The sun had barely crested the horizon, but the training field behind Dormitory Seven was already alive with movement.
Darius tightened the straps on his gloves, breath clouding faintly in the morning chill as he took his position near the far end of the grassy arena. Across from him, Kai was stretching his arms overhead, muscles flexing beneath his sleeveless tunic, earth-toned mana already stirring faintly at his feet. Aiden stood at the center, adjusting the bracers on his wrists as soft light pulsed gently from a rune drawn across his palm.
They didn't need to speak.
Over the past weeks, the three had fallen into rhythm—waking before the sun, eating quietly, and walking together through dew-damp grass to this field where their real lessons began. No professors, no spectators. Just the three of them pushing themselves to break through their limits, day after day.
Today was no different. And yet, everything was different.
