That night, I barely rested. Every hour, I checked the seals I'd placed around my quarters, refining them.
Just before dawn, I stepped outside. The courtyard stones were slick with dew, the air cold, which was unusual for the desert.
Kael waited near the practice ring, clearly nervous. Rikan stood nearby, sword sheathed but ready.
"You remember what I told you?" I asked Kael.
He nodded. "Listen and follow the rhythm."
"Good."
We sat cross-legged facing each other. I placed my palm lightly against his sternum, feeling the dull echo of his inner core. It was there, faint and stubborn, hidden under layers of fear.
"Close your eyes," I said softly. "Forget everything they taught you about control. Just breathe. Let the world breathe with you."
His breathing steadied, slow and uncertain.
I drew a wisp of my fire element—gentle, flickering warmth—and guided it toward him, letting it brush against his dormant energy. It trembled. Resisted. Then stirred.
