The sun cracked low through the leaves.

  A soft breeze shifted the canopy.

  Selena stood alone near the edge of the camp, adjusting her bracer. She was lost in thought when a voice called from behind.

  “Hey, Selena—”

  A hand reached toward her shoulder.

  She turned like lightning.

  Magic flared in her palm — flames flickering up to her wrist. Eyes sharp. Voice sharper.

  “Don’t touch me.”

  The camp froze.

  The one who reached — Jassik, a quiet new kid from Tesska’s training squad — stepped back fast, hands up.

  “I—I was just gonna ask if you wanted water—”

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  Myla rushed between them. Tesska barked at Jassik.

  Selena exhaled hard. The flame in her hand fizzled to smoke.

  “It’s fine. He didn’t do anything. That was… me.”

  She turned to the kid.

  “Sorry. You startled me.”

  He nodded fast, still pale.

  Everyone slowly returned to their routines.

  Except Rell.

  He watched her long. Said nothing.

  Later that day, Tesska waved Rell over.

  “Hey mimic-boy. Come eat. You barely move unless someone bleeds.”

  She tossed him a bowl. Grinsh already gnawed on a vine-wrapped leg bone beside the fire.

  Myla was showing Rell a math system carved into stone tiles. She smiled when he squinted at the symbols.

  [THOUGHTS]

  Look like dice. Roll good, get bread?

  “Close,” Myla giggled. “Each number links to a jewel weight. Money runs on birthstones.”

  She pointed:

  “Topaz? Low grade. Garnet? Middle. Obsidian? High coin. You get paid in cuts. Not coins. They’re called slips.”

  [SPEAKS]

  “…Obsidian strong. Black coin.”

  “You catch on fast.”

  Tesska joined in, pulling up a hide map drawn in blood-ink.

  “This here’s the trade triangle. If we ever get out, you’ll want to learn the hustle zones.”

  She traced crude shapes — cities, borders.

  Rell copied the marks. Fast.

  [THOUGHTS]

  Mind slow. But hands fast.

  Grinsh interrupted with a snort.

  “Bah! He needs fists before slips. Kid ain’t even had a proper brawl yet!”

  Tesska rolled her eyes. Myla kept laughing.

  They bickered around the fire. Rell half-smiled.

  From a distance…

  Selena watched.

  Eyes never left Nerro.

  She didn’t know why — but the way he moved, the ease in his smile, the way he stepped too close then pulled away…

  It was the same kind of pressure the noble gave her.

  The one who smiled first.

  And hurt second.

  She clenched her jaw.

  Didn’t say a word.

  That night, Rell lay on his back watching the smoke trail off the fire.

  Myla had shared stories of floating cities.

  Grinsh told him how to punch out a minotaur tooth.

  He listened.

  Then whispered to himself:

  [SPEAKS]

  “…Like family.”

  He didn’t notice the spirit watching from a branch above.

  Still waiting.