The sun was already leaning west when the clearing grew quiet again. Not silent—never silent in a forest—but soft. The earlier clash with the spirit beast had drained the energy from everyone. Even Taylen, who normally carried noise with him like a second shadow, moved with unusual care now.
Robert watched them without making it obvious. Leadership, he was learning, was often just observation done at the right time. Ronan was checking the edge of his spear with a cloth, working slowly and methodically. Sai sat cross-legged near a tree root, breathing evenly, cycling qi in small, controlled patterns. Sarah flexed her fingers repeatedly, testing the strain left in her wrists from earlier strikes. Eissa was not resting at all—her gaze drifted through the trees, alert in a way that did not look forced.
