Dawn barely painted the sky when Elio and his team gathered at the inner base of the wall. The crisp morning air made them shiver, but their eyes gleamed with determination.
"Alright, team," Elio began, his voice firm yet warm. "Today we'll practice what will bring you back to the top of the wall. Bring out your swifts. Ready for some climbing?"
One by one, the swifts appeared, fluttering around their summoners.
Kriz, unable to contain his enthusiasm, leaped forward. "We were born ready! Although, technically, we were born to stay inside the walls, so I guess we're defying our destiny. Does that make us cosmic rebels?"
Brok grunted, but a smile tugged at his lips. "If being a cosmic rebel involves listening to you philosophize, I'd rather stay on the ground."
Micah, with his characteristic sarcasm, added: "Oh, come on, Brok. Don't you want to be part of the great rebellion against gravity? It'll be fun, I promise."