(Winter’s POV)
The training arena was already alive by the time they returned.
Winter stepped inside beside Kat, their arms still loosely linked in a way that felt oddly natural for how little time they had known each other. The sounds hit her first—controlled impacts, measured movement, boots shifting across reinforced flooring, the occasional sharp command cutting through it all.
But today—her attention wasn't solely focused on fighting.
Her attention moved to the warriors training off to the left of the sparring rings.
Warriors sparred in controlled pairs, others drilled strikes into stationary targets—wooden frames, weighted dummies designed to absorb impact without resistance. Movements were repeated. Refined. Practiced until they became instinct. It was efficient. It was structu
