Arden's / Aria's POV
The sun was a warm kiss on my skin the air a sweet mix of dust and effort the world felt soft at the edges the sharp fear of the morning smoothed away by the rhythm of teaching by the light in their eyes Finn moved with a new grace a flickering fish in a stream Lyra’s strikes were sharper now a hawk’s focus taking flight and then i saw him a ghost in the archway a pale king leaning on stone my heart stuttered a bird crashing against its cage his face was tight with pain his body a testament to his own stubborn will but his eyes his eyes were a summer storm full of a pride so fierce it stole my breath he did not speak he did not need to his presence was a shout a banner raised high a shield offered not to hide behind but to stand beside the cadets saw him their movemen
