The air around the training field felt heavy that morning, like the sky itself was waiting for something to happen. Even though the sun was out, there was this strange chill that wouldn’t go away. Asher and I were side by side, sparring, our bodies moving in rhythm like we’d been doing this forever. Gage was across the field, helping a few of the younger warriors, and Arlo stood by the fence, scribbling notes in his small black book. He said it helped him track energy shifts. I believed him—since Arlo came back from the shadow realm, he’d been sharper, more focused, but also quieter.
Lupa stood a few meters away, her arms crossed tightly. She wasn’t training with us—she refused to. I’d tried asking her why, but all she said was, “Some things are better left untouched.” It didn’t feel like
