Mina was still nestled against his chest, her small body warm and soft. Her breath brushed lightly against his shirt, as if she feared he would vanish the moment she loosened her grip.
The room had grown quieter now; the sun outside dipped lower, casting a softer, deeper light that stretched long shadows across the floor and walls.
Sage lay there motionless, one arm wrapped around her, staring at the glowing panels hovering in front of him. For a long moment, he remained silent. Then slowly, a grin began to spread across his face.
"Damn…" he whispered under his breath.
He was trying to stay calm, he really was but the more he reread the abilities displayed before him, the harder it became to maintain that lazy expression he usually wore. His heart raced now, not from fear but from excitement. This wasn't just growth; this was transformation.
A new panel expanded before him.
The system's voice echoed clearly in his mind.
