Chapter 173

The trio spent the rest of the training session practising defensive techniques, honing their reflexes and coordination. Nicole marveled at the determination and progress of Emily and Lucas, their youthful energy matched by their willingness to learn. As they took a break, the sun dipping below the horizon, Nicole's thoughts drifted back to the nagging feeling of something important that she was forgetting. She couldn't shake the persistent sense that there was a missing piece of her past, waiting to be discovered. "Are you okay?" Emily asked, concern etched on her face. Nicole snapped back to the present, her expression softening. "Yes, Emily. Just lost in thought for a moment. Don't worry about me. Let's continue training." But deep inside, Nicole's curiosity burned. She yearned to uncover the truth of her past to understand the fragments of memories that danced on the edge of her consciousness. They trained until late evening and were disrupted by Sarah's call for dinner. Nicole pau