Chapter 155

Lycidas' POV

As I lounged in the forest, the dappled sunlight filtering through the thick canopy above, I idly flicked a stick across the surface of a small stream, watching with mild interest as it bobbed and twirled in the gentle current. Training had been grueling, and I was in dire need of a break. Closing my eyes, I let myself slip into a peaceful lull, my mind wandering.

But even as I allowed myself to relax, my thoughts inevitably drifted to Mia. Her image danced in my mind's eye, her fiery spirit and fierce determination never failing to captivate me. I found myself smiling at the memory of our last encounter, her laughter ringing in my ears like music.

Lost in my reverie, I almost did not notice the subtle shift in the forest around me—the sudden hush that fell over the trees, the faint rustle of underbrush as something large and powerful prowled through the shadows. I glanced up, my senses on high alert, and my heart skipped a beat as I caught sight of two massive bears mov