The next three days blurred together in a haze of sweat, soil, and bone-deep fatigue. Andrea hadn’t been bluffing about his offer to train me, and soon enough, the High Lord himself began to reveal his true colors. Andrea was unrelenting, severe, and downright ruthless in his methods, transforming from my familiar friend into a formidable figure.
Our mornings began with a heavy breakfast, always a mix of forest fruits, fresh vegetables, and some unidentifiable meat. I dared not ask what it was, though Andrea assured me it was chosen to "connect me to Earth"—every bite tied to that element. All of it was harvested from the land around us, as was the creature sacrificed for our meal.
Stuffed to the brim, I’d wobble along beside Andrea into the dense woods. Leonardo, meanwhile, had been sen
