Chapter 51

The training yard was quiet now, the earlier sounds of clashing weapons and focused commands replaced by the soft chirping of crickets and the rustle of leaves in the evening breeze. The sun had dipped below the horizon, leaving streaks of amber and rose painted across the sky, and the air held the cool promise of night. Althea sat on the ground, her back resting against the sturdy wooden post that marked the edge of the training area. Sweat clung to her skin, her muscles burned in the best way, and her chest rose and fell with each deep breath she took. Her body was exhausted, but her mind was alive with a strange energy she couldn’t quite explain. She stretched her legs out in front of her, the brace on her weaker leg glinting in the fading light. It no longer felt like a mark of failure but a badge of resilience. She traced the edge of it absentmindedly, her fingers brushing over the straps before her gaze drifted upward to the soft scars along her thigh. For the first time, she did