The Cost of Resistance
Maya's breath came in short, sharp bursts as she stood in the training grounds, her muscles tense from the grueling training sessions of the day. The sun had just dipped below the horizon, leaving behind streaks of deep orange and purple across the sky. Warriors moved in the distance, their sparring matches echoing in the silent evening air, but Maya paid them little attention. She jammed her teeth, determined to push through her exhaustion.
Elara circled her like a predator stalking its prey, her sharp gaze examining Maya's every movement. "Again," she instructed, leaving no room for argument.
