Farm

Tao Yang headed forward without a second glance, her posture rigid with purpose. The Jade Dragon, ever composed, moved alongside her, while the Fire King, who had just arrived, descended in a burst of flames. He shot Meng Hao a mocking smirk, the flames dancing in his eyes as though daring him to react.

"Calm down," I said quietly, sensing the familiar rise of tension.

Meng Hao's reply was steady, devoid of the usual anger that used to grip him so easily. "I am calm," he said, his voice controlled. "There are times to fight, and this isn't one of them."

It was a surprising display of self-restraint. Progress, I thought, noting how different he seemed from the man I first knew. He was growing, learning when to pick his battles.