"Well. That's a disappointing streak," Leonard rumbled, his voice echoing in the massive training cube. "Let's see if the last one can break it. Alex Edelhart. Step up."
I stepped forward, tapping the Essence Spring in my jacket pocket, my mind already calculating the trajectory of the shifting walls. I was ready to shatter this little obstacle course.
"Wait a minute."
An intervening voice cut through the tension. Leonard, who was about to slam his hand down on the starting rune, paused and turned his gaze toward the heavy double doors of the training ground. I instinctively followed his gaze.
The sight of that massive, slightly crooked witch hat had now become familiar to me.
Professor Cassandra stood at the entrance. She looked exhausted, holding a stack of parchment, her robes slightly rumpled. She had at least bothered to button her blouse back up since our little meeting in her office, though she still radiated an aura of dangerous, sleepy annoyance.
