The Gift That Crossed the Ocean
Kimora, Africa.
Floating just above the haze, the late sun painted stretched-out glimmers of gold over the yard where the D'Aurelius outpost stood, tucked into a foreign town. While dust swirled near broken fences, light traced every edge of the quiet building managing faraway deals.
Fingers of heat traced Shera's skin as he waited in the open yard. Droplets rolled slow from his brow, cutting paths through dust on his face.
Breath after breath, his chest lifted then dropped. Then again it swelled beneath the weight of air rushing in.
One hundred push-ups.
One hundred sit-ups.
One hundred squats.
And finally—
A brutal ten-kilometer run beneath the scorching Kimoran sun.
Shera bent slightly, hands resting on his knees as he caught his breath. His muscles trembled from exhaustion, yet his eyes burned with determination.
