The journey towards the Capitol was long and grueling.
The group moved quickly, rarely taking breaks. If you didn't want to be left behind, you kept moving.
Each night, under the flickering light of their campfire, Kael felt the growing pressure within him.
The gem hummed, its power constantly clawing at the edges of his consciousness, whispering words of temptation and promises of unimaginable power. But with each passing day, he grew better at controlling it—at least, that's what he told himself.
With each step, they grew closer to their destination. But the Capitol was still much further. Nearly a week according to Ronin, the leader of the Raiders.
The two of them had grown closer as time passed. Ronin made it his goal to prepare Kael for what was to come.
Ronin was relentless in his training, pushing Kael harder than anyone ever had.
"Your training here will be crucial," he had said. "Or else you'll never stand a chance against the Royals."
