After running through a few more tests, Nero finally stopped. He sheathed his sword and settled cross-legged onto the mat he had laid out earlier. Midnight was drawing near, yet drowsiness did not come to him. Instead, his mind was clear, his body restless. He chose to devote the silence of the night to his breathing techniques, seeking to push his second core closer to advancement.
It wasn't out of jealousy that he trained—though his friends had already stepped into the next realm, leaving him technically behind. No, his reason was simpler, sharper: he could feel it. The next step was within reach. To hesitate now would be foolish.
