Chapter 7

• Alera's Pov
• I wiped the sweat from my brow, my muscles burning from the continuous sparring. It had been days since that first unexpected victory in training, but every day felt like a new battle. Not just against the warriors Kael threw at me, but against my own doubts. I could feel the weight of his gaze on me, his expectation always lurking. But as I continued pushing myself, I found that it wasn’t just Kael’s judgment I feared—it was my own.
• The clang of steel against steel echoed through the training grounds as I paused to catch my breath. Across from me stood Lira Blake, the woman who had become my anchor in this storm of uncertainty. Lira had been with me ever since Kael had taken me under his wing, but she was different from the others. Where the other warriors were cold and calculating, Lira was warm and patient. A stark contrast to the severity of Kael’s teachings, her presence was comforting.