*Saoirse*
"Come now, love," Rhys' deep voice broke the silence, his hand resting lightly on my shoulder. His touch was grounding, calming the restlessness that gnawed at my soul.
We left the room together, the door clicking shut ever so softly behind us. Rhys led the way down the stone corridor. Torches flickered along the walls, casting dancing shadows that played at our feet.
"Seeing them like that gives me strength," I confessed as we walked. My voice was low, a whisper barely carrying over the sound of our footsteps.
"Me too," he agreed, squeezing my hand. "They are why we fight, Saoirse, for their future."
We stepped out onto the training grounds, where the graduates of Queen Lena's school had assembled. The air hummed with an undercurrent of magic, palpable and vibrant. The young mages stood tall, their eyes ablaze with newfound purpose and power.
"Look at them," I marveled, my gaze sweeping over the group. "Can you feel it? The energy?"
