The firelight danced across Noah's knuckles as he punched the training post again—and again.
Each strike sent ripples through the air, heat radiating outward in sharp bursts. His fists bled, but he didn't stop.
Sophia stood in the doorway, silent.
She had never seen him like this. Controlled rage, yes. But this—this was something deeper. A fracture beneath the flame.
"Noah," she said softly.
He didn't respond. The next punch ignited the post, engulfing it in blue-white fire.
The scent of scorched wood filled the air.
"I trusted him," Noah muttered. "We all did."
⸻
Sophia stepped closer. "Kaen fooled everyone."
"He didn't fool me." Noah's voice was a low growl. "I just ignored what I saw."
He sat heavily on the bench, breath ragged. Sweat clung to his skin, but the fire in his ey
