05

The sun was rising, but the morning warmth seemed incapable of penetrating the thick stone walls of the castle. I was woken again by Maela, who unceremoniously shoved a breakfast tray toward me.

“The king wishes to see you as soon as you’re ready,” she said, her voice carrying the same severe tone as always.

“Ready for what?” I asked, trying to hide my nervousness.

Maela shot me a short look, as if the answer was obvious. “He is waiting for you in the training arena.”

My stomach tightened. Training? Why would he want me in a place like that? For a moment, I imagined it was another public humiliation, another way for Kaelor to assert his dominance. But something about the way Maela spoke made me hesitate to jump to conclusions.

“You’d better not delay,” she continued. “He’s not in a good mood this morning.”

The corridors seemed longer as I walked, flanked by two guards. Their faces were as expressionless as always, but I could feel the tension in the air. When we finally reached the arena, the sound of clashing swords echoed off the stone, a stark contrast to the silence I had grown accustomed to in the castle.

The arena was open to the sky, the gray clouds above casting a somber light over the soldiers training in groups. Their movements were precise and disciplined. At the center of it all stood Kaelor, observing the duels with an intensity that seemed to carry the weight of the entire training ground.

When he saw me, he signaled for me to approach. A nervous chill ran down my spine, but I forced my feet to move. When I was just a few steps away, he spoke, his voice firm and direct.

“You won’t survive here if you keep relying on your stubbornness,” he said, his eyes locking onto mine. “Today, you’ll learn to fight.”

I blinked, surprised. “Fight? Why?”

Kaelor crossed his arms. “You carry a responsibility greater than you understand, Elara. And the world beyond these walls is unforgiving. If you want to survive, you need to be more than a fragile pawn.”

His words hit like a blow, but I couldn’t deny the truth in them. The castle, with all its political dangers, was only the beginning. I knew that if I ever escaped, I would need to be able to defend myself.

“I didn’t ask for this,” I muttered, more to myself than to him.

“I know,” Kaelor replied, unexpectedly sincere. “But that doesn’t change what’s necessary.”

Before I could respond, he signaled to one of the soldiers, who approached and handed me a sword. It was heavier than I expected, and my clumsy grip on it was evident from the way Kaelor looked at me.

“First, you’ll learn how to hold it properly,” he said, moving to stand beside me. His hands closed over mine, adjusting my grip on the sword. The warmth of his proximity sent a shiver down my spine, but I forced myself to focus on the weapon.

“If you think I’ll use this to fight for you, you’re mistaken,” I said, my tone defiant.

“I don’t expect you to fight for me,” Kaelor replied, his voice calm but firm. “I expect you to fight for yourself.”

The next few hours were exhausting. Kaelor didn’t just oversee my training—he corrected every movement, every mistake, with a patience I didn’t know he possessed. His tone was never gentle, but it wasn’t cruel either. He spoke with the authority of someone who knew what he was doing, and as much as I hated to admit it, I was learning.

When I finally stopped to catch my breath, my body was sore, my muscles burning from the effort. Kaelor approached, handing me a canteen of water. I hesitated before taking it, but thirst won over pride.

“Why does this matter so much to you?” I asked, looking at him as I drank.

Kaelor crossed his arms again, his gaze dark and distant. “Because the world doesn’t forgive weakness, Elara. And I cannot allow you to be weak.”

There was something in his tone that made my breath catch. It wasn’t just about me. There was something deeper in his words, something he wasn’t saying.

“You think I’ll run,” I said, testing his reaction.

Kaelor tilted his head slightly, a cold smile playing on his lips. “Maybe. But if you run, at least you’ll be prepared for what awaits you.”

Those words stayed with me as the training continued, each movement leaving me more tired but also more determined. Kaelor might be cruel, but there was a strange sense of protection in his actions—something I wasn’t sure I wanted to understand.

When the sun began to set, Kaelor finally dismissed me. He walked with me to the castle entrance, his gaze serious but less cold than I was used to.

“You did well today,” he said, the praise sounding strange coming from him.

“It wasn’t for you,” I quickly replied, my voice defiant.

Kaelor smirked slightly but didn’t respond. He turned and disappeared down the corridors as I made my way back to my chambers. Despite the ache in every muscle of my body, a small spark of pride began to grow within me.

For the first time, I felt that maybe I could truly fight. Maybe I could survive. And one day, maybe I could win.