The early morning air was crisp, filled with the scent of damp earth and burning firewood. Alyssa stood in the center of the training grounds, her heart steady but her body tense. The entire camp had gathered, forming a loose circle around her, Kade, and Selene. The whispers of the rebels buzzed in the air, anticipation thick like a storm waiting to break.
Darius stood at the edge of the circle, arms crossed over his chest. “Today marks the first step in proving you belong here, Alyssa.” His sharp gaze flicked to her, assessing. “We don’t follow titles or prophecies. We follow strength. Show us you have it.”
Alyssa took a slow breath, rolling her shoulders. “And how exactly do I do that?”
Selene smirked, stepping forward. “By surviving.”
Without warning, Selene lunged.
Alyssa barely h
