The training room buzzed faintly with energy, the shimmering runic circuits embedded in its walls casting a soft glow across the space. Kael stood near the weapons rack, his fingers brushing against the hilts of the swords lined up in perfect order. After a moment of hesitation, he picked up a training sword. The grip felt solid in his hand, and he gave it a quick swing. The weight was familiar—comforting, even—but it wasn't enough. Not anymore.
His gaze lingered on the blade as he turned it over in his hands. The sharp clang of metal rang in his mind, a memory of his last spar with Father. He could still feel the sting of failure, the moment when his sword had been knocked from his grasp. That single moment had decided the match. Without his weapon, he'd been defenseless—a vulnerability he couldn't allow himself to face again.
Kael slid the sword into its holder on his belt and crouched down, his attention shifting to the lower shelves of the weapons rack. His eyes landed on a pair of gauntlets—sleek and well-worn, their metallic surface faintly etched with intricate patterns. He picked them up, turning them over in his hands. They felt sturdy yet light, and he could already imagine the weight on his forearms, the solid reassurance of having a backup plan.
The sword is my weapon of choice, he thought, sliding one gauntlet onto his arm. But if it fails me, I'm not going to let that be the end of the fight. Not again.
He tightened the straps, flexing his fingers experimentally. The gauntlets added a sense of security that the sword alone couldn't provide. In a fight, having options wasn't just a luxury—it was a necessity.
"Still deciding?" Elara's voice cut through his thoughts, cold and faintly mocking. She stood a few paces away, her arms crossed and her expression as sharp as the weapons on the rack.
"I'm done," Kael said, standing and adjusting the second gauntlet. His voice was calm, almost indifferent, as he turned to face her. The faintest smirk tugged at his lips. "I just like to be prepared."
Elara didn't respond. She stepped past him toward the rack, her movements deliberate. Without a word, she selected a slender rapier and gave it a quick, precise flourish, the polished blade catching the light. Her smirk returned, colder this time, before she turned and moved toward the center of the room.
Kael followed, his fingers brushing the hilt of his sword as he adjusted the fit of his gauntlets. He could feel the weight of Father's lessons pressing on him—not just the physical exertion but the unspoken reminder that failure came from complacency. This time, he'd be ready.
The sound of footsteps broke the quiet. Darius approached with his usual measured pace, his presence commanding instant silence. He studied them both, his gaze lingering on Kael's dual choice of weaponry before shifting to the rapier in Elara's hand.
"Good," Darius said simply, his tone carrying an unspoken challenge. "Let's begin."
The training room stilled, the faint hum of energy from the walls fading into the background as Kael and Elara faced each other. They stood a few paces apart, their weapons steady in their hands, the air between them charged not only with tension but with a faint shimmer of elemental power. Darius stood off to the side, his arms crossed as he watched them with sharp, unwavering eyes. This wasn't just a sparring session—it was a test, and they both knew it.
Kael adjusted his grip on the sword, its familiar weight grounding him. His gauntlets, light yet firm on his forearms, gleamed faintly in the room's artificial glow. Across from him, Elara stood poised, the rapier in her hand an extension of her cold, calculating presence. Her sharp green eyes pierced him, dissecting his stance, his movements, his every breath—searching relentlessly for even the smallest weakness. Around her, the faintest stirrings of air began to shift, the currents brushing against her like unseen allies.
"Ready?" Darius's voice cut through the silence, a low rumble that demanded attention.
Kael nodded, a sharp movement. He could already feel the moisture in the air responding to his will, a faint shimmer of water gathering at his fingertips as he prepared himself. Elara didn't bother to respond, her stance shifting subtly as she prepared to move. Darius's hand dropped, and the spar began.
Elara moved first, closing the gap between them with startling speed. Her rapier flicked forward in a blur of silver, the tip aimed for his shoulder. Kael barely had time to react, bringing his sword up in a hasty parry that sent the blade skittering to the side. At the same time, he released a burst of water, a thin spray meant to disorient her.
Elara sidestepped effortlessly, her movements fluid and controlled. The wind around her rippled in response, dispersing the water before it could reach her. She pressed the attack, her strikes precise and unrelenting. Each thrust of her rapier seemed to be accompanied by a sharp gust, the currents slicing through the air as if to amplify her blade.
Kael backpedaled, his boots scuffing against the adaptive floor. He deflected her next thrust and tried to counter with a diagonal slash, but Elara twisted out of the way, her movements too quick to follow. Her green eyes gleamed as she circled him, the air around her stirring with quiet menace.
"She's testing me," Kael realized, his thoughts sharp and focused even as he fought to keep up. "Not just with her sword—with her wind magic too. She's waiting for me to make a mistake."
His grip tightened on the sword. He shifted his stance, planting his feet more firmly as he reached out with his own mana. The moisture in the air thickened, droplets coalescing around him in a shimmering barrier. Elara's next strike glanced off the watery shield, her rapier meeting unexpected resistance.
She stepped back, her smirk faint but cold. With a sharp flick of her wrist, she summoned a gust of wind, the currents slicing through Kael's barrier and scattering the water into a fine mist.
Kael didn't give her a chance to press the advantage. He lunged forward, swinging his sword in a tight arc. Elara parried with ease, but Kael was already moving, using the momentum to unleash a spiral of water from his free hand. The torrent surged toward her, forcing her to leap backward to avoid it.
Her movements were swift, almost effortless, the wind carrying her just out of reach. She landed lightly, the currents around her swirling in agitation. With a sharp gesture, she sent a burst of air toward Kael, the force slamming into his chest and driving him back a step. His boots slid against the floor, but he kept his footing, his gauntlets glowing faintly as he funneled more energy into them.
Elara advanced again, her rapier darting toward him with unerring precision. Kael blocked with his sword, the clang of metal ringing out in the still air. At the same time, he lashed out with a gauntleted fist, the water-enhanced strike sending a shockwave rippling outward.
Elara ducked, the wind whipping around her in a defensive spiral that deflected the force. She used the momentum to pivot, her blade slicing toward Kael's exposed side. The air around her grew sharper, the currents coiling like snakes ready to strike.
Kael's jaw tightened, but he didn't falter. He drew the moisture around him into spiraling tendrils, the droplets hovering protectively at his sides. Elara's smirk deepened, her green eyes gleaming as she began her next attack, the air and tension around them growing electric.
Kael's instincts roared to life. He dropped his sword.
The clang of metal hitting the floor echoed around the room as Kael pivoted on his back foot. His gauntleted hand lashed out, catching the rapier mid-thrust. The impact jarred his arm, but he held firm, twisting sharply to knock the blade off course.
Elara's green eyes narrowed, her expression unreadable as she pulled back. The wind around her grew wild, swirling with unrestrained energy. Kael raised his gauntlets, his water tendrils coiling tighter as he prepared for the next strike.
"Enough!" Darius's voice rang out, sharp and commanding. The spar came to an abrupt halt, both of them freezing mid-motion. Elara lowered her rapier, stepping back with a fluid grace that only emphasized how untouched she was by the fight.
Kael straightened, his chest heaving as he flexed his fingers. His gauntlets were scuffed, his sword forgotten on the floor behind him, but he was still standing. He met Elara's gaze, her smirk faint but triumphant, and forced himself to stay calm.
"Not bad," she said, her tone neutral but with a glint of something—respect, perhaps—hidden behind her cold exterior.
Kael didn't respond. He turned to face Darius, his father's expression unreadable as he stepped forward.
"We'll stop here," Darius said, his gaze sweeping over both of them. "You've improved, but there's still much to learn."
Kael nodded, his jaw tight, but his mind was already racing. This wasn't the end. Not even close.