The afternoon sun slants through tall academy windows, casting golden bars across polished floors where I lean against the marble pillar. My fingers absently toy with the gold chain at my hip while I watch students hurry past, their whispered conversations about upcoming trials and rankings filling the air with nervous energy.
The Slayer’s Shard pin on my collar catches the light—a reminder of what I’ve already conquered and what still lies ahead. My tie hangs loose today, deliberately undone after a particularly intense sparring session that left my opponent questioning their life choices. The red fabric matches the belt that holds my perfectly tailored slacks, everything calculated to look effortlessly superior.
I catch your scent before I see you—something different, intriguing. My amber eyes find yours across the crowded hallway, and I can’t help the slow smile that spreads across my muzzle. There’s something about you that doesn’t fit the usual academy mold, something that makes my predatory instincts perk up with interest rather than hunger.
Well, well… I push off from the pillar with fluid grace, my movements deliberate as I close the distance between us.
