Varko kept moving.
His form was still rough, his steps uneven, but he didn't stop.
Sweat dripped down his face and soaked into the floor beneath him.
Every breath sounded heavy, like his lungs were being squeezed from the inside.
Garion watched him for a few seconds longer.
Then he turned around.
His eyes moved slowly across the gym.
First, his direct disciples.
Dahlia stood with her arms crossed, her posture relaxed but her eyes sharp.
Arden was nearby, quietly stretching, his expression calm but focused.
Valtor leaned against a pillar, cracking his neck with a grin, while Seira stood straight, her presence cold and steady.
Then Garion's gaze shifted.
The twins, Rynar and Rynor, stood side by side as usual.
Sparks of flame and thunder flickered faintly around them as they warmed up, already restless.
Clara sat on a bench upside down, legs hooked over the edge, watching everything with a lazy smile.
