e curb outside the most exclusive, corporate-s

d into a wide, sycophantic smile. He pulled the

cost more than most students made in a year. Her stiletto boots clicked sharply ag

into the keypad. The heavy alloy

his eyes wide as he stared at the massive, genuine leather sectio

ite-gloved finger and swiped it along the edge of the doorfr

e smells like poverty," Briar comp

e, Briar. The previous occupant was a commoner. She had no class. I

om, with floor-to-ceiling windows and a private training pod. This used to be Alana'

, faded cotton t-shirts were still hanging ther

e t-shirts off the hangers, and marched over to the wall-mounted

reducing Alana's belongings to ash in seconds. Dalli

is face. "You know, I almost feel bad for the bitch. Almost. Because her

s at her neck. "Dallin! You tampered with a resonanc

i-magic dust on the outer rune line. If she actually summoned a strong Eidolon

houlder, squeezing approvingly. "Smart move. A Conduit with a brain like hers is

het's contract, we could have squeezed two platinum-grade armor sets out of him b

tion spell that smelled like artificial lavender. "Let

fe, a dark, calculating gl

opping to a conspiratorial whisper. "I

n, his eyes hun

ce. "He loves breaking arrogant women. Seeing them dragged through the mud

listened

d. "He can send his thugs to rough her up, and then step in to pla

d when she does, we ask Chet f

the sound of their sh

into a sheer silk robe, holding a glass of expen

n room at zero-six-hundred tomorrow," she or

tly stopped laughing. They nodded eagerly

d slammed the b

ghtning flashing across the sky. Inside, the squad poured more champ