The sun was just beginning to rise, casting a warm glow over the horizon. I stood in the backyard, my breath coming in steady puffs as I finished my morning run. Two months had passed since the camping trip, and life had settled into a semblance of normalcy, though it was anything but. Each day, I trained harder, pushing my limits in preparation for what I knew was coming. The demon king's army would arrive soon, though I kept this to myself, even from Raven.
I wiped the sweat from my brow and made my way back into the house. The air was crisp and cool, a stark contrast to the heat building within me from the rigorous training. I had to stay sharp, stay focused. The fate of everyone I cared about depended on it.
