Chapter Four— Killian.
Alpha Ray. Nyrah knew that name. The leader of the wolf pack. One of the most powerful families in the realm.
Killian's eyes swept over the crowd. Then they landed on Nyrah. The only person not bowing.
He started walking toward her. The crowd parted to let him through.
Nyrah's heart was pounding, but she didn't move. Didn't look away.
Killian stopped right in front of her. He was even bigger up close. He leaned down slightly and inhaled.
"Human," he said. His voice was deep. Amused. "You smell like fear and dirt."
"And you smell like wet dog," Nyrah shot back before she could stop herself.
Some people gasped. Others laughed nervously.
Killian's eyes narrowed, but he smiled. "You'll die here. You know that, right? First trial, probably. Maybe sooner if you keep running your mouth."
"I'll be queen," Nyrah said. Her voice didn't shake. She wouldn't let it. "And when I am, I'll make sure you kiss my feet."
Killian laughed. Actually laughed. It was a harsh, mocking sound. "You hear that, Kieran? The little human thinks she'll be queen."
Kieran smirked but said nothing.
"If you somehow survive," Killian said, leaning closer, "and you become queen, I will personally kiss your feet. I promise."
But the way he said it made it clear he thought it was impossible. A joke.
"You're a fool," he added. "The Academy doesn't accept humans without a reason. You should ask yourself why they really let you in."
Nyrah frowned. What did that mean?
But before she could ask, a door at the far end of the quadrant opened. Everyone turned to look.
A figure stepped out onto the platform. Tall. Dressed in dark robes. The principal.
The entire quadrant fell silent.
The principal stepped forward on the platform. She was tall and looked strict. Her hair was pulled back so tight it made her face look even more severe. When she spoke, her voice carried across the entire quadrant without her needing to shout.
"Welcome to the Dominion Academy of Ascension."
Everyone stood perfectly still. Even Killian had stopped smirking.
"You are here because you believe you have what it takes to rule. To lead. To stand above all others." The principal's eyes swept over them. "Most of you are wrong."
Nyrah felt the weight of those words settle over the crowd.
"There are one hundred of you standing in this quadrant right now. By the end of the Gauntlet, only eight will remain. One ruler. And the Council of Seven who will act as advisers."
One hundred to eight. Nyrah's stomach tightened. Those weren't good odds.
"The trials will test everything you are. Your strength. Your intelligence. Your will to survive. Many of you will fail. Some of you will break. A few of you will die."
She said it so casually. Like death was just another expected outcome.
"Before we begin, you will learn the rules. There are twelve. Break them, and you will be removed from the Gauntlet. Or worse."
The principal raised one hand, and words began to appear in the air above her. Glowing letters that hung there like they were written in fire.
"Rule One. Power decides rank. Blood decides privilege. Skill decides survival."
She paused, letting that sink in.
Beside her Killian moved closer. "Hear that? Skill?"
Nyrah's jaw tightened.
"Your titles mean nothing here unless you can defend them. I don't care if you're the child of an alpha or a high lord or a witch queen. If you can't back it up, you're nothing."
Nyrah saw some of the students shift uncomfortably. The ones who probably relied on their family names.
She smiled. Faced Killian. "Hear that? Titles mean nothing."
Killian scoffed.
"Rule Two. No student may kill another outside designated combat trials."
Another pause.
"Inside the trials, however, death is permitted. Expected, even. But if you murder someone in the hallways or their room or anywhere else on Academy grounds, you will be executed. Immediately."
Nyrah's hands felt cold. She shoved them in her pockets.
"Rule Three. Magical or physical suppression of humans is forbidden."
Several students glanced at Nyrah. She kept her face blank.
"On paper," someone beside her laughed. "The Academy pretends to protect humans. But enforcement of this rule is... flexible. Consider yourselves warned."
Great. So that rule was basically useless. She only had her fists for protection.
"Rule Four. Leaving the Academy grounds without permission equals automatic expulsion from the Gauntlet. No exceptions."
The principal's voice got harder.
"No ruler candidate can flee, no matter the danger. You stay. You fight. Or you lose everything."
Nyrah knew about this rule. Once the gates close behind you, you only get out as a champion. Not even the corpses get through those gates.
"Rule Five. There are Forbidden Zones within the Academy. These areas are off limits to all students."
The glowing words above her shifted, listing four locations.
"The Dragon Caverns. The Witch's Spire. The Subterranean Wing. The Ruins beneath the Arena."
Nyrah memorized each one.
"Entering any Forbidden Zone equals expulsion. Being caught entering equals something worse. Don't test this rule."
The way she said it made Nyrah think people had tested it before. And regretted it.
"Rule Six. Romantic entanglements between divisions are discouraged but not banned."
A few people laughed nervously. The principal didn't smile.
"If your relationships interfere with the trials, that's your problem. The Academy won't protect you from your own stupidity."
"Rule Seven. Cheating in trials equals death."
Simple. Direct, and terrifying.
"We have ways of knowing. Don't think you're clever enough to hide it."
"Rule Eight. Every dawn begins with Combat Assembly. Missing it means losing points."
The principal's eyes scanned the crowd.
"Points determine everything here. Your food quality. Your training access. Your room. Your survival. Lose enough points, and you'll be removed from the Gauntlet before you even reach the first real trial."
So that's how they'd weed people out. Slowly. Methodically. Until only the strongest remained.
"Rule Nine. Familiar animals are allowed only if bonded."
Nyrah thought of Black back in her room. He'd been her mother's cat. Did that count as bonded? She hoped so.
"Rule Ten. Only eight students may reach the final stage."
The principal's voice got harder.
"No ruler candidate can flee, no matter the danger. You stay. You fight. Or you lose everything."
"Rule Five. There are Forbidden Zones within the Academy. These areas are off limits to all students."
The glowing words above her shifted, listing four locations.
"The Dragon Caverns. The Witch's Spire. The Subterranean Wing. The Ruins beneath the Arena."
Nyrah memorized each one.
"Entering any Forbidden Zone equals expulsion. Being caught entering equals something worse. Don't test this rule."
The way she said it made Nyrah think people had tested it before. And regretted it.
"Rule Six. Romantic entanglements between divisions are discouraged but not banned."
A few people laughed nervously. The principal didn't smile.
"If your relationships interfere with the trials, that's your problem. The Academy won't protect you from your own stupidity."
"Rule Seven. Cheating in trials equals death."
Simple. Direct. Terrifying.
"We have ways of knowing. Don't think you're clever enough to hide it."
"Rule Eight. Every dawn begins with Combat Assembly. Missing it means losing points."
The principal's eyes scanned the crowd.
"Points determine everything here. Your food quality. Your training access. Your room. Your survival. Lose enough points, and you'll be removed from the Gauntlet before you even reach the first real trial."
So that's how they'd weed people out. Slowly. Methodically. Until only the strongest remained.
"Rule Nine. Familiar animals are allowed only if bonded."
Nyrah thought of Black back in her room. He'd been her mother's cat. Did that count as bonded? She hoped so.
"Rule Ten. Only eight students may reach the final stage."
The principal's voice dropped lower.
"The Academy will break the rest of you. It will find your weaknesses. Your fears. Your limits. And it will push until you shatter."
No one spoke. No one moved.
"Rule Eleven. The Principal's word is law."
She said it simply. Like it was the most obvious thing in the world.
"What I say happens. When I say it happens. How I say it happens. Question me at your own risk."
"Rule Twelve. Respect the Council Lineage students."
The principal gestured toward where Killian and Kieran stood.
"These students come from the families that have ruled before. They carry the blood of previous councils. You will show them the respect their lineage demands."
Nyrah's jaw tightened. So some people got special treatment just because of who their parents were. Of course they did.
The glowing words faded from the air.
"Those are the rules," the principal said. "Learn them. Follow them. Or suffer the consequences."
She looked out over the crowd one last time.
"Your first Combat Assembly begins tomorrow at dawn. Don't be late. Dismissed."
The principal turned and walked off the platform, her robes sweeping behind her like dark wings. The moment she disappeared through the doors, the quadrant erupted into noise.
Students immediately formed clusters, voices rising as they discussed what they'd just heard. Some looked excited. Others looked terrified.
Nyrah stood still, letting the crowd flow around her. She watched Killian and Kieran being swarmed by students trying to curry favor. Watched the powerful ones being treated like royalty while people like her were invisible.
She thought about what Killian had said earlier. The Academy doesn't accept humans without a reason.
What reason? The question gnawed at her.
Someone bumped into her shoulder hard enough to make her stumble. They didn't apologize. Didn't even look back.
Nyrah steadied herself and started walking. She needed to get back to her room. Think through everything she'd learned. Figure out how to survive tomorrow.
The hallways were chaos. Students everywhere, still talking about the rules, about the trials, about who would make it and who wouldn't.
When Nyrah finally reached her door, she unlocked it and slipped inside quickly. The quiet was a relief.
Black was curled up on her bed exactly where she'd left him. He opened one eye when she entered, then closed it again.
Nyrah sat down at her desk and pulled out the piece of paper with the twelve rules she'd memorized. She wrote them down one by one, making sure she had every word right.
Power decides rank. Blood decides privilege. Skill decides survival.
She stared at those words for a long time.
She had no power. Her blood meant nothing. That left only skill.
And she'd spent her whole life building that. Training when others slept. Studying when others played. Pushing herself because she had to, not because she wanted to.
Tomorrow would prove if it was enough.
Nyrah changed into her nightclothes and climbed into bed. Black shifted to make room for her, then settled against her side.
She closed her eyes, but sleep didn't come easily. Her mind kept running through combat scenarios. Imagining what the assembly would be like. Wondering if she'd survive the first day.
Outside her window, the strange dark cloud still pressed down on the Academy. The same cloud that never moved. Never changed.
Nyrah watched it through the glass until exhaustion finally pulled her under.