The training grounds were quieter than usual in the days following the underground siege. Students moved with purpose now, no longer whispering behind Elara’s back but watching her with a mixture of awe and cautious hope. Repairs continued on the walls and tunnels, but everyone knew the next full moon — Varak’s deadline — was only eleven days away.
Elara Voss stood in the center of the private training arena Kai had secured for them, her hands raised. Silver light gathered in her palms, brighter and more controlled than before. The curse was gone, and her power felt freer, hungrier to be used.
Kai watched from the edge of the mat, arms crossed, his storm-gray eyes intense. “Try it on a larger scale today,” he instructed. “Not just one or two. Push the boundary.”
Elara nodded. She closed
