The next morning, James woke before sunrise.
His face was still visibly wounded when he checked the mirror. The bruises had not faded because the fight happened outside the Tower where injuries did not heal instantly like they did on cleared floors.
He got ready quietly while avoiding noise that might wake his mother.
He moved through the house carefully while pausing near her door. He felt guilty leaving before she could see him properly, but he knew she would ask questions if she saw his face clearly.
James was not ready to explain the fight with Adrian or the Ganner family.
He left without saying goodbye.
James arrived at the Hale Estate while the sun was barely rising.
He entered the basement training room where Team Zero gathered before Tower attempts. The others were already there preparing their gear.
The moment James entered, the room went quiet.
Finn, Aria, Kael, and Elliot stared at his face.
