Thora had just finished her last lap on the training field when she instinctively looked toward a tall building in the distance. But it was too far away. The academy's buildings were full of advanced tech that some towers seemed almost invisible in the daytime. Now, as night approached, that building seemed to blend right into the darkening sky. "Is something happening over there?" she whispered. A faint wave of ability energy in the air made the tiny hairs on her arms stand up straight. Thora reached out and smoothed them down, pulling her gaze back from the distant building. If she remembered correctly, that tower was the Student Division's Data Building—also called Building One. Only the top ten students in the whole academy could enter the 66th floor. Even then, not everyone could access the information they wanted—unless they graduated successfully and earned the highest-level diploma, which granted full access. Frowning slightly, Thora dropped the weights from her shoulders and tossed them to the two soldiers who had been supervising her. "Good work. Go get some food." Then she walked off first. The way she carried herself almost made it seem like she was the leader, and they were there to follow her orders. Even so, the time and condition in which Thora finished her run exceeded their expectations. By the standards they were used to, most students would still need another two or three hours to finish, and even then, they'd be completely exhausted. But she was done—and completely unshaken. At first, the two were shocked. Then they were stunned. By the end, they were completely numb. They exchanged a glance, thinking to themselves, if only every student could finish their punishment tasks as quickly and cleanly as she... When Thora went to the cafeteria, it was almost empty. She walked in, grabbed some food, and sat down. But the moment she settled, she felt a gust of wind rushing toward her. She spun to dodge the attack, but the person behind her didn't let up. Thora's eyes narrowed. She tossed her tray into the air, using the moment to spin around quickly. Her elbow struck out, and her long leg followed with a spinning back kick! The person behind her was instantly pushed back and, in the blink of an eye, was standing directly in front of her. Thora reached out and caught the falling tray smoothly. Not a drop of soup spilled."You know, every time I fight you—it's a real thrill, Ash," Lance said, looking at Thora. A half-smile played on his lips, but there was a hint of danger in his eyes. Thora replied calmly, "I just don't like being disturbed while I eat." Lance raised an eyebrow, then asked, "Mind if I join you?" "Sure, go ahead." Thora turned and sat back down. Lance strode over and took the seat across from her. But his eyes stayed fixed on her. Suddenly, his gaze flickered strangely. Noticing his unusual look, Thora looked up. "Something on your mind?" The question caught Lance off guard. No one had ever spoken to him that way—calm, casual, and direct. Even after all the times they'd clashed, she had never just sat across from him and talked like this. The feeling was strange—not like the way his mercenary group gave him. It almost felt ... like a friend?Lance picked the tomatoes out of his tray and said, "I'm curious, Ash. Aren't we supposed to be enemies? Sitting here together, talking like this... Don't you feel it's weird?" Lance just couldn't figure it out. One of them was a soldier, the other a mercenary. Every time they met before, it had been life-or-death. And yet now, here they were, eating together, and even talking calmly. He had read countless books, but not one of them explained this. He always thought he understood everything in the world—but in front of this person, it was like a fog had settled over his knowledge, and he couldn't see clearly. Thora's gaze landed on the tomatoes he'd set aside. She swallowed the last bite of her food before speaking. "Don't worry. After graduation, I'll still catch you. I've saved a spot for you at the Astralis Military Prison."