Some Training Montage

A faint glow seeped through the wooden panels of the sanctuary, casting soft golden streaks across the room. The air inside was cool, carrying the lingering scent of aged parchment, polished wood, and the faintest traces of strange incense.

Kaelen's eyes fluttered open, greeted by an unfamiliar silence. For a moment, he simply lay there, staring at the intricately carved ceiling above. It took a few seconds for his mind to fully catch up with reality.

He was alone in the room.

Slowly, he sat up, rubbing the last remnants of sleep from his eyes. The bedrolls where his companions had slept were empty, neatly arranged as if they had never been used at all. The absence of their familiar presence left an unsettling stillness in the air.

His gaze drifted to the rafters above.

Perched upon one of the wooden railings was a sleek black shape, her glowing golden eyes were observing him in silence.

Kali.