"Again? What happened to your old friend?" Jade inquired, her curiosity piqued as she slowly stood, shedding the vestments of their training for her original attire.
The shift in conversation marked a transition from the physical exertions of their training to the emotional landscape of their pasts.
Rosa's story unfolded with a somber tone. "Well, it's a long story, but when I was new here and after I went through the ritual, I... well, woke up with these ears and fur.
It was hard to get used to, to be honest, and I was even depressed for the longest until I made a good friend."
She paused, the weight of her next words hanging heavily in the air. "She died a while ago now because I wasn't strong enough to protect her against some fire creature."
Jade's attempt to offer consolation came from a place of empathy, trying to find a silver lining in Rosa's tragic story.
