Chapter 32

After weeks of intense training with Lila Kim, Alex felt the pull of normalcy stronger than ever. Despite the weight of the amulet and the responsibility it carried, there was a part of him that longed for the routine and comfort of school life. He missed the hallways of the school, the buzz of chatter, the laughter, and even the classes. But most of all, he missed the idea of what his life had been before everything changed—the days when his biggest problem had been dealing with bullies like Victor, not fighting off dangerous assassins.

Lila, of course, had been hesitant. She had seen what Alex was up against, the forces that were out there. For her, sending Alex back into the normal world without fully mastering his abilities seemed reckless. But Alex had insisted. He needed balance, needed to feel like himself again.

One late evening, after a grueling training session where Lila had pushed Alex to his limits, he finally broached the topic. Samira was off resting, and the campfi