The morning sun had barely kissed the peaks when I set out from camp. My body, battered but honed, moved with purpose across the uneven terrain. Months of training had sharpened more than just muscle, they had tuned instincts, cultivated patience, and taught me to see beyond the obvious. Today, I would test more than my strength. Today, I would test perception, the kind of awareness that separated a survivor from someone destined to lead.
The bond at my neck pulsed faintly, a steady thrum that reminded me of what awaited me far below. Kael’s presence lingered like a shadow across miles, distant yet persistent. There was tension in it now, subtle but undeniable, a strain I could almost taste. He was feeling the stirrings of my growth, and though we were worlds apart, the connection between
