They sat on the stone benches at the edge of the training field, the warm sunlight brushing across their tired faces as they caught their breath. Minseok was lying down with his arms spread out like a starfish, still catching his breath after his short mana training. Nayoung, always full of energy even when exhausted, scooted closer to Yoora with wide, curious eyes.
"Hey, Yoora," she started, her tone light and bubbly, "where did you guys go yesterday? You weren't in the academy at all. Was it some kind of secret dungeon training? Huh? Tell me, tell me!"
Yoora, still sitting upright with her elbows resting on her knees, looked down at her hands for a moment. Her thoughts drifted to that place—the Ethereal Grounds—and her body still remembered the weight in the air, the way it pressed on her chest, and the strange, thick gravity that made every step feel heavier.
