Mira’s POV

The guest house door opens before I knock. Rowan stands there, grinning. "I saw you coming up the path." "Eager?" I ask, embracing her. "Always. When it's you." We walk through Blackridge together. Three years since the rebellion. The city has changed.

Not just rebuilt. Transformed. The market thrives. The memorial gardens are well-maintained. Life continues with confident normalcy. "How's the healing center?" Rowan asks.

"Good. Growing. We just accepted five new students." I ...