Cruzer felt the weight of Nina's words settle in—a stark reminder of the reality he had stepped into. The academy was not just a battlefield of strength and skill, but also a crucible of reputation, survival, and power.
Nina's intensity left no room for doubt—his path here would be one of relentless trials, testing every fiber of his being.
"Understood," Cruzer replied, his voice steady, his eyes locked onto hers. There was no backing down, no hesitation. He'd face this challenge as he always had—head-on.
Nina's lips curled slightly, though her eyes remained sharp, calculating. "Good. You have the right attitude," she said, crossing her arms over her chest.
"But attitude alone won't carry you through. In this academy, you need more than just determination—you'll have to prove yourself at every turn. The strong rise, and the weak…"
She let the words hang, unfinished, but the meaning was clear. Here, weakness had no place.
