Vera stared blankly at the training ground entrance as the door slowly closed behind Astraea and Rowan.
The heavy wooden door shut with a dull sound that echoed briefly through the now quiet training ground.
For a few moments, she remained standing there without moving.
The afternoon wind drifted across the open grounds, carrying grains of sand over the damaged arena where cracks still covered parts of the stone floor from her earlier beating.
Nina was still rubbing her sore shoulder nearby while the guards finally relaxed now that Astraea had left.
Vera lowered her gaze slightly.
Well...
It wasn't entirely my plan, though.
She thought to herself as memories from the Trial Base surfaced in her mind.
The beginning of everything.
The moment the entire plan was laid out.
***
Back then, Vera had met Ezra in his usual corner of the library inside the Trial Base.
The library was quiet as always.
