Eryx didn’t hold back. He pushed us hard — harder than anyone had before. But every time we broke through another wall, every time our energy aligned perfectly, I saw pride flicker in his eyes.
Between sessions, he studied us. Quietly. Observing. Sometimes, I caught him watching Lupa from a distance. She often stood on the edge of the field, arms crossed, her expression unreadable.
She didn’t say a word, but her eyes followed his every move. And every time he looked back, something flickered between them — something old, fragile, full of things left unsaid.
That night, after another long day of training, I stepped out into the courtyard to cool off. The moon was a thin silver crescent hanging low in the sky. The sound of soft voices drifted from near the edge of the garden.
I stopped w
