Kael dropped his sparring blade after a session, palms bleeding. He barely reacted when Lira rushed to him.
"I'm fine," he said, like it was a rule he'd memorized.
Lira studied his hands—new scars layered over the old. Training didn't do this. Obedience did.
"Whatever Seren's doing to you—"
"I said I'm fine."
Lira bit her lip, hard. She knew now: their system wasn't just built on control. It fed on secrets.
And Kael was choking on one.