LUCIEN’S POV

The training ground was already alive when I arrived, the air sharp with early morning chill.

The younger warriors were lined up in uneven rows, some stretching, some already sparring, their laughter and grunts filling the wide open space. Normally, this was where my mind cleared. Where I breathed. Where I remembered who I was beyond duty and chaos.

Today, my chest felt tight.

I stood at the edge of the field, hands clasped behind my back, eyes scanning the crowd as I oversaw their movements. Every misstep, every sloppy strike, every moment of hesitation—I caught it all. Or at least, I tried to.

Because no matter how...