Ethan had just seen Blackie get kicked and was about to step in when he cut the squabble short. He knew better than to waste energy on petty arguments, not when a real battle lay ahead of them. His voice was sharp, steady, and commanding as he brought the group back to focus.
"We're heading out. Is everyone ready? We've got a tough fight ahead of us."
Julian, who had been standing nearby with an amused smile, perked up at Ethan's words. For weeks now he had felt like little more than a bystander in Ethan's shadow. Once, back in Beastfall City, people had called him a prodigy. Now, compared to Micah's finesse, he was nothing but a brute. And compared to Blackie… he couldn't even compete.
But things had changed. He now carried the weapon Ethan had crafted for him alone. At last, this was his chance to prove himself. So what if people called him a brute? Uncle Jed had been a brute too, and no one denied he stood among the strongest.
