Raiden stirred, groaning softly as his eyes blinked open to the faint shimmer of moonlight filtering through the leaves.
His back ached. His right arm was numb. His wooden sword lay across his lap like a loyal dog waiting for orders.
For a few disoriented seconds, he stared around his base, trying to recall why he was lying on the forest floor.
Then it hit him.
He'd fallen asleep while training. Again.
He sat up abruptly, panic creeping into his chest. 'Oh no. Oh no, no, no, no—'
His mind began racing through worst-case scenarios. His mother was probably pacing in worry. Kent had likely gone to check his room. His father—oh, his father would not be pleased.
He looked around quickly, heart pounding, but then paused when he noticed something strange.
The sky was still dark.
A faint grey stretched along the horizon, but dawn had yet to arrive.
