Valerie arrived at the Martial Tower in a hurry, but the place was already deserted. The duel between Andrew and Wilder had ended half an hour earlier.

"General Reyes, what are you doing here?" one of the tower guards snapped to attention.

Valerie kept her face expressionless as she strode forward, brisk and commanding, and she said, "Move aside. I have business here."

The two guards did not dare argue.

Luna and Valerie treated their own troops very differently. While neither was deliberately insulting or arrogant, Valerie was more headstrong and blunt, and people did not fuss because she had earned that right.

Luna was colder and more distant, but she was quietly dedicated to her subordinates and would patiently teach anyone who asked about their martial progress, no matter how late it was.

Valerie was different. If someone did not pick something up after two tries, she would be ready to rough them up.

Valerie rushed straight to the arena and froze when she stepped insid