"That's asking a lot," Elara said quietly. "Watching you nearly die repeatedly while we stand back and let it happen."
"I know. But if the alternative is me dying because I wasn't strong enough when it mattered – " He left the sentence unfinished.
They sat in silence, the bathwater's heat slowly fading as they processed.
Finally, Seria spoke, her voice carrying military practicality. "If you're going to train more aggressively, we need to be smart about it. Not reckless solo missions following mysterious trails into demon ambushes."
"Agreed," Damien said immediately.
"We coordinate combat scenarios where you can push your limits with backup available. Not to interfere unless absolutely necessary, but to ensure you don't actually die if things go wrong." She was already planning, he could see it in her expression. "The Empire has training facilities, controlled environments where we could arrange high-intensity combat simulations."
