Selis strode into the sparring circle, her white cloak flowing behind her like liquid moonlight.
Kazimir followed closely, his footsteps silent but tense against the worn stone floor.
She came to a halt in the center of the ring and turned to face him.
"Now," she said, her voice calm yet firm, "you will show me how skilled you are in close combat. Summon your daggers."
Kazimir inhaled sharply and called upon the shadows.
His black daggers materialized in his hands, the air around them humming faintly, as if the darkness itself recognized its master.
The hilts were cold, the sharp edges gleaming under the soft glow of the training hall.
He tightened his grip.
"I will summon a statue to spar with you," Selis continued. "You may only use close-range weapons. No bows. No shadow tricks. Just you and your blades."
Kazimir nodded, swallowing his nerves.
Selis opened her hand and summoned a white flame.
It flickered and twisted in her palm, slowly shaping itself into something more, a long, thin knife of fire.
Then, without warning, she threw it.
The fire-knife sizzled through the air, streaking toward one of the stone knight statues lining the arena.
The moment it struck, white flames surged through the statue's engravings, igniting its lifeless body.
Its limbs shuddered, stone grinding against stone, as it came alive.
Then, it turned its head and looked at her.
Selis gestured to a nearby rack of wooden swords.
"Grab one," she commanded.
The statue obeyed. It strode toward the rack with mechanical precision, seized a sword, and then turned back to face her.
Kazimir could feel its presence now, cold, unwavering, unshaken by fear, doubt, or pain.
Then Selis pointed directly at him.
"Fight him."
Kazimir tensed instantly.
The moment Selis spoke, the statue moved.
And it moved fast.
It rushed toward him, wooden sword already mid-swing.
Kazimir barely had time to raise his daggers before, CRACK!
The force of the blow sent him stumbling sideways, his boots skidding against the stone.
Even with his enhanced speed and durability, the sheer power behind the strike rattled through his arms.
If that had been a real blade, he would have been cut in half.
But the statue didn't stop.
Before Kazimir could recover, it had already repositioned itself, sword raised for another strike.
Kazimir barely dodged in time, rolling aside just as the wooden sword sliced down where his head had been moments ago.
His breathing quickened.
His heart pounded against his ribs.
This thing was relentless.
The statue lunged again, its sword flashing through the air.
Kazimir twisted to block the attack,
Steel clashed against wood as his daggers met the sword, but the moment their weapons locked,
The statue's other hand shot forward.
A solid stone fist slammed into Kazimir's stomach.
The impact ripped the air from his lungs and sent him flying backward.
The world spun.
His back hit the ground hard, pain jolting through his spine.
His vision blurred for a second,
And then, through the haze, he saw the statue was already upon him, its sword raised high, ready to bring it down upon him.
Kazimir gritted his teeth.
He gripped his daggers, preparing to block and pray,
Kazimir squeezed his eyes shut, waiting for the strike,
And then,
"Stop."
Selis's voice rang out like steel, cutting through the chaos.
When he opened his eyes, Selis was standing between him and the statue, her back turned to him.
She had caught the statue's sword in one hand.
With no effort.
For a moment, the entire room fell silent, save for the faint crackling of dimming white flames.
Then,
"Return to your place," Selis commanded.
The statue obeyed instantly, letting go of its wooden sword and walking back to its original position.
As it settled into stillness, the flames in its engravings faded, leaving it nothing more than lifeless stone once again.
Kazimir lay panting, his chest rising and falling unevenly.
Selis turned toward him.
"Are you alright?" she asked, her tone softer than usual.
Kazimir sat up slowly, his muscles aching, his breath still shaky.
"I… I think so," he muttered, patting himself down, half-expecting to find broken bones.
Selis watched him closely.
Then she sighed.
"I should have assessed your skill level first," she admitted. "I shouldn't have thrown you in like that."
Kazimir shook his head.
"No. It's fine," he said. "It's not your fault I'm weak."
Selis's expression didn't change, but for a brief moment, something in her silver eyes darkened.
Then, without a word, she extended a hand toward him.
Kazimir hesitated, then took it.
Her grip was strong, firm, effortlessly pulling him back to his feet.
She brushed some of the dust off his shoulders, then took a step back, arms crossed.
For a second, she said nothing.
Then, her royal voice returned, calm, commanding, unshaken.
"Then I suppose I will have to make you strong."
Kazimir met her gaze.
There was no mockery in her tone. No pity, no disappointment.
Only certainty.
"I will teach you how to fight."
Kazimir exhaled.
His body still ached, his pride was still wounded, but,
A small flicker of determination ignited in his chest.