Cruzer stood alone in the training room, his mind lingering on the memories of the past few days. The warmth of Jean's embrace, the promise he made to her, and the looming thought of the tournament all swirled within him.
His resolve was firm; he needed to get stronger and fulfill his promise to meet Jean's family. He was ready to do whatever it took.
The door creaked open, snapping him back to reality. Nina entered the room, her commanding presence filling the space. Behind her, three others trailed in—Elara, a figure from the Silver Serpents, and another from the Iron Hawks.
The air instantly grew tense as their eyes met Cruzer's, especially Elara's. The memory of their recent fight, where he had injured her, was still fresh in both of their minds.
Elara's cold, calculating gaze locked with Cruzer's for a moment before she averted her eyes, her posture rigid.
