Tahir woke up to the faint light of dawn filtering through the jagged peaks of the mountains. He sat up on the thin mat that served as his bed, taking a moment to steady himself before reaching for the wooden jug of water nearby. The water was cool and refreshing, soothing his parched throat after a night of restless dreams.
The sound of footsteps on gravel pulled his attention away. Barta, imposing as ever, entered the open training area, followed closely by Gelda, whose eyes scanned the area like a hawk, and Palm, with his usual calm demeanor.
"Tahir," Barta's deep voice resonated. "Today, we're giving you a break. No training."
Tahir's eyebrows raised in surprise. "A day off?"
Gelda's eyes softened, a rare expression for her. "You've earned it."
Palm smirked, crossing his arms. "Don't get used to it. Tomorrow, we'll push twice as hard."
