Chapter 197.7 - Mentor

Ethan's boots hit the ground in steady, rhythmic strides as he ran, his breath controlled but labored under the lingering pressure Eleanor had set upon them. The weight had lessened, but not by much—it was still pressing down on his limbs, forcing every motion to be more deliberate, more precise. Each step required effort, each inhale a conscious act of control.

But despite the strain on his own body, his focus wasn't just on himself.

It was on Astron.

Ethan glanced sideways, his sharp eyes tracking the figure running beside him. Astron's pace was steady, his form measured and efficient—but for once, even his typically unreadable expression was beginning to crack under the pressure. A faint tightness in his jaw, the subtle tension around his eyes. He was feeling it.

Of course he was.