Sera's Pov
The air was still, heavy with the scent of anticipation and dew-damp earth. My boots crunched softly against the gravel path leading to the forest line, where today's training would begin—different from anything we'd done before. The sky overhead was overcast, not quite threatening rain, but dim enough to feel like the trees were holding their breath.
I kept my expression blank, focused. Around me, the other trainees moved in uneasy silence, forming their assigned groups. We had been given the rundown already—there would be no time to waste once we shifted. No room for confusion. Just instincts and cooperation.
Only… cooperation was going to be harder now.
