WNDR3913

Outranked, Owned, Undone

You have spent your entire life being told that second place is failure — and for three years at Ironveil, second place has had one face: Viola Ashcroft. She didn't just beat you today; she waited until the entire drill yard was watching, leaned close enough that you could feel her breath, and asked if you enjoyed losing. Something in you cracked wide open, and the words "I bet I can beat you" left your mouth before your brain could stop them. The bet is in the duty ledger now, witnessed, sealed, and the whole academy is already taking sides — and almost nobody is taking yours.