finished pg it in her mouth, then chewed and swallowed. “Hm. Mine as well. I was avoiding being crude.” She brushed forward: “So, have you two chosen?”

  “Chosen what?” Natalie asked.

  “Your extracurricurs.”