A dull, throbbing ache was the first thing Russell registered. Then came the sterile, recycled air of his room. He groaned, forcing his eyes open. The ceiling of Room Z-25 came into blurry focus. He was lying on his bunk, still in his gear.
The memories flooded back: the desert, the duel, Maria's spear, the simultaneous final blow.
The door to his room hissed open without a chime. Framed in the doorway was the imposing figure of Archmagus Theodore. The man's presence made the small room feel even smaller.
Russell tried to sit up, a wave of dizziness washing over him.
"What... what happened?"
"You were knocked out," Theodore stated, his voice a low rumble. He didn't enter, simply observing from the threshold. "Took a solid shock to your system from the girl's final thrust. And... you knocked her out just as cleanly with your slash. The safeties shut you both down."
Russell processed this, the events confirming what he'd last remembered.
"So... what was the match's result?"
"Obviously, a draw," Theodore said, a hint of something that might have been amusement in his steely eyes. "Neither winner nor loser. But..." He paused, his gaze intensifying. "...you have potential, Zodiac. Raw, untamed, and stupid, but it's there. You fight with heart. But you lack skill. You swing that blade like you're chopping wood. If you train yourself—really train—you might not be a complete embarrassment to this fortress. You might even become a good hunter."
Without another word, Theodore turned and left, the door sliding shut behind him. The brief, backhanded compliment hung in the air. It was more than Russell had expected.
He was still processing the Archmagus's words when his door buzzed and slid open again. This time, it was Gareth, the red-headed boy from the trial. His face was split in a wide grin.
"Wow! Your battle was insane!" Gareth exclaimed, practically bouncing into the room. "I was so distracted watching you two I almost got clobbered in my own match! That was the most spectacular draw I've ever seen! You totally tricked her!"
Russell managed a weak smile, sitting up fully. His body protested every movement.
"Well... she was definitely a strong competitor, I guess."
He wouldn't admit just how badly she'd outclassed him initially. He looked at Gareth, remembering their shaky but effective teamwork in the simulation.
"Hey, Gareth. Tomorrow. We train together. We're both still alive. Let's make sure we stay that way."
Gareth's grin widened.
"Yeah! Teamwork makes the dream work! I'll see you at the armory at first bell!"
With a final enthusiastic wave, he ducked back out, leaving Russell alone in the quiet of his room.
For the first time since arriving on Titan, Russell Zodiac didn't feel entirely alone. He had a rival who had forced him to respect her, a grudging acknowledgment from an Archmagus, and a training partner. He lay back down, the aches a little less painful.
The path ahead was brutal, but he was finally on it.
---
He survived Maria. He earned Theodore's attention.
But on Titan, surviving once is just the beginning.
Tomorrow, Russell trains for real…
and the fortress is waiting to see whether he rises—
or breaks.