Aizere's Point of View
It had been two days since we returned from the Forest of Life, and the institution felt different now. The cold marble halls didn't seem quite so intimidating, and the humming magic in my blood had quieted into a steady, warm pulse. I spent every hour training with Master Alaric, finally using the white and gold wand that truly belonged to me. It felt right in my hand, like it had always been there.
Now, on the morning of the third day, I was walking toward the Sanctum for another practice session. I wasn't alone.
A small, soft weight bounced around my ankles, letting out tiny, playful huffs. It was Leo.
The massive, terrifying sky-king from the grove was gone. After I claimed the wand, he had refused to leave my side. As we walked out of the wall of thorns, he
