The medical wing of Titans Academy had never felt this quiet.
Blaze sat on the padded bench, elbows resting on his knees, fingers laced together so tightly his knuckles had turned pale. He'd faced opponents twice his size. He'd outrun defenders who could bend gravity. He'd played through exhaustion, pressure, and pain. But nothing had ever made his stomach twist the way this silence did.
A holo-display flickered in front of him, frozen on a scan of his torso. A glowing red outline marked the damaged area on his ribs. The image felt unreal, like it belonged to someone else. Someone weaker.
He exhaled slowly, trying to ease the burn in his chest, but even breathing reminded him something wasn't right.
A soft mechanical chime sounded as the door slid open. Dr. Maren stepped in, her white coat trailing behind her like a small flag announcing news she wished she didn't have to give. The medic wasn't dramatic by nature, but she was honest, painfully honest.
