Rian didn’t feel completely healed when the medic shuffled her off. Her cheek still felt swollen, and none of the others who had been under the medic’s care show any marks. Felicia was watching her, smirking. Rian returned a wink with the eye that could. She decided she would wear the blemish like a badge of honor. She may not have won, but all this incomplete healing would do is point out the reason why and what she had accomplished in the fight.

She knew that soon the real reason the evaluations were done was going to be upon them. The class was about to be sorted into the seven dorms that would represent the paths their training will take them. Kappa-tanks, Phoenix-healers, Sphinx-support, Shade-strikers, Manticore-fighters, Basan-range, Spider-crafters. She knew her skills put her in line with strikers who move from the shadows and go for vital spots or the support dorm. In either group, she knew she could foster valuable connections and work towards her end goals.

“My uncle was a Spider. That’s the way to get rich. Making all the adventure’s items.”

A young woman harrumphed at that. “That is until you get sick and need a Phoenix.” She interjected.

Rian ignored the debate. Enough hard work, and anyone could get wealthy. Money could buy power, sometimes. Even then, that could draw the wrong kind of attention. If all she wanted was a route to become wealthy, she wouldn’t have chosen to attempt this.

She let her thoughts slip away from that as she spotted a runner coming with a scroll that has to hold the list dorms assignments. Plans hinge on this. Sure she could be unexpectedly placed with the fighters or crafters, but that didn’t align with her research. If she got one of those, she would just have to make do.

Felicia accepted the scroll. “Listen up, Zeros! I will be reading off your name and the dorm you will be assigned to. If you are lucky enough to run with the Basan, you will get me as one of your proctors.” This immediately grabbed everyone’s attention. “Asprin, Bob, Sphinx dorm.” When Felicia called out, “Steph, Nails, Manticore dorm.” Rian realized she’d been skipped.

That bitch was all Rian could think about for a moment. Her body was tense, and still before she let it relax. If this was going to be an ongoing rivalry, that was something usable as well. It’s not like she won’t get her dorm listing even if it is last for this group. Then after Felicia said every name but hers in the group of thirty, she rolled up the scroll.

Rian marched up to the green dressed Basan proctor. “I think that you forgot someone.” She stated with a strained smile.

The smile that Felicia returned had pleasure but no warmth. “Oh, did I? I’m only required to read off the names of those who are in the dorms. My assignment to the letter. If you want to find the complete list and look yours up, it should be up at one of the public dining halls.”

Rian swore Felicia would learn how dangerous it was to jerk her around one day. “Thank you for the information.” Then she immediately turned away and started jogging towards where one of the dining halls would be. If Felicia had meant to have her searching for one confused, she would be mistaken. She’d done her due diligence. There were seven dining halls in the outer ring, all equidistant between each dorm. Meeting places for the sister dorms that were adjacent for breakfast and dinner. School hours it was more a free-for-all where you went to the one closest to your class for lunch.

It wasn’t long before she stood outside of one. The full list plastered to the door. There were four Freedman, Rian listed. One had “Raff” listed after, and one had an asterisk, which she was sure was her. Instead of being paired up with one of the seven dorms of the academy, both had the name Spirit House listed instead. “What the fuck.” She growled. She checked for the obvious name to be included. Gorn, Asper, and he appeared as Spirit House, officially making them the extraordinary trio. She checked the list twice. No one else had that location. “So much for not standing out.”