As the swirling purple energy of Noah's domain faded, the familiar setting of the training area reappeared around them. The polished stone floor was cool beneath their feet, and the dim lanterns hanging overhead cast a soft glow over the space.
Fully clothed again, Noah stretched his shoulders, rolling the tension out of them while stealing a glance at Lila. She stood a few feet away, arms crossed, her usual confidence replaced by something more reserved. Shy, even. A complete turnaround to the girl who had just ridden him into oblivion inside his domain.
She shifted on her feet. "I should go."
Noah nodded. "Sure."
Neither of them said more than that. There was an unspoken tension between them now, something undefined. What had started as chi training had spiraled into something far more intimate, and now that they were back in the real world, the weight of it hung between them.
