The sun had begun its slow descent, painting the sky in shades of orange and crimson. The heat of the day lingered, radiating from the rocks, but a cool breeze had begun to stir, carrying the promise of evening. Nero and Khione stood at the base of the mountain, the frozen bodies of the drakes still visible on the slope above. They had completed the mission. But neither was ready to leave.
"We should train," Khione said. Her voice was calm, but there was an edge to it—a hunger, a need to test herself. She had felt the gap between them growing, and she wanted to close it.
Nero nodded. "Here?"
"Here. The terrain is challenging. The heat will test my ice." She paused. "And I want to see your new law."
He did not argue. He drew his sword, and the blade shimmered with a faint blue light—the color of water, the color of the ocean depths. He took a stance, relaxed and ready.
Khione raised her wand. "Don't hold back."
"I won't."
They moved.
