Cane smiled at the visitor waiting just outside his door and unlocked it. "People are going to start talking if you keep showing up like this."
Meya Rowe laughed. "What are they going to say? That First Year Cadet Cane is having a sordid affair with First Knight Rowe?"
Cane shook his head. "More like... that my mom keeps visiting the Academy."
Meya gasped, hand over her chest in mock offense. "Slain. With a single sentence."
Cane chuckled and stepped back into his room. "Any chance you'll die quietly?"
"Never," Meya said smugly. "Out with a bang, not a whimper."
"I've got something for you," Cane said, swiping his storage ring.
"Jonas told me you gave him some work. He asked me to finish the last touches."
"Already done?" Meya raised a brow.
Cane nodded, handing her the shield first. He'd recast it with a trace of Salt Alloy for strength, then used Blue to apply the Glacial Frost rune.
Meya whistled, turning it over in her hands. "You two work well together."
"Thanks," Cane said, face neutral as he handed over the next piece—Starbolt, the trident forged from the pike and daggers she'd given him with just a sliver of starmetal.
"What…" Meya breathed, hefting the weapon. It felt balanced, cold, and lethal. "Cane, this is amazing."
Cane shrugged, bashful. "Glad you think so."
She sat on his bed, still studying the weapon, smiling softly. "The shield, daggers, and pike… they all belonged to friends. In a matter of days, you've avenged them with Cane's Folly, and now... you've restored their legacy."
Cane rubbed the back of his neck. "You're being really complimentary. Does this mean I'm not getting paid?"
Meya nodded solemnly. "I want you to have them."
"Really?" Cane grinned, closing the door behind her before walking back to the desk. "Just so you know—the trident's already been bloodied. I used it onboard the Avenger."
As First Knight, Meya received the same high-level briefings as Telamon—uncensored, complete. But she'd been on leave.
"That was you?" Meya asked, eyes narrowing. "I haven't had my briefing yet, but there are whispers through back channels."
Cane pulled out his chair and sat at his desk.
"I'll tell you everything."
**
"Siya?" Cane called out, spotting the third-year psi student at the edge of the courtyard.
The boy froze mid-step, turning with a look of surprise that quickly melted into polite interest. He offered a hand, shaking Cane's with more enthusiasm than necessary—like he was hoping money might fall out of his pockets.
"You're Cane, right?" Siya asked, his voice quick and clipped. He was compact, dark-skinned, and sharp-eyed—reminding Cane of Nina, the auction attendant from the capital. Fergis had mentioned Siya was sensitive about his height, but also a telekinetic prodigy—capable of hurling objects several times his weight with pinpoint precision.
"I have some psi runes I'd like inked," Cane said, skipping the pleasantries.
Siya perked up. "Got 'em with you?"
Cane handed over four thin rune sheets. "One for each of us," he said, nodding toward Clara, Dhalia, and Fergis nearby.
Siya's eyes widened as he inspected them. "Didn't skimp. These are high-tier—good range, clean clarity. Make me an offer."
"I'll upgrade your battle robes," Cane replied without missing a beat. "Interwoven Adamantium. Glacial Frost rune included."
"The mythic rune?" Siya asked, his voice going tight with interest.
Cane nodded.
"Deal," Siya said, already turning toward Sun Tower. "My room's on five."
"Sun Tower? That's where Sofie lives," Clara whispered.
Siya's shoulders relaxed noticeably. "You're friends with Sofie? I could listen to her announcements all day."
Fergis raised an eyebrow, glancing at Cane to gauge his reaction.
"Same," Cane said casually, scratching his chin.
Siya's room was modest—a single with a wide window and a cluttered desk covered in scrolls. "Placement?"
"Behind the ear," Cane said. "Subtle. Mission-ready."
"Good choice." Siya ducked under his bed and retrieved his robes, smoothing them reverently. "You work while I work?"
Cane nodded. He'd come prepared, bringing several gossamer Adamantium sheets for trade. Siya didn't need coin—and didn't carry weapons. Robe upgrades were the only offer worth making.
Clara went first, chatting animatedly with Siya as he inked the rune with steady, precise strokes. By the time she was done, he was smiling and laughing, defenseless against her charm.
Dhalia went next, quiet and composed. Fergis followed, his rune half-finished, when Cane completed the interweaving on the new robes and tapped the Glacial Frost rune—silent and clean, not wanting to distract the Psi student mid-work.
Clara and Dhalia left together, already chatting away as they tested the new link like kids with a secret language. A few minutes later, they returned—this time with Sofie.
"Hello," she greeted, pausing politely at the threshold. "Didn't want to intrude."
Siya visibly straightened, flushing. "Oh. Hi."
"Siya—focus," Fergis muttered, wincing as the rune tickled the base of his skull. "She's with us."
"Oh. Then come in," Siya said quickly. "Are you getting one too?"
"I was just looking fo—" Sofie started, but Cane cut in.
"Why not?" he said. "I have ten runes total. Even with a few more added later, we'll stay under the limit."
Sofie hesitated. "You sure?"
"Absolutely," Cane replied. Then to Siya, "We good? Or do you want to renegotiate?"
Siya shook his head. "We're good—if Sofie wishes me a happy birthday in her announcement tomorrow."
Sofie smiled. "I'd be happy to."
Cane finished the rune on Fergis's robes just as Siya started on his own link. The moment the ink hit skin, Cane heard faint whispering—tree branches rustling, distant hums. The psi-link was live.
𝗙𝗲𝗿𝗴𝗶𝘀: Don't leave that guy alone with Sofie.
𝗖𝗹𝗮𝗿𝗮: He knows better. Right, Cane?
𝗗𝗵𝗮𝗹𝗶𝗮: Where are you two?
Cane waited while Siya finished inking Sofie's rune, then pulled her gently toward the stairs.
C𝗮𝗻𝗲: How do I sound?
𝗦𝗼𝗳𝗶𝗲: Really clear. People are going to think I'm crazy, talking to myself.
"We're heading out," Cane said aloud, kissing her quickly before she could argue.
"Right here?" Sofie blinked, then smiled. "Goodness…"
He shrugged. "Let's meet up later."
Downstairs, Cane used temporary paint to dull the sheen of his Salt armor. He equipped Starbolt, strapped on his shield, and led the squad outside. They moved single file—Cane in front, Clara and Dhalia behind him, Fergis taking up the rear.
By midday, they reached the rock quarry.
The sun cast sharp angles across layers of broken stone, forming a natural arena filled with slopes, ledges, and narrow paths.
"This the place?" Fergis asked, scanning the terrain.
Cane nodded.
C𝗮𝗻𝗲: Switch to team comms. Let's start training.)
Cane:Clara, you stand here while the rest of us follow me. We're going to test your crowd control skills.
Clara:I'm nervous… What do I do?
Cane:Relax. We'll come at you one at a time. Start with your snare. Try to stop us before we can tag you.
Clara: Okay… come and get me.
Cane dashed forward in a straight line, feet pounding across dry stone. Clara's hand lifted, glowing faintly—and a moment later, a dozen small vines burst from the earth, wrapping around Cane's ankles.
He hit the ground hard, twisting mid-fall and slicing through the vines with Starbolt before rolling back to his feet.
Clara:Got ya! Hey… why are you still—
Her hand lifted again, but the vines hadn't reset. Cane closed the distance and tapped her shoulder.
Clara:Dang it… isn't that cheating?
Cane:You think beasts and enemies are just going to lie down once you snare them?
Clara:No… but it'd be nice.
Cane:Next.
Fergis approached with a grin that spelled trouble.
Clara:Oy… what are you doing, Firekiss?
She threw the snare early. Vines lashed up and caught Fergis at the waist—but with a flash of heat, they shriveled instantly. He advanced slowly, each step burning away her attempts to restrain him. It took three tries, but eventually he tagged her shoulder.
Clara:Not so great against fire or ice, huh… Come on, Dhalia. Show me something.
Dhalia nodded once—then was immediately wrapped in vines before she could take a step.
Dhalia:I wasn't ready.
Clara:Do people and beasts say ready?
Dhalia grunted, struggling for half a minute before tearing herself free. The second time, she burst forward at full speed, only to get snagged again mid-run and crash into the dust with an undignified thump.
Cane: Don't fight it. Let's test the snare's duration.
Dhalia:Can't breathe anyway…
Cane watched carefully. The vines held for just over thirty seconds before wilting and falling away.
The team moved on.
They spent the next hour refining Clara's root ability and testing the Glacial Ice rune functions. Together, the four managed to form Ice Wall and Ice Field. Only Cane could conjure Ice Shield solo, though Dhalia got close.
Fergis tried burning through the Ice Shield again. On his second attempt, the barrier finally cracked.
Against Ice Wall, though? He had no choice but to run around it.
Cane:Not bad for day one. Clara, Dhalia—keep practicing Ice Wall and Ice Field. I want both of you to be able to form them solo. You're our backline. You need those options.
Clara:We got this.
Dhalia:I didn't get to work on my healing…
Fergis:If we're doing our jobs, you won't need to. Keep at it.