Chapter 841: A Debate
Chapter 841: A Debate
Asher exhaled sharply as they walked. "That was the first paper this week that did not feel like the academy was trying to peel my brain apart."Liam adjusted the cuff of his sleeve. "It was direct."
"It asked things that mattered."
"Core Myst matters."
Asher gave him a look. "Do not start."
"It does."
"I said do not start."
Liam glanced at him. "The paper was easier because you could imagine hitting something."
Asher scoffed. "And? That makes it better."
"It makes it simpler."
"Better," Asher repeated firmly.
Liam did not bother arguing further.
Asher rolled his shoulders as they descended the steps leading out of the Knight Combat wing. "The formation analysis was good. The question about retreating under pressure was stupid, though."
"It was not."
"It said the unit had one injured student, two exhausted frontliners, and unknown enemies pressing from the left flank. The answer is obviously burn through the left flank before they tighten the pressure."
"That was not the question."
"It should have been."
"The question was about preserving formation integrity while creating a controlled retreat."
Asher waved a hand dismissively. "Yes, yes, words for not dying while moving backward."
"That is what retreat means."
"It sounds worse when you say it."
They stepped out onto the academy open grounds.
The sun was high, bright enough to make the stone paths gleam faintly, though the late-autumn air still carried enough cold to irritate Liam the moment it touched his face. Students moved across the grounds in scattered paths, some heading toward dormitories, others toward the cafeteria or training halls. For a brief moment, it looked like the usual post-exam release, with everyone trying to decide what to do with unexpected free time.
Then Liam noticed several students rushing in the same direction.
Not running in panic.
Moving with purpose.
A few came from the eastern corridor, another group from near the dormitory path, and two first-years hurried past while whispering excitedly. Their direction was the same: the eastern training arena.
Asher noticed too. His brows drew together. "What is that about?"
One student passed close enough, and Asher reached out, catching him lightly by the shoulder before he could hurry by. "You. What is the commotion?"
The student, a second-year from one of the parallel Knight Combat classes, blinked at him, then glanced toward Liam and seemed to regret being stopped by both of them at once.
"There’s some kind of verbal debate or argument happening in the eastern training arena," he said. "People are going to watch."