After what Blake said last night, the idea of testing out Caladorn had been simmering in my mind like a pot about to boil over.

Sitting on my bed, the sword resting across my lap, I realised how deceptively light the hilt felt in my hand. My thumb kept drifting over the small button on the side, but I kept chickening out and pulling it back.

The door suddenly flew open with a bang that shook the walls, and Luke burst into the room, stark naked except for the bundle of clothes he clutched in front of his crotch. It wasn't exactly a sight I'd been eager to see before breakfast.

I groaned, pushing myself off the bed with the sword still in hand. I was about to ask what on earth was going on when Luke grabbed me with one arm, his other still holding his makeshift modesty shield, and pulled me in front of him like I was some kind of human barrier. He yanked me in front of him just as another boy stormed in after him, his face an alarming shade of red, like he was about to blow a gasket.

"I'm going to kill you, you no-good, girl-stealing piece of—"

"Whoa, whoa, whoa!" I cut in, holding up my free hand. But the guy was too far gone, steam practically pouring out of his ears. He was about our age, but his fury made him seem about ten feet tall.

"Look, can't we just talk this out? It was a one-time thing, I swear... probably..." Luke seemed oddly amused by the whole situation, even though he was clinging to my arm like it was his last hope of survival.

The boy, even angrier now—if that was even possible—pulled out what looked like the hilt of a sword and pressed a button on the side. But instead of a blade, a massive battle-axe materialised, the kind that looked like it could cleave through stone, let alone Luke's head.

"You might want to move, or you'll get hurt too," the guy growled at me, lifting the axe. I should have moved. Really, I should've. But something in me clicked, and I pressed the button on my own sword. Caladorn's blade shot out in an instant, shimmering like liquid night.

The guy's eyes widened. "Wait, is that—?" he started, clearly recognising my blade, but before he could finish, he charged at us full speed, battle-axe raised high.

"Honestly, Luke," I muttered, bracing myself. "What have you gotten me into now?"

Luke just shrugged, looking like a kid caught with his hand in the cookie jar. He stepped back, putting me directly in the line of fire as he wore that innocent 'not my fault' expression.

With a resounding crash, my blade met the battle-axe, slicing the haft cleanly in two with one strike. The boy bolted, his pride clearly more bruised than his body. I picked up the broken pieces of his weapon and tossed them out after him before shutting the door. Luke stood there in shock, his jaw hanging open.

"Whoa..." he breathed, clearly forgetting he was still starkers, the pile of clothes now forgotten on the floor.

He didn't seem too bothered by the fact that I'd seen everything—and I mean everything—but I was already turning away, my cheeks flaming.

"Could you please put some clothes on?" I rubbed my face in embarrassment as Luke burst into laughter.

"That was brilliant! That sword is something else."

He rummaged around for some clean clothes while I flopped back onto my bed. Once he assured me he at least had underwear on, I relaxed a bit.

"So, I assume the 'smoking hot chick' you were with last night was his girlfriend?" I asked, still pondering the true power of Caladorn.

"What gave you that impression?" Luke raised an eyebrow, his smirk back in full force. I sighed as he pulled on a shirt and slumped down beside me, way too pleased with himself.

"So, what did you get up to last night? Anything exciting while I was out?" He wrapped his arm around my shoulders, wiggling his eyebrows like a mischievous imp.

"Nothing quite as thrilling as you, I'm sure. But Nilla made you some new arrows, and I had a rather... enlightening chat with Blake."

Luke's interest piqued immediately at the mention of Blake, and he grinned like a Cheshire cat, eager for details, dismissing his new arrows altogether.

***

A couple of hours later, after enduring Luke's endless pestering about my conversation with Blake, it was time for training with Mara. Luke insisted on tagging along, even though Mara usually greeted him with the same warmth she might reserve for a mouldy sandwich.

When we arrived at the training grounds, Mara barely spared Luke a glance before saying, "Why'd you bring him? You know what, never mind. I can't be arsed to train today anyway. I was going to ask if you wanted to grab lunch instead." Without waiting for a response, she grabbed us both by the shirts and started marching us off campus.

"Hey, where're you guys headed?" Nilla appeared out of nowhere, her usual wild appearance toned down. Her goggles were missing, her hair was neatly combed, and there was something almost... delicate about her today.

"Getting lunch, wanna come?" Luke asked, trying to lighten the mood as he extended the invitation.

"Absolutely!" Nilla's face lit up as she hooked her arm through Mara's and skipped alongside her. The sun made her golden hair sparkle, and she looked genuinely thrilled to be out with us.

The walk to the café was short, just a few blocks, but it felt like a lifetime with Mara's frosty silence and Luke's failed attempts to get her to crack a smile. We finally arrived at a little place called The Hideout, which seemed fitting, given it was tucked away from the main streets and filled with students looking for a quiet escape.

We grabbed a booth by the window, and as soon as we sat down, Luke and Nilla pounced on the menus. Nilla immediately zeroed in on the cakes, her eyes lighting up like she'd just found treasure.

As we waited for our food, I glanced around the café, and my eyes landed on a familiar face. Miss Reid, our headmistress, was sitting at a nearby table with a young man who shared her striking white hair.

"Miss Reid! Alec!" Nilla's voice cut through the chatter as she waved them over, grinning from ear to ear.

"Hello, Miss Richards," Miss Reid greeted her, smiling warmly as she approached with the young man in tow. Alec, as Nilla had called him, looked like he'd stepped out of a fashion magazine. His sharp jawline and pale skin were almost too perfect, like someone had sculpted him out of marble. But his ice-blue eyes were what really caught my attention—cold, piercing, and yet somehow... kind?

"What are you doing here?" Mara asked, and the young man seemed to snap out of his daze, stepping forward to join the conversation.

"We're here for lunch and a catch-up, right sis?" Alec's frosty expression melted into a warm smile as he threw an arm around Miss Reid's shoulders, pulling her in close. She shot him a look that could kill and quickly shrugged him off.

"Forgive my little brother. He can be a bit of a nuisance. We were just leaving, anyway. Wouldn't want to intrude," Miss Reid said, glaring at Alec before turning to drag him out of the café.

"That was her brother?" I blurted once they were out of earshot.

"Yeah, he's really nice once you get to know him," Nilla explained, looking up from her cake with a fond smile. "He runs Trinity Academy now, but I met him when he was still in school. Miss Reid introduced us. He's sort of like a big brother to me. He helped me a lot in the workshop when I was starting out."

"He runs a school?" Luke nearly choked on his food.

"Yeah, dimwit. He's the youngest headmaster of a combat school in history. He's only twenty. You really must have been living under a rock if you're competing in the Proelium and didn't know that. He competes for his school every year," Mara said with a smirk.

Nilla nodded enthusiastically. "He's amazing, I really look up to him. He was my only friend before I met all of you."

Her sudden sincerity caught me off guard. Nilla, who was always so bubbly and upbeat, now looked almost shy, her cheeks flushed pink.

"We're friends?" Luke teased, nudging her with his elbow. He earned a sharp punch from Mara for his trouble.

I sighed, letting them sit next to each other was a terrible idea.

"Not funny, Luke!" Mara snapped, but there was a softness in her voice that wasn't there before. She glanced at Nilla and then, reluctantly, at me. "I feel the same way, Nilla. And I suppose I don't mind you either, Nate. Can't say the same for him though." She jerked her thumb at Luke, who just grinned like a fool.

It was strange, this whole friends thing. But sitting there, with the sun streaming through the window and the sound of our laughter filling the café, it didn't seem so bad.

So Nate finally has friends he can rely on. What do you think about the characters so far? Who is your favourite? Well, thank you for reading and don't forget to vote!