The morning air was cold against his skin as Cale pushed open the dorm door. The sun hadn't fully crested the horizon yet, painting the sky in shades of amber and deep purple.
Break of dawn. Perfect.
He moved quickly toward the small training ground behind the quarters, keeping his footsteps light. The academy was still mostly asleep at this hour, which meant fewer eyes to watch him.
The ground was empty and quiet, exactly what he needed.
He rolled his shoulders, feeling the difference in his new bones. The new skeletal structure had settled into place, but it felt foreign and strange in a way that made every movement slightly awkward, like wearing someone else's body entirely.
Okay, let's try it.
He began running through the moves he'd learned in the dream realm. Basic stuff like how to imbue your skin with aura, how to channel focus during cultivation. Simple techniques that even apprentices should master in their first week.
