The two young men recoiled, unable to meet Damon's gaze. The smile vanished from his face as quickly as it had appeared, leaving only the impassive calm of someone who had seen—and done—things worse than they could imagine.
A metallic sound echoed through the courtyard. The commander in charge of the test had arrived.
His presence was enough to silence the entire space.
"Formation!" one of the instructors shouted. The ranks immediately organized themselves.
Damon positioned himself at the end of the line, keeping his body erect, his hands clasped behind his back. The man walking in front of the candidates was tall, of firm build, with a scar that ran from his jaw to his neck. His armor was more ornate than the others, marked by the emblem of the Leviathan Order engraved on his chest.
