June Turner stood silently in front of me, her eyes narrowing slightly from the realisation of what she'd just sensed.
That brief moment when I let my presence slip out had told her everything. Whatever memory she had of me as a newly awakened rookie who could barely control his Essence, it didn't match the reality standing in front of her now.
She was recalibrating.
Not just seeing who I'd become, but feeling it. The sheer pressure that marked the gap between us.
And yet, behind that calculating gaze, there was something else too, respect. Maybe even a hint of pride.
"You've changed," she said finally, her voice low and steady. "Back then, you were just a kid with too much confidence, too much pride."
I smiled faintly. "I still have too much confidence and pride. That part hasn't changed."
June snorted. "Maybe. But now, you've earned the right to carry it."
