Zephyra lifted her head, eyes following him for a moment before resting it back down on her paws.
Arden walked a little distance away, the sounds of their laughter and the crackling fire dimming behind him. He took a deep breath, rolling his shoulders as heat stirred beneath his skin.
The elixirs had been doing more than just patching up his strength. His core felt sharper, the flow tighter. Something inside was waiting to be shaped.
He lifted his hand and drew on his crimson core. Fire gathered, trembling as it swirled into a ball above his palm. At first it sputtered, flickering weakly as though it wanted to collapse.
From where they sat, Nyra leaned forward. "Looks like he's failing already."
"Wait," Rael muttered, eyes narrowing.
