Chapter 26: A Reunion Born in Blood

As the first tendrils of dawn began to stretch across the horizon, the Academy grounds were already beginning to stir. Beneath the twilight sky, the vast campus unfurled, with its sprawling training grounds, ornate towers, and labyrinthine corridors. The dew-kissed grass shimmered under the soft light, and the distant sound of chirping birds heralded a new day. Yet, within this serene landscape, an electric charge of anticipation hung in the air.

Kya was nestled deep within her chambers in the east wing of the dormitories, where the rising sun painted her room with hues of lavender and gold. The gentle ambiance was broken only by the rhythmic tapping of a water droplet from a leaky window pane, a sound she found oddly comforting. Eyes closed, she visualized herself in the arena, attempting to foresee the battles ahead, grounding herself in her training and instincts.