During his first week at the Elyndra Grand Academy, Velren barely—no, he hadn't bothered—to befriend his peers. Maybe it was because he still hadn't found the time, or maybe it was because he didn't see the need to. Either way, he kept to himself. Names and faces blurred together in a sea of unfamiliarity, and whatever idle chatter passed between classmates were barely registered in his mind.
But even he knew the name of the student who was now stepping into the arena.
Alistair von Rhaegis.
The red-haired noble who, as fate would have it, was also in his class. And while Velren had ignored most of the academy's social landscape, Alistair had left an undeniable impression—not just on him, but on the entire first-year cohort.
How could he not? He had placed first during the practical evaluation exam after all.
And that alone was enough to set him apart.
