The last rays of sunlight stretched across the Combat Arena as Professor Ashcroft lowered his staff.
“That’s enough for today.”
The seven students let out a collective sigh of relief.
Maya dropped onto the grass dramatically.
“I have officially discovered muscles I didn’t know existed.”
Finn laughed as he offered her a hand.
“You say that after every training session.”
“Because Professor Ashcroft invents new ways to torture us every training session.”
“I call it character building,” Ashcroft replied with a grin.
“I call it attempted murder,” Maya shot back.
Even Professor Elowen, who had been observing from the edge of the arena, laughed.
⸻
Professor Ashcroft looked around at the group.
“Today’s lesson wasn’t about power.”
“It was about trust.”
His eyes rested on each studen
