Reika opened her eyes. The transition was seamless, instantaneous. One moment she felt the psychic pull of Alyssara's attack in the Kagu courtyard, the next she stood on familiar ground – or an unsettlingly perfect replica of it. A vast, minimalist training hall stretched before her, sunlight streaming through high, arching windows, illuminating motes of dust dancing in the still air. Polished wooden floor, weapon racks lining one wall holding only simple, unadorned practice swords.
It wasn't Training Ground Omega, nor any space within the Creighton estate. It felt older, imbued with a palpable aura of profound discipline, focus, and a reverence for the blade that resonated deep within her soul. Echoes, faint but distinct, of Magnus Draykar's legendary presence seemed to linger here, a standard she felt acutely, even though she had never met the man herself.
