Ezra felt something stir sharply in his chest when Aurien said his full name like that.
Not casually.
Not as a formality.
But as a statement.
His spine straightened instinctively.
For a brief moment, he felt it.
Excitement.
Real, unfiltered excitement.
Aside from his fight with Guy yesterday, he had not truly tested himself in five years. Not properly. Not in a way that pushed his blood to run hot.
One of the reasons he had agreed to this exercise was exactly that. To stretch his limbs before tomorrow. Before facing the Dark Ones again.
But this?
This was different.
Aurien dismantling three teams alone.
Aurien reshaping the rules in front of everyone.
Aurien said his name like that.
Ezra's lips curved faintly.
'This is not boring,' he admitted. 'This is not typical.'
And he liked it.
Aurien clasped his hands lightly behind his back.
