Inside the main hall, Raviel and Aveline were in the middle of training.
Heavy metal weights were stacked around them.
Raviel was lifting a massive bar across his shoulders, veins slightly visible on his arms.
Aveline stood nearby, calmly adjusting her grip on a weighted staff before swinging it down in a controlled motion.
The sound of footsteps made them both look up.
Rendric and Arvella entered first.
But what made Raviel pause mid-lift was the man walking behind them.
"…Garion?"
He lowered the weight slowly and set it down with a dull thud.
"It's been more than a month since you left," Raviel said, wiping sweat from his forehead.
"What's the matter? Why are you back so early?"
Aveline also stopped her movement.
Her eyes moved past Garion to the group behind him, calm but observant.
Garion smiled lightly. "Relax. Nothing bad."
Raviel crossed his arms. "When you show up suddenly with this many people, it usually means something."
Garion laughed. "Fair point."
