EL
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El returns to her cottage shaken, still trying to understand what happened in the laundry room. She barely has time to breathe before there’s a knock at her door.
A note.
Kai’s handwriting.
Eat breakfast and then meet Lira in the training yard in one hour.
—Kai
Her stomach twists.
Training.
Today.
She forces herself to focus.
She cooks herself a protein‑packed breakfast — eggs, toast, fruit — because she’ll need the strength.
Then she opens the closet Kai stocked for her. She runs her fingers over the neatly folded clothes, grateful and overwhelmed.
She chooses:
black leggings
a supportive sports bra
a fitted tank top
her hair pulled back
a water bottle in hand
She takes a steadying breath and heads to the training yard.
Lira is already waiting, arms crossed,
