Page 244 of Axis of Fire

“They’re skills,” Airis answered flatly.

“I disagree,” Tarven countered immediately.

“I think they’re closer to innate abilities refined through practice.”

He leaned back slightly.

“People are born with different ways of thinking.”

“Mine, for example, was never naturally suited to strategy.”

“Anything can be mastered,” Airis replied calmly.

“It doesn’t matter whether you start with natural talent or not.”

“With enough discipline, consistency, and effort, anyone can master any skill.”

“Yet your analytical thinking still lags behind mine,” Tarven smirked.

“Because strategy always mattered more to me,” Airis shrugged.

“When people don’t want to put effort into something difficult, they hide behind excuses like talent and natural ability.”

The air around the table seemed to tighten.

Stasia and I watched them in silence.

Either afraid to interrupt—

Or simply too entertained to stop the argument.

“Or maybe,” Tarven said with a smug smile, “people just hide behind what they call priorities.”

“There you are.”

The unfamiliar voice behind me made me turn immediately.

Mr. Shiford and Eugene stood beside our table.

“Did something happen?” Airis asked, his shoulders visibly tensing.

For some reason, that unsettled me.

Because he almost never showed even the slightest hint of fear.

“Several more students arrived today for the Strongest Class,” Eugene explained.

“And because of that,” Mr. Shiford continued with a polite smile, “Draxsen decided to open additional rooms.”

Then he added,

“You’re moving.”

No one answered immediately.

Something inside me tightened too.

Something fragile pulled painfully tight inside my chest.