I woke to the sound of distant thunder, the storm from the night before having long passed, but its effects lingering in the air. The forest around me felt different, quieter like the world was holding its breath. My body ached from the trial, the bruises and cuts serving as stark reminders of what I had faced, but there was no time to rest. I had come this far, and I would not falter now.
The rogue’s words echoed in my mind, There are more trials to come.
The bond at my neck pulsed faintly, like a heartbeat that would never fade, a constant reminder of the world I had left behind. Kael’s presence was still distant, his pull weak but persistent. But I had learned not to rely on that connection. Not anymore. My survival depended on me now. On what I had become.
I stood, shaking off the r
