Chapter 73

Lately, things had started to shift, Asha thought to herself as she sat cross-legged, trying to clear her mind. The training required focus, absolute stillness, but her thoughts kept slipping away despite her efforts.

Ever since her fight with Rhovar, the atmosphere within the grand Aurelwyn estate had taken on a strange tension. Most notably, Asha now had her own room, a space she used solely for sleep. Her mother remained in their old shared room, but Asha was permitted to visit her for only an hour each night before bed. Those moments, once so comforting, now felt strained.

Each evening, Asha would recount her day to her mother, but something was different. Her mother, once fully engaged, now seemed preoccupied, her gaze distant, her responses vague. When Asha had asked what was troubling her, she would simply smile, deflecting the question. The evasiveness gnawed at Asha, leaving her feeling more isolated than ever.