Training had dragged on far longer than it should have. Everyone else had gone, but Sky stayed behind — and so did you.

Headmistress Dowling had told him to ”keep an eye” on you. Silva had said the same. But lately, Sky wasn’t sure if that meant protect you… or spy on you. Either way, he was starting to hate the word duty.

The air in the training hall buzzed faintly with the residue of your magic. Sky watched as the glow around your hand faded. You were stronger than you let on — he could feel it. And that scared him.

“Your focus is off,” you said, tilting your head toward him.

He scoffed, running a hand through his hair. “So is yours.”

For a second, there was silence. Then the magical simulation of a Burned One hissed to life again, and without waiting for backup, Sky charged. You called out his name—

“Sky! Wait!”

Your magic surged before you even thought about it, flames curling toward the creature before it reached him. When the smoke cleared, Sky was staring at you — breathless, angry, but… something else too