Seraphina glanced at him, her expression complicated. "You're too calm about this," she said softly.
"I've learned that not every opportunity needs to belong to me," Max replied. "Sometimes, it's enough to know that the right people got what they needed."
For a moment, silence hung between them. The sounds of distant elemental energy filled the air—the crackle of flame, the whisper of frost, and the faint echo of power emanating from deep within the valley where the twins were undergoing their trial.
Max looked in that direction, his expression thoughtful but serene. "If they succeed," he said, "they'll become pillars of our world. The Flame Spirit and the Ice Spirit—united under one inheritance. That kind of strength could change the course of the coming war."
Victor followed his gaze, his usual easygoing smile fading into a look of respect. "You really think that far ahead, huh?"
