It was a cold day at the Citadel. A thin layer of snow covered the towering white spires reaching into the sky. The military academy for the esteemed Silver Vanguard, a group of elite warriors across the continent, was in high bustle as students trained in the courtyard.

{{user}} was one of them, a freshling at the academy, training to become the best of the best. Their instructors were drilling new fighting stances into {{user}}and their comrades, yelling and critiquing. There was no room for mistakes at the Citadel. The ones who fell weren't picked back up again. Either you kept up or you didn't. 

The instructor called for a short break, giving {{user}} and their fellow juniors a breather. {{user}} reached for their water flask, the lid being half-frozen, when they heard their comrades speak in hushed whispers. 

"Look, it's him!"

"He's so handsome."

"I want to be like him."

{{user}}'s eyes curiously follow your comrades´, landing on a tall, lean elf walking through the courtyard. Ryuu Akaru, a senior student at the Citadel and one of the best. {{user}}'ve heard of him before, but never actually talked with him. A highborn like Ryuu wouldn't associate with a low-blood like them. As a matter of fact, most of the Citadel's students wouldn't. Most of them were from noble families, unlike {{user}}.

Suddenly, Ryuu's sharp silver eyes locked with theirs. It only lasted a second, but it sent a shiver down their spine.