Sera's Pov
The morning came faster than I had anticipated.
I had barely slept, my mind caught in a restless storm of thoughts—Lucian's dream visit, his warning about Kael, the harsh reality of today's event. But exhaustion wasn't an excuse. I had trained for this. I had sacrificed sleep, endured Kael's grueling sessions, and now, it was time to prove myself.
I got dressed quickly, slipping into my standard fighting gear—black fitted pants and a sleeveless top that allowed for unrestricted movement. My fingers instinctively traced my arms, where faint bruises from Kael's sparring still lingered. Proof of my efforts.
Taking a deep breath, I made my way to the training grounds.
The tension in the air was suffocating.
The usual chatter and mindless boasting were absent, replaced by an oppressive silence. Warriors moved with stiff determination, stretching or sharpening their weapons, eyes set ahead in quiet focus. Others, those who knew their odds of winning were slim, stood still—watching, waiting, dreading.
I scanned the grounds, looking for Kael, and found him standing near the edge of the circle drawn for the matches, hands lazily tucked in his pockets. He wasn't stretching or preparing like the others. He didn't need to.
When he noticed me, his lips quirked into an easy smirk. "Finally, you're here."
"I was always going to be here," I replied, stopping beside him. "I don't exactly have a choice."
He hummed in agreement, tilting his head toward the circle. "Fights are about to start. We go later, by the way. Second to last for me, last for you."
I blinked. "Last?"
Kael shrugged. "Seems Lucian wanted you to have a show." His tone was light, but his eyes sharpened for a fraction of a second.
I exhaled through my nose. Of course.
Before I could say anything else, movement at the far end of the training grounds caught my attention.
Lucian had arrived.
The effect was immediate. Warriors straightened, conversations cut short, and even the instructors subtly adjusted their postures.
He walked with unshaken confidence, his golden eyes sweeping across the grounds like he was assessing the worth of every single person here.
I refused to let my eyes linger on him for too long. Not after last night.
Lucian's gaze flickered toward where Kael and I stood. His eyes met mine for a fleeting second—then shifted to Kael.
Kael, who had yet to acknowledge his presence at all.
The tension between them was almost invisible. But I could feel it.
Lucian's jaw ticked before he finally looked away, turning his attention to the competition.
The first match began.
The fights were brutal.
Some warriors chose spears, others daggers, while a few relied solely on their fists. The rules were clear—anything was allowed, so long as it couldn't cause fatal injuries. But that didn't mean mercy was given.
One by one, they stepped forward, facing their chosen opponents.
One fight involved a warrior with twin daggers, using speed and agility to dance around his opponent, slicing at exposed skin in quick, shallow cuts until he finally struck a finishing blow to the ribs.
Another battle was pure brute force—two massive warriors wielding heavy axes, their strikes sending echoes through the ground. Their fight ended in a violent clash, one managing to disarm the other before slamming him to the ground.
Blood stained the dirt. Some warriors limped away, clutching their injuries. Others had to be dragged out by medics.
And still, Lucian watched. Unmoved.
I swallowed the unease building in my throat.
The fights continued, each one a test of strength, skill, and resilience. The trainees were restless, murmurs rippling through as one match ended and another began.
Then, finally, a name was called.
Kael's turn.
He let out a breath, rolled his shoulders, and finally—finally—looked toward Lucian.
Lucian's face remained unreadable.
Kael smirked, then turned to me. "Wish me luck."
I raised an eyebrow. "Like you need it."
He chuckled. "True." And with that, he stepped into the circle.