The morning sun burned mercilessly overhead, casting long shadows over the training grounds. Sweat, blood, and the scent of exhaustion filled the air as trainees pushed their limits under the relentless command of their trainers. Today was worse than usual—every drill, every strike, every fall carried an unforgiving weight.
Rai’s muscles ached, his breathing ragged, but he never showed weakness. He moved through the combat drills with calculated precision, keeping his strength restrained, his powers locked beneath the surface. He had to.
Until he made a mistake.
The trainer had barked an order, but Rai, for the first time, hesitated. It wasn’t because of exhaustion or doubt—it was frustration. Frustration at the suffocating restraint, at the watching eyes that felt too heavy, at the uns
