**Gaia's POV**

Just as I'm about to begin another round of training, I notice a figure standing at the edge of the arena.

Astrein.

His ice-blue eyes find mine across the distance, and something in them makes my heart skip. There's concern there—he must have witnessed my defeat, my humiliation at Orvis's hands. But beneath the concern, I see something else.

Admiration.

Lucas calls a ten-minute break. I wipe the sweat ...