The early morning air carried a crisp freshness across the training grounds of Arcadia Academy, the faint golden light of dawn stretching slowly over the wide field as the sun began its steady ascent. A gentle breeze moved across the open space, stirring the grass lightly while the distant sounds of students beginning their routines echoed faintly in the background.
Luca moved steadily along the edge of the field, his footsteps rhythmic as he ran lap after lap, his breathing controlled despite the exertion. Each stride felt grounded, familiar, yet beneath that familiarity lingered a subtle awareness of change—something within his body no longer felt exactly the same.
After several laps, he slowed his pace before coming to a stop, exhaling deeply as he rolled his shoulders once, loosening the tension in his muscles.
Without wasting time, he drew his twin sabers.
