On the outskirts of the academy’s training grounds, where the neat rows of buildings gave way to open fields and scattered trees.
Elowyn walked at the front of her team. The morning light cast long shadows across the grass, and the distant hum of the city beyond the walls was faint, almost soothing.
A cool breeze carried the scent of freshly cut grass and the faint hint of rain that had fallen earlier in the day.
Lyra, Selene, and Cassian followed behind her, their footsteps crunching against the gravel path.
They had been walking for several minutes, heading toward Elowyn’s usual training spot, a secluded clearing she had claid months ago and rarely shared with anyone outside her team.
The clearing was surrounded by thick trees, hidden from view, and the ground was soft from years of use.
Today, they had asked her to train them for the selections.
The Grand Summit Trials were approaching, and none of them wanted to be left behind.
Of course, if soone had the right background, they could bypass the selections entirely and enter the main event without proving themselves.
The children of Council mbers, the heirs of powerful guilds, the protégés of high-ranking officials; they would walk into the arena without ever having to fight for their spot.
But Team Leaf did not have that luxury. They would have to earn their places like everyone else.
Elowyn, who was leading them, was absent-minded.
’How was I so bold yesterday?’
That was all running through her mind. She had taken the initiative. She had kissed Cael. Her face turned red just thinking about it.
She could still feel the warmth of his lips, the surprise in his violet eyes, the way his hand had found hers on the grass without thinking.
Lyra looked at Elowyn’s flushed face and asked with worry,
"Are you okay? Your face is red."
Elowyn smiled and said,
"I am fine. Just thinking about training."
Selene, who had been watching Elowyn’s flustered expression with quiet amusent, said nothing.
Her intuition, honed by reading hundreds of romance novels over the years, gave her an answer.
She was not entirely sure, but she had a strong suspicion. The way Elowyn’s eyes softened when she looked at her ring.
The way her voice had trembled earlier when she thought no one was listening. The way she kept touching her lips when she thought no one was watching.
Selene knew. But she did not say anything. Not yet.
Then Elowyn’s watch beeped.
She raised her hand and looked at the caller’s na. She froze.
It was Cael.
She was not ready to et him yet. Not after yesterday. Not after kissing him. Not after saying that line.
"Yes... You. Are. Mine."
She had imdiately run off after saying it, not giving him a chance to respond, not waiting to see his reaction, her legs carrying her away before he could say anything in return.
’Why did I even say that?’
The watch continued to ring. The sound was insistent, demanding attention.
Seeing that Elowyn was not responding, Lyra leaned forward and read the na on the screen.
"Caelir."
Selene’s suspicions grew even stronger. She cleared her throat and said,
"Ahem, Elowyn, it seems soone is calling you. Are you going to answer, or should we leave you alone?"
Elowyn snapped back to her senses. Her finger hovered over the decline button. She almost canceled the call.
It would be so easy. Just press the button. Pretend she did not see it. Pretend she was busy.
Then Selene comnted,
"Do not tell it is that boyfriend we saw in District Neva."
Elowyn’s hand trembled. She could not cancel now.
That would only confirm Selene’s comnt. Elowyn took a breath, steadied herself, and said,
"I have to take this call."
She answered.
"Hello."
She said, her voice carefully neutral, almost cold.
"Hi."
Cael’s voice ca through, casual and warm, as if nothing had happened between them.
"Is your team free today?"
Elowyn hesitated. She glanced at her teammates. Lyra was watching her with open curiosity.
Cassian had turned away, pretending to study a tree. Selene was smiling.
"I suppose," she said.
Then Cael asked,
"How about training with my team together? I could use your help as well."
Elowyn’s heart skipped. He wanted to train with her. She nodded, even though he could not see her.
"I see. When do you want to et?"
Cael’s answer was imdiate,
"How about now? We are in Training Hall No. 9. We have access to the virtual pods as well."
Elowyn looked at her teammates again.
"Alright," Elowyn said.
"Let us do that."
Then Cael dropped words she was not expecting.
"I know I can count on you. Love you, Elowyn. See you."
-Beep. -Beep.
The call ended.
Elowyn stood frozen for a long mont, her watch still raised, the screen dark.
Her face burned. Her heart pounded. Her mind raced.
He had said it so casually, so easily, as if those words ant nothing. But to her... they ant everything.
She took deep breaths, trying to calm her racing mind. She activated her skill, ’Calm Mind’.
The effect was imdiate: her heartbeat slowed, her breathing steadied, her thoughts stopped spinning.
But it was not strong enough to erase the heat from her cheeks. Cael had caught her completely off guard.
After a long mont, she lowered her hand and turned her head toward her teammates.
"Let us go to Training Hall No. 9," she said, her voice steady.
"We are going to train with another team."
Lyra and Cassian exchanged glances. Selene simply smiled, saying nothing.
Though puzzled, they agreed. Team Leaf changed directions and started walking toward the training halls.
Suddenly, Elowyn paused. She turned her head back toward Karyal City, her gaze distant, her expression unreadable.
The city sprawled in the distance, its towers catching the new light of the morning sun.
The rising sun cast a pale golden light across the city.
But she was not looking at the city. She was looking beyond it.
Toward sothing else. Toward soone.
No one noticed her eyes turning crimson briefly before fading.
Lyra also paused and asked,
"Is sothing wrong?"
Elowyn shook her head. She turned back to face the training halls, her expression calm, her voice steady.
"It’s nothing."
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