I awoke to a pale light filtering through the canopy of Aerthalis. The first rays of dawn scattered like liquid silver across the moss-covered rooftops of the village, illuminating the soft glow of bioluminescent plants that dotted the glades. Birds stirred in the trees, their songs weaving a gentle chorus that would have been soothing under any other circumstances. Yet, I could not feel comforted.
Beside me, the absence of Marcus’s usual presence gnawed at me. The day before, our training had ended in laughter, shared glances, and the quiet intimacy of moonlit glades. Today, the distance between us felt palpable, like a cold wind separating us in a world that had once seemed so warm. I hesitated to rise, feeling a strange mix of anticipation and apprehension.
Marcus appeared at the edge
