Dawn hit the common hall like a lazy punch, spilling weak light over the long tables and the steam curling up from porridge bowls. The place smelled like oats and that faint, sharp edge from last night's tear-wind.

  The new family hunkered down at one end—Garran, solid as a wall with his orange glow humming steady, hands rough from whatever life he'd scraped together before Veyra torched it. Selene beside him, her orange light soft and wrapped tight around the girls. Lyric, nine and all fire, let her orange flickers bounce around like she owned the room, already grilling a trainee on how the wards worked. Nova, seven and tucked in close, nursed a small cut on her palm from the scramble out of Rift's Edge, wincing every time she gripped her spoon.

  Rhen leaned against the wall, arms crossed. "Eat up. You're sticking around."

  Garran met his eyes, voice gravelly. "Sky swallowed our spot whole. That beam of hers didn't just burn—it leeched the life right out, left the dirt gray and dead. Thanks for pulling us in before it got us too."

  Rhen shrugged it off. "We don't leave people out there. This place holds its own."

  Lark paused mid-bite from his spot nearby, scarred face hard as ever. "We've all got stories like that. Tears took my folks early on. Scars like these?" He tapped his cheek. "Reminders to hit back harder."

  Toren nodded, slurping his bowl. "Yeah, same here. Makes you mean in a fight."

  The words hung there, easy but heavy, like everyone just nodding along to the same bad tune. Lyric piped up, "So you all fight the bad lady now?"

  Elowen smiled a little from across the table. "That's the plan."

  Nova peeked out. "Does it work?"

  "Getting there," Kael said quietly, more to himself.

  Small talk like that—it stuck, made the hall feel a bit less empty.

  A bit later, Elowen caught Nova staring at her healed-up palm, or trying to, anyway—the cut was still raw, making her drop her spoon again.

  "Hey, can I take a look?" Elowen asked Selene, casual.

  Selene nodded, relieved.

  Elowen dropped down to Nova's level. "This'll feel nice and warm, nothing like that cold stuff from before. Cool?"

  Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon.

  Nova gave a tiny okay.

  The white light spilled out soft, wrapping the cut like a cozy blanket. It knit shut clean, no fuss. Nova flexed her fingers, eyes big. "Your light's... nice."

  Elowen grinned. "Took me a while to think so too. After everything went bad, I hid mine, figured it was a curse. But nah—it pulled me through, got me to folks worth sticking with." She flicked a glance at Kael, who was stacking empty bowls nearby.

  Lyric scooted over. "Bet it's the best one here. Show us?"

  Elowen laughed, popped a little orb into the air—harmless, glowing soft. It bobbed and nudged their noses, pulling giggles out of both girls. First real laughs since they rolled in.

  Selene's eyes got shiny. "Thank you," she whispered, real gratitude there.

  Kael caught it from the side, feeling that quiet pull in his chest. Good to see Elowen owning it.

  Afternoon dumped them all in the yard, sun beating down like it had something to prove.

  Rhen paced the edge, barking setups. "Pair up, no slacking. Fundamentals with a twist—fold in your lights if it fits, but keep it tight."

  Toren and Vel squared off on one side, orange bulk versus shadow-flicker. Toren swung big, Vel danced out with a pop, tagging his side. "Too slow, big guy!"

  Lark worked solo against a dummy rig, his moves sharp and brutal, practicing pulls and redirects with trainees spotting him.

  Kael and Elowen took the center patch, circling slow. No void or white at the jump—just hands, feet, reads.

  Elowen feinted high, dropped low for a sweep. Kael hopped it, countered with a light shove. She rolled with it, popped back up faster than last time.

  "Keep the flow," Rhen called. "Don't force—feel the shift."

  Lark grunted over mid-swing. "Angle in, Elowen. Use the dodge to close."

  Elowen nodded, breath steady. She weaved, ducked a grab, and let a quick white pulse hum through her legs—short burst, like a skip turning into a hover. She twisted mid-air, hooked Kael's arm, yanked him off-balance with her momentum.

  He hit the dirt grinning. "Nice one."

  But she wasn't done—landed light, followed with a knee pin before he could flip. Both panting, laughing through it.

  "Scary good," Kael huffed, tapping out.

  Vel whooped from her spot, dodging Toren's charge. "Kid's got wings now!"

  The yard buzzed with it—everyone pushing, no watchers, just sweat and progress.

  Then the gate banged open hard enough to rattle.

  Mira stormed in. Dust caked her boots, face flushed from the run.

  Rhen paused. "Mira? Where the hell—"

  Toren straightened, grinning wide. "There she is! Been wondering if you ditched us for good."

  Vel flickered over, relieved. "Yeah, seriously—poof after that last meet. Thought maybe Arbiters snagged you."

  Lark wiped sweat, smirking. "Good to see you breathing."

  Elowen and Kael got up, brushing dirt. "What happened?" Elowen asked.

  Mira waved it off, catching her breath. "Rhen sent me scouting solo—northwest edge. Forgot to tell you lot, I guess." She shot Rhen a look as he walked over. "Right?"

  Rhen rubbed his neck. "Yeah, my bad. My head was elsewhere."

  Mira rolled her eyes but cracked a tired smile. "Figures. Anyways. Place called Whispering Vale—gap in their ring, tears all jittery. One's pulsing blue-white, cold and cracked. Not like yours, Elowen—feels... off, like something strong's stuck or hiding in there.

  "Elowen felt a chill tug inside, hand to her chest. Kael stepped closer, quiet support.

  "Arbiters?" Rhen pressed.

  "Thin on the ground," Mira said. "Busy harvesting elsewhere. Prime spot to poke."

  Rhen nodded slow. "Weak link. We hit it quick—mess their flow, maybe snag whatever's burning in that tear.