The scout's smile lingered in my mind long after he vanished into the dark. I stood there, listening to the stillness of the courtyard. Even the wind seemed to hesitate, curling around me before slipping away into silence.
I didn't return to my quarters immediately. My instincts were prickling—the kind that meant danger wasn't a possibility but a certainty waiting for its cue.
When I finally walked back, I did so deliberately, not hiding my presence. If they were watching, let them see I wasn't afraid.
Inside, I sealed the door and sat cross-legged in the center of the room. The wooden floor was cold beneath me, grounding.
I closed my eyes, drawing in the faint pulse of my core. Earth. Fire. Dark. Three forces coiled together, uneasy companions in the quiet of my spirit. I sent out a whisper of dark energy—thin as breath, quiet as ink spreading in water. It stretched through the room, feeling for disturbances.
