"Steele! Steele! Come on, slowpoke!"
The shouts echoed through the dusty streets of the small village, accompanied by the patter of bare feet on sun-baked earth. A group of children raced through the narrow alleys, their laughter bouncing off the weathered walls of thatched cottages.
At the back of the pack, a small boy with unruly dark hair pumped his short legs as fast as he could, determination etched on his young face. This was Steele, the youngest of the group at just seven years old, forever trying to keep up with his older brother and friends.
"Wait up!" Steele called out, his voice high and breathless. "You guys are too fast!"
The leader of the group, a lanky 13-year-old named Jace, glanced back with a grin. "You gotta be quicker, Steele! Can't catch dragonflies if you're slow as a turtle!"
