CHAPTER 38 The Weight of the Full Moon

　　Ethan's Pov

　　"It's today," Fang comments solemnly within me.

　　I'm in the empty training room, with only my combat instructor. The training room is spacious, with two walls lined with floor-to-ceiling mirrors. The red and black tatami covers about a third of the floor, focused towards the back of the academy, where I have a clear view outside the castle. The rain hasn't let up, leaving little to be done outside.

　　Yet despite the rain, the full moon night will arrive as it always does every month; there's no escaping it. The heavy, gray sky seems to reflect my mood, a mix of anxiety and determination. Every raindrop trickling down the window is a reminder of the internal storm approaching.

　　I strike the punching bag with all the force I can muster, feeling my muscles tense and my focus sharpen. The loud sound of my punches echoes through the empty room, breaking the silence.