Nora’s POV
The wind shifted that morning—unusual for this time of year. It blew in thick and heavy, curling like smoke through the trees that bordered the training field. Something about it made my skin crawl.
I tightened my grip on the training staff I held. The warriors I had been training stood in loose formation, panting after our sparring session. Even they seemed unsettled, their eyes flicking toward the forest as if expecting something or even someone.
“Alright, take five,” I said, trying to shake the unease creeping up my spine.
They nodded and scattered, grabbing water skins and towels. I remained standing in the center of the field, scanning the trees. That was when I finally felt something. It was an energy, ancient and pulsing, vibrating in the air like a silent hum.
And then someone suddenly stepped out of the forest.
&nbs
