My legs carried me swiftly across the training grounds, my heart lightened by the progress I'd made. Confidence surged through me as I wiped the sweat from my brow.
But as I turned a corner, my gaze caught on Xavier. His silhouette was unmistakable against the sunset, his broad shoulders weighed down by the pack slung across his back. I blinked in surprise. He was supposed to be gone for a year on a mission, and yet, here he was.
Something in his posture stopped me from calling out immediately. He looked different. He seemed… sad. My chest tightened.
I softly called out, "Xavier!"
He heard me. I could tell by the slight shift in his shoulders, the way his steps faltered for a split second. But he didn't turn around. He kept walking, his eyes set forward as though he were heading somewhere far, far away from me.
"Xavier, wait!" I called again, hurrying after him. His pace remained steady, as if he were torn between stopping and moving away.
