Valenna whispered, voice low with something close to amusement. She speaks as though she's your keeper.
Atrius tapped the stone railing. "You need controlled aura discipline. Immediately. You need to learn to suppress what you produce, not unleash it."
"I can suppress it," Soren said.
"No," Atrius corrected, "you think you can suppress it. There's a difference."
He stepped back, crossing his arms again.
"This is going to hurt."
Soren stood. "I'm ready."
Mira groaned into her palms. "Oh good. More pain. Because we haven't had enough of that this week."
Atrius gestured toward the training grounds.
"Let's go."
They walked.
The path down to the lower field was quiet but tense, students stepping aside to watch. Some whispered. Some stared with open curiosity. A few looked at Soren the way predators look at competition.
By the time they reached the grass, Atrius signaled for Mira to stay back.
"Not her," he said. "This gets… volatile."
Mira hesitated. "He'll be okay?"
