Friedrich's POV
The pale morning sun cuts through the trees in slanted beams, swaying with the wind's guidance, and resembling the spotlights of a grand event. The light plays across their faces, casting shifting shadows as they gather for a brief announcement.
I stand at the center of the clearing, and the moment I step forward, the rustling of feet halts abruptly. Clearing my throat, I force the words out with as little reluctance as I can manage. "I'm postponing the induction trials indefinitely."
A murmur circulates through the crowd. The dissatisfaction is peak just as I anticipated. Draven, standing to my right, crosses his arms but doesn’t say anything. He knows better than to challenge me in front of the others, even if he disagrees. I catch Ricardo narrowing his eyes, but the
