The Messenger( Iva) novel Chapter 195

First Class-1

The training grounds stretched across the eastern side of the academy-a vast expanse of packed earth, wooden dummies, and sparring rings enclosed by high stone walls.

va had never walked this path before, and today her footsteps felt heavier.

She was late.

The excuse letter was crumpled in her fist, the royal seal smudged from her nervous grip. She had meant to arrive earlier, but finding Lori had taken longer than expected, and now the sun was high and the sounds of combat echoed through the air.

Students lingered outside the training hall, their conversations dying as she approached. Whispers followed her like shadows.

*Isn’t that the one who disappeared?*

*Thought she dropped out.*

*Look at her. Skinny as ever.*

Iva kept her eyes forward and pushed open the heavy wooden door.

The training hall was massive-high ceilings crossed with ancient wooden beams, shafts of dusty sunlight streaming through narrow windows. The scent of sweat and leather hung thick in the air. Students were paired across the floor, practicing forms, sparring, watching.

And at the center of it all stood Alpha Instructor Marik.

He was a mountain of a wolf-broad shoulders, thick arms crossed over an even thicker chest, his face carved from granite and disappointment. His eyes found Iva the moment she stepped inside, and the temperature in the room seemed to drop.

The sparring slowed. Conversations stopped.

Every eye turned to her.

す

Iva’s heart pounded against her ribs, but she forced herself to walk forward. Each step echoed in the sudden silence. She could feel the smirks, the sneers, the barely concealed amusement rippling through the other students.

She stopped in front of Marik and held out the letter.

“Alpha Instructor,” she said, her voice steady despite the tremor in her hands. “I have an excuse letter for my absences. From the king’s office.”

Marik didn’t take the letter.

He stared at her for a long, agonizing moment, his dark eyes boring into hers. The silence stretched so thin Iva was certain it would snap.

“A letter,” he said finally. His voice was low, rough, like stones grinding together. “You miss the first week of

13

First Class 1-

my class–the most important week-and you bring me a letter.”

‘Yes, sir.”

‘Do you think letters impress me, girl?”

The students snickered.

va’s jaw tightened. “No, sir.”

Claim

‘No,” Marik agreed. He plucked the letter from her fingers, glanced at the seal, and tossed it onto a nearby bench without opening it. “I don’t care who wrote it. I don’t care why you were gone. In this hall, you earn your place with sweat and blood. Not with paper.”

Another wave of laughter rippled through the crowd.

va stood frozen, her face burning, her hands curled into fists at her sides.

Marik circled her slowly, his heavy boots thudding against the packed earth. The students parted to let him pass, their eyes gleaming with anticipation.

You’ve lost time,” he said. “You’re behind. The others have been training. Conditioning. Learning.” He stopped in front of her, towering over her small frame. “You’re going to make up for it.”

va swallowed. “Of course, sir. Whatever you-”

You’ll be first in sparring today.”

The words landed like a slap.

Around her, students erupted in laughter-loud, mocking, delighted. Iva’s blood ran cold.

First in sparring.

Everyone knew what that meant. The first person called to the mat was not a fighter. They were a training Dag. A warm-up. A demonstration for the rest of the class to practice their moves on. They were thrown against opponent after opponent until they couldn’t stand, while the others watched and learned and aughed.

No one wanted to be first.

va’s skin prickled with cold sweat.

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