Meanwhile, Blue Star Military Academy in Specter Island. On the first day of enrollment, beyond dorm assignments and an introduction to school regulations, the remaining practical concern was food. From the regulations, Thora quickly grasped the differences in uniform colors, the classification of departments, and the rules governing internal rankings. At the academy, uniform color corresponded directly to strength and rank. The darker the color, the higher the standing and the stronger the individual. First-year cadets wore the lowest tier of uniform, a grayish blue. Above that were light blue, standard blue, deep blue, violet-blue, and black-blue, making six levels in total. The academy maintained both departmental strength rankings and an overall school ranking. Different rankings came with different privileges on graduation. Here, strength determined everything. Each department had its own insignia, and the most prestigious and hardest to enter of them all was the Command Institute. The public dining hall spanned ten floors. From the outside, it looked less like a cafeteria and more like a cathedral, its layout even more lavish than a five-star hotel. Thora could not help thinking that Blue Star Military Academy was truly wealthy. All floors except the tenth were open to everyone. The tenth floor was usually reserved for the top ten in the academy's overall ranking. There was no official rule, but the custom had persisted for years. Thora and Shirley found a seat on the second floor. As they sat down, many upperclassmen in uniforms of varying shades glanced their way. These students came in a range of skin tones, most of them Western wolfkin. Faces from the Eastern wolf clans were rare, and aside from their small group, Astralis natives were almost nonexistent. Thora frowned slightly. She finally understood why Hugo placed such importance on the Blue Star Military Academy entrance exams. Future wars would be specialized conflicts, not traditional battles. The academy's students were all potential future opponents. To lose this opportunity meant losing access to vital intelligence about future enemies, whether technological or experiential. Anyone shut out would inevitably fall behind. The upperclassmen's gazes lingered a moment longer on Thora and her group. There was some admiration, but far more arrogance. New students sat at the very bottom of the academy's food chain. Suddenly, a low murmur of discussion drew attention."Look, that's Roxen from the Command Institute. You never see him outside of class." "Why would Roxen be eating on the second floor? Even for meals, he should be on the tenth." "Mike's here too." "That's not surprising. Mike and Roxen are officially recognized as a pair." Under countless stares, Mike felt his appetite vanish. He leaned toward Roxen, who seemed uninterested in food and only sipped red wine. "Roxen, should we just go back to the tenth floor?" Roxen glanced at him indifferently and said nothing, his gaze occasionally drifting toward the new cadets. When Thora saw the blond man, her expression shifted slightly. It was him. Roxen's eyes met hers. He raised his glass in a graceful salute, a faint smile on his lips. His manner carried both aristocratic elegance and a soldier's precision. Thora nodded in return. Taking his vehicle last time had been unavoidable. When they met again, she owed him a proper thanks. Students who noticed the exchange stared in disbelief. A freshman. Why would Roxen give her any attention? Was it simply because she was attractive? "Thora, it's only been a moment, and you've already caught the eye of someone formidable again." Ashley carried his tray over and sat beside Thora, settling in close. The feeling was strange. Former enemies who had once been at odds had fought side by side. Now they were sitting together, eating together, even attending the same academy. It was a novelty he had never experienced before. Thora was already used to Ashley's manner of speaking and mostly ignored him.Still, remembering that there was a man beneath that exterior made the situation feel oddly unsettling. She noticed Shirley picking at her food and tapped her fork against Shirley's. "Eat properly." Shirley immediately stopped fussing and shoveled a bite into her mouth. Watching the exchange, Ashley's eyes narrowed slightly. He didn't answer the unspoken question behind it. Instead, he said, "You take good care of your companions." "You treat yours well too, don't you?" Thora replied with a faint smile. Though Lance stood on the opposing side and was often at odds with her, she respected him. He was ruthless in action but valued his companions' lives as highly as his own. Those around him revered him in return. Understanding passed between them, and Ashley smiled. For a moment, he wondered what it would be like to stand beside Thora as an ally. The thought was dismissed almost as soon as it arose. Soldiers and mercenaries never walked the same path. Besides, only as her opponent could he feel the surge of adrenaline that truly thrilled him. "So, Thora," Ashley asked casually, "which academy do you think you'll end up in?"