Lucas limped through the gleaming corridors of the Nexus Arena, each step was a battle against his battered body. The pristine white walls were complete opposites to the blood-soaked battlefield he'd left behind. Evidence of his confrontation with the commander had been wiped clean from his appearance—mostly. He'd managed to find replacement clothes in the laundry room, but nothing could hide the bruises blooming across his face or the way he favored his left leg.
The main hall stretched before him, mercifully empty save for a few scattered students. Lucas kept his head down, focusing on putting one foot in front of the other. Find Kelvin. Find Sophie. Find Noah. Simple objectives to keep his exhausted mind centered.
"Well, well. Look what hatched out,"
The voice stopped Lucas cold. He didn't need to look up to recognize that smug, self-satisfied tone. Jayden Smoak—number one student of Academy Eight and self-appointed thorn in Lucas's side since their first year.
