The morning light filtered through the ancient trees of the grove, casting long shadows over the rune stones. Ari stood at the center again, her palms tingling where they had touched Luca’s the day before. The memory of those visions—the battlefield, the silver flames, the collapsing Gate—still lingered in her mind like a warning.
Ronan paced nearby, his jaw set tight. “We can’t afford to lose focus. The Veil is weakening faster than we expected.”
Celeste’s voice cut through the tension. “The Headmaster said the training would be harsh. What exactly are we dealing with?”
Luca’s eyes glinted in the dappled sunlight. “The Guardian training is more than physical. It’s mental, spiritual—everything. We’ll be pushed to the edge.”
Ari nodded, swallowing her fear. “Then we start.”
They formed
