CHAPTER SIXTEEN
The morning sun casts golden ripples across the river, a scenic beauty that feels too serene for the turmoil brewing inside me. I sit on a rock, my feet barely grazing the water’s surface, knees hugged to my chest. This spot, hidden by willows whose branches whisper secrets to the current, is where I come to be alone with my thoughts.
I didn’t go to training today. The decision had clawed at me all night, an insistent ache that I couldn't shake off. It's not like me to miss training, but the fear that has taken root in my heart makes it impossible to face Roman and continue honing the abilities that threaten to overwhelm me.
A rustle in the foliage breaks my reverie, and instinctively, I stiffen. My senses are on high alert as I watch Roman step through the natural curta
