C28 CHAPTER 28: PHYSICAL TRIALS; TEAMWORK TESTED

The morning mist still clung to the spires as Lyria Arden and Kairo Vael stood at the entrance of the first physical arena. The platform beneath them hummed faintly, reacting subtly to their sparks, as if gauging their readiness. Beyond the edge stretched a labyrinth of bridges, suspended platforms, and crystalline obstacles. The Trial Grounds weren’t just ancient—they were alive