Chapter 19 – The Deadman Walking
Oliver awoke, in his own bed, in his own room, as he often did – or indeed, as he always did, as of late. It hadn't taken long for him to grow accustomed to the small stone room that the Academy heads had granted him. It was just the right size with familiarity, and full of all the kinds of comforts that he needed.
He shifted his blanket with his usual vigour, expecting to feel the usual bite of cold that he felt when reexposing himself to the harsh morning air after a whole night without a fire… But today, he felt none of that.
Dressed in his nightshirt, at this point, he'd usually feel a bite. He yawned, curious about that fact, wondering briefly if it was that spring was arriving. But then, that shouldn't have been possible, since the Academy had only just entered their heart of winter, with the coming of snows a week or two before.
