Chapter 48 Eternal

• Florian's POV
• The shadows wrapped around me as I retreated deeper into the forest, my body aching from Lucian’s relentless attacks. My wounds throbbed, blood staining my once-pristine clothing, but my mind was sharper than ever. Pain was temporary—what I sought was eternal.
• I collapsed against the base of a tree, struggling to catch my breath. The night air was thick with the scent of damp earth and pine, but the bitterness of my defeat lingered stronger. Lucian had bested me today, but victory was never determined by a single battle.