Meanwhile, Cecelia's thoughts wandered to Kael.
Her breathing began to slow, the rush of battle fading into the background for just a moment.
Her gaze drifted past the trees, toward the deeper parts of the forest, where the mist hung thicker and the shadows seemed heavier.
(If Kael were here…)
She could almost see him—moving silently through the undergrowth, eyes sharp, steps steady. The image pulled her back to their last conversation before the exam began at the terminal.
He had been quiet that day, not his usual self.
Focused, almost distant.
But there had been something in his eyes—a spark of determination that she couldn't quite read, something that made her wonder what was really on his mind.
(I shouldn't be thinking about him right now… but…)
(Why do I keep thinking about him?)
A warmth spread through her chest, subtle but persistent, contrasting with the cold adrenaline still pumping in her veins.
