Raya Aero stood at the formation's command position, her heavy sword planted in the ground before her like a standard declaring authority, and felt the weight of nine lives pressing against her consciousness with mathematical precision.
Student Council President. Formation commander. Tactical coordinator. Sister to Iris, rival to those who'd challenge her position, leader to those who'd chosen to follow her guidance. Every title was responsibility, every responsibility was burden, and burden was something she'd learned to transform into foundation rather than letting it become crushing weight.
