Cecilia slumped to the ground, completely drained. Her body felt like dead weight as she sank into the earth beneath her, the impact of the battle finally catching up with her.
One of her teammates rushed to her side, offering his arm to help lift her from the field.
Still, despite the fatigue that pulled at her, Cole's words echoed in her mind.
You're not even close. This is nothing compared to what you'll face."* The wisdom behind his challenge lingered. There had been something almost… pitying in his tone, as if he knew they were out of their depth.
Cole, meanwhile, stood off to the side, his mind already processing the situation. He tucked his blade back into its sheath, the quick fight leaving him with more questions than answers. The battle had been easy, almost too easy, and yet there was an unsettling sense that something was off.
