"Every strike felt like a vote being cast against me."
Three days later, the testing resumed.
New committee. New rules. New oversight designed to prevent the corruption that had nearly gotten me killed.
Professor Hale stood at the center of the arena. No longer Katheris's puppet. Genuinely in charge now. His expression was serious. Determined. Like he was trying to make amends for his previous complicity.
"The evaluation will continue," he announced. "But under revised protocols. All arena structures have been inspected and certified safe. All partnerships have been randomized again using external verification. Council observation will be distributed to prevent individual bias."
Students listened. Some relieved. Others still nervous. Trust had been damaged. Would take time to rebuild.
I stood with my new assigned partner. A third-year student named Rivera. Competent. Neutral. Someone I'd trained with occasionally but didn't know well.
