Page 230 of Elemental Becoming

My expression falters.

“Today? Really?”

The dismay slips into my voice before I can stop it. Valen insisted on training to channel because of how close I was to burn out last night, but I thought for sure all other training would be put on hold.

“The attack was just last night, Rian. People died. The healing wing is nearly full. Part of the castle is still smoldering.”

I gesture toward the fortress behind us.

“And we’re just . . . back to training?”

Calryx huffs behind me, her tail swishing with visible irritation. Shared discontent fills the space between us.

Valen exhales, the sound heavy. “The Shadow Forces won’t wait for us to grieve. And they won’t stop just because we’re rebuilding the castle.”

Rian’s gaze lingers on me. The smile fades from his lips, but not from his eyes.

His eyes remain soft as he says, “I know it feels fast. It is. But you saw what they did. The Shadow Forcesbreachedthe castle, Amara. That’s not just an attack. It’s a message.”

He lets that hang in the air for a beat before adding, more gently, “We don’t have the luxury of slowing down. Not anymore.”

My heart sinks.

It never stops. Not even for a day.

No pause to tend the wounded properly. No space to sit beside the grieving or honor those who were lost. No time to hold the hands of the families left behind. The friends still waiting for someone who won’t come home.

We survive.

Then we train to survive the next thing.

Valen steps closer, his voice low. “There will be a memorial.The council is discussing it now.”

He pauses, eyes steady on mine.

“I should be in that room. But after last night, after how close you came, I told Thane this matters more. We need to keep working. You need to practice channeling without burning out, especially under different conditions of stress. Today, you have guidance. You have support. The world will not always be so kind. You have to learn how to manage it amid the chaos of battle. Because more of it is coming, my dear girl.”

My mentor glances toward the edge of the training field, then back to me.

“The memorial will be held in several days. You’ll have that space to mourn. We all will. But today, we keep moving forward.”

I nod, swallowing the tightness in my throat. There’s no use fighting the pace of this world. So I turn to Rian, forcing steadiness into my voice.

“All right. What are we working on today?”

Rian claps a hand on my shoulder, his grin returning. “Close combat. Short blades. Nothing like a little blood and sweat to clear the mind.”

I huff a laugh, more breath than sound. “Easy for you to say. You actually know what you’re doing.”

He winks. “That’s what I’m here for.”

He steps back, unslinging a pair of short blades from the sheath across his back. With a quick flick, he tosses one to me. The weight settles into my palm with a satisfying thud.

“Let’s see if the Spiritborn can keep her footing when the enemy’s closer than arm’s length.”

I stretch my arms across my chest, one at a time, then settle into a ready stance.

“Let’s find out.”