Betrayal. How dare she?
She’s lucky she’s cute and adorable and...
I suppose I’ll forgive her.
Lis continues in her teacherly tone as if neither of us spoke. “At your current rate, stronger fighters will begin noticing you long before you are ready for them. Your Culling already proved that. You survived because of luck, terrain, and outside intervention.” Her gaze sharpens. “Luck is not a strategy.”
My jaw tightens because I hate how true that is. I have been relying on luck far too much.
“You have power,” she continues. “What you lack is refinement. Discipline. Control. If you continue as you are, someone more experienced will exploit every flaw you possess and carve you open before you understand what happened.”
I bite my lip in annoyance at the truth staring me right in the face—mostly because it’s in the form of a very unappealing person.
Then Moe steps closer to me and gently nudges my side.
“Nyk,” she says softly, “she’s offering you something no one else here would. Something you’ve been yearning for, no?”
I know that. By the Seven, I know that. That is the problem.
Everything in me recoils at the idea of putting myself under Lis’s authority—of enduring her mockery while she tears apart everything I know and rebuilds it to her standards.
But I am not stupid enough to ignore opportunity when it presents itself. Even if that opportunity is insufferable.
I exhale sharply through my nose.
“If,” I say slowly, “I were to accept this deeply unfortunate arrangement?—”
Lis smiles.
“Do not look so pleased,” I snap.
Her smile widens.
“—then I expect actual instruction,” I continue. “Not vague criticism and condescension disguised as wisdom.”
“You will receive instruction,” she says smoothly. “The condescension is complimentary.”
Moe laughs outright.
I groan. “This is already unbearable.”
Lis inclines her head. “Good. Then we begin tomorrow.”
My brows shoot upward. “Tomorrow?”
“You need improvement today. Tomorrow is already generous.”
I mutter something unflattering under my breath.
Lis’s eyes gleam. “Wear something you can bleed in.”
Then she turns and walks away, vanishing into the crowd with the same effortless confidence she does everything else.
Moe watches her go, then turns to me with entirely too much delight in her expression.
“This is going to be so fun.”
I stare after Lis’s retreating form.
