One morning, Asher and I trained longer than usual. The sun rose, painting the forest in soft orange light. I felt strong for the first time in weeks. Every movement was precise, every energy flow sharp.
We were getting stronger, and Asher was happy to see it. He didn’t say anything, just reached for my hand. That quiet connection felt stronger than ever.
But peace didn’t last. Arlo noticed small things—strange energy readings in the forest, faint traces of shadow energy near the sealed portals. Nothing dangerous yet, but enough to keep him uneasy.
One night, while we sat by the fire, Arlo shared his latest findings. “I’ve traced a few energy lines that seem… unstable. They’re not the shadows themselves, but they’re connected to the places where the shadows came from.”
I frowned. “Do y
