The next day, the Scarlet Tower's training hall was even quieter than usual. The walls, always imposing and cold, now seemed to absorb even the sound of breathing. Kael, his eyes half-closed, could feel the throbbing pain in his muscles. What remained of his body was scarred from the day before - a reflection of Exelia's brutal training.
He had barely slept, but had no time to rest. Instead, he was dragged into the center of the arena again, fear mixed with uncontrollable determination burning inside him. He knew what was coming. He had already seen the coldness with which Exelia treated her own subordinates. What he didn't know was how far she would go to "break" him.
This time, however, Exelia wasn't armed. Her purple cloak was flowing, her hair neatly tied back, but in her hands, she carried two heavy objects. Bracelets. They were neither ordinary nor beautiful, but forged from a dark, dense metal. The metallic sound of them hitting the ground made Kael shudder.
