Chapter 16 Winds Of Deception

• The air was thick with the scent of the forest, damp with the promise of an oncoming storm. Celeste crouched low, steadying her breathing as she focused on the target ahead—a wooden post Rafael had set up for their latest exercise. Sweat slicked her skin, muscles aching from hours of relentless training. She had expected physical strain, but it was the mental weight that drained her the most.
• “Again,” Rafael commanded, his sharp gaze never wavering.
• Celeste exhaled sharply and lunged forward, twisting her body with precision as she struck the post. Her movement was powerful but not yet effortless. She could feel the frustration creeping in, the nagging voice in the back of her mind whispering that she wasn’t strong enough.