Seven days after leaving the hospital, Rama stood in Eternal Bond's rebuilt training hall, watching fourteen Champions execute coordination drills. His ribs still ached—a constant reminder that Champion healing, while faster than normal, wasn't instantaneous. Two weeks to fully recover, the doctors had said. He had ten days until Herald.
Mathematics didn't favor him.
"Again," he called out as Dewi's timing lagged by half a second. "Herald won't wait for you to catch up. Synchronization has to be perfect."
Dewi reset her position, frustration visible but controlled. The Champions had been training relentlessly since the Dragon's Gate attack. All of them understood what was coming. March 40th. Ten days away. The prophecy that would vindicate or destroy everything.
Sekar entered the training hall, tablet in hand, expression tense. Rama recognized that look—bad news incoming.
"Break," he told the Champions. "Fifteen minutes. Hydrate. Review the sequence mentally."
