On most days, after official Te csses and aracurricurs ed up, Natalie aeam would head off into the dungeon, assuming they had no other responsibilities. But today, Natalie did have something preventing them from doing so. Her 'mentorship session' with Instructor Robin.

  It was, frankly, one of the more signifit punishments delivered onto her, at least in Natalie's eyes—the fact her schedule was beiricted, her time to train and progress denied. More importantly, taken from her teammates too. While m duties only hurt Natalie herself, ahankfully weekdays-only, the longer mentorship session would prevent at least one evening delve a week. In an enviro as petitive as Tehat could make a difference.

  It was what it was, though. Not much to do about it. She just wished the sequences of her as had beericted to her alone.

  Natalie had been told to meet Instructor Robin at her offi the administrative building, a structure on campus she'd only been to once sihe start of the semester—and that had beeerday, to see the Dean. Trag down the correct offiumber wasn't hard. Arriving, she saw that the door was already open, and the white-haired Theliosian gnced up from her desk to wave her in.

  "Close the door behind you, please."

  Natalie did so. Walking ih some trepidation, she looked around at the interior of Instructor Robin's office. Te Academy had no ck of funds, and seeing how even the worst bat instructors were high-rankers, and thus practically nobility of a sort, the office acious and well-furnished, b on luxurious—though she wouldn't go so far as to call it gaudy or opulent. Certainly wealthy, though, as every inch of Te's campus.

  "Take a seat, Natalie," Instructor Robin said, gesturing at one of the two plush leather chairs set in front of her desk. "I'll be with you shortly. Thank you for your punctual arrival." She didn't look up from whatever she was w on.

  Natalie sat. The scratch of pen-on-paper filled the air. Her eyes wandered around the office. Instructor Robin had furhe space with spartan efficy, and beyond the expected bookshelves and filing ets and so on, there were only a few personal touches. The first, of course, were the awards and medals atop a side table. Instructor Robin was a decorated woman and obviously took pride in that fact.

  What caught her attention the most was the terpiece trophy, a thin silver cup with wide handles. Natalie wasn't half as ied in the dueling se as someone like Sofia, for example, but everyone knew what that cup represented. It was the Iional Dueling Assembly's iic trophy, the tour held every four years which, quite frankly, had rippling effects across the global political se. Because when suormous power rested in a small colle of high-level individuals, a sweep of victories for a partiation often trao a direct implication of military might—and thus acted as deterrence, or encement, for future wars.

  And Instructor Robin had woh pce at one of the IDAs. For her bracket, of course—she was no top ranker, who were the real power houses among nations. It was still an incredible feat, prestigious even for a Te instructor.

  Natalie spent a few more moments admiring the other awards and trophies, some granted by Te, others for dueling achievements, and some to orate her assistance during national catastrophes—like what Natalie aeam might receive one day for a quest. A real quest, though, not a first-year task for staving off a goblin nuisance, but rather the sorts of threats mid- h-rankers would be sent for to deal with. The of which could have devastating sequences.

  Eventually, her eyes moved away from the trophies to the rest of the office, Instructor Robin's pen still dutifully scratg away at her paperwork. There were a few oil paintings her attention lingered on, but Natalie frankly wasn't an admirer of fis, so that sted only a brief few moments. What really caught her attentio was a framed picture on Instructor Robin's desk.

  It was Instructor Robin and another woman. The stern Theliosian stood straight-backed and with calm blue eyes o a girl who seemed her plete opposite—short, brown bouncy hair, tanned skin and a huge grin that seemed to make up entirely for Robin's stoic expression, a beaming radiahat would give Liz a run for her money. She was holding Robin's arm, head leaning against her shoulder, the close proximity making her seem like … well, a lover. Natalie blinked several times, seeing that.

  "My wife," Instructor Robin expined, apparently having caught the rea.

  "Your wife?"

  A white eyebrow raised iion, and Natalie realized her tone had been a little too incredulous to be polite.

  "I just—" Natalie said. "I didn't know you were married."

  "For twenty-seven years, yes."

  Natalie managed not to ht boggle at Instructor Robin, to keep herself halfway in check. This stony woman had been married for twenty-seven years? To that radiant ball of joy? There was also the smaller surprise of her being married at all, and to a woman, thus firming a suspi of Natalie's toward Robin's preferences, but it was defihe sheer length of partnership—and the seemingly bubbly personality of her wife—that truly caught Natalie off guard.

  "You two look happy together," Natalie said, salvaging her initial rea. "That's a cute picture."

  "Thank you," Instructor Robin said, and tinued writing, uurbed as always.

  Natalie's thoughts, meanwhile, were sprinting in circles. Was that firmation, then, that Instructor Robin hadn't been flirting with her, that one day after she'd caught her and Camille sneaking out of spars together? Since she was married?

  Then again, being married didn't preclude one or either of them having enters outside of that marriage. Plenty of retionships were open in that way. For all Natalie knew, Instructor Robin had been scouting Natalie to share with her wife.

  And, uh, that ath of lurid imagination she would definitely not head down, not for the briefest of ption. Any perceived i from Instructor Robin had probably—definitely—been ialie's head. She was digging her own grave, one more time out of a million, because she was flustered by the taller, older Theliosian.

  Though how couldn't she be? A geous, decorated high-ranker with an iy to those calm blue eyes that made Natalie's stomach squeeze whehey were turned on her. Not to mention being her official Instructor. Her teacher.

  Thankfully, the tapping of papers brought Natalie back to reality.

  "That should take care of that," Instructor Robin said, and stood. "Thank you for your patience. Please follow me."

  Natalie blinked, but did as instructed. Instructor Robin strode out of her office without further ent, and Natalie hurried to follow.

  But where were they going? Would her 'mentorship session' not be happening inside Robin's office, as she had expected? Where would it be, then?