The chamber hadn’t fully quieted after the trial. Threads of Veil energy still clung to the stones, restless and whispering, like smoke after a fire. Alina sat cross-legged near the center, exhaustion anchoring her body while her mind thrummed with sparks of memory. Shadows had bent to her will—no, not bent, but responded. For the first time, she’d commanded them rather than simply endured them.
Kael crouched at her side, his hand hovering close enough to steady her but never quite touching. His eyes searched hers, sharp and deliberate.
“You endured more than most initiates could have. That control…” He paused, weighing his words. “It was precise. You didn’t flinch.” The corners of her mouth lifted. From Kael, such measured acknowledgment was almost overwhelming.
Before she could thank
