The training courtyard was quiet that morning.
No swords clashed.
No orders barked.
No sparring dummies exploded into hay.
Instead, Kael stood in full armor, facing down his most unpredictable opponent yet:
His little sister.
Rin Vaelthorn, ten years younger, two feet shorter, and currently holding a thick, ribbon-bound notebook with an inkwell feather clipped to the spine.
"You're wearing a breastplate," she said flatly. "For a dating lesson."
Kael crossed his arms. "You've attacked me with flour bombs before. I'm not taking chances."
"You still owe me for that ceiling repaint."
"That was your fault. You summoned the fire pigeon."
"I was experimenting with romance spells!"
Kael exhaled. "Which part of that sounds sane to you?"
---
Lesson One – Proximity Breeds Intimacy
Rin flipped open the notebook and cleared her throat like a military general.
"Lesson One: Proximity breeds intimacy. Basic romance physics. Two people standing closer have a statistically higher chance of falling in love."
Kael frowned. "That sounds like fake data."
"I read it in a romance novel."
Kael looked around. "We're in a training ground. There are no chairs."
"Then stand awkwardly close to someone while saying something emotionally sincere."
"That's weird."
"It works."
Kael sighed.
Rin raised her voice. "Lyra!"
From the barracks entrance, Lyra paused mid-step, chewing a piece of dried fruit.
She spotted the scene: Kael in armor, Rin in lecture mode, and narrowed her eyes.
"…No."
"Yes," Rin countered, "You're the romantic target subject."
Kael muttered, "Why did I agree to this again?"
Lyra walked over slowly, warily. "Because you're curious about what happens when you try something outside your control."
"I really should stop encouraging her," Kael said.
Rin ignored both of them. "Now—stand within arm's reach. No less. And Kael, say something meaningful."
Kael looked at Lyra.
Her face was unreadable, like always, but her arms were crossed just tightly enough to register mild embarrassment.
"…Your glaive work's improved," Kael said.
Rin facepalmed. "No! That's a combat compliment! Try again. Something with emotion."
Kael hesitated.
"You always fight like no one else matters," he said, softer this time. "But when you're near me, I don't want you in danger. I think about that."
Lyra blinked.
Rin dropped her pen in shock.
"…Whoa," she whispered. "We're skipping to Lesson Nine."
---
Lesson Two – Shared Peril Creates Bonding
Rin recomposed herself. "Next: Lesson Two. Shared danger accelerates romantic tension."
Kael tilted his head. "Are you planning to throw wild animals at us again?"
"No. I just forgot to lock the garden door where Father's hawk sleeps. It might be loose."
"You—RIN."
Just then, a loud screech echoed through the courtyard.
A black blur dive-bombed overhead.
Lyra calmly took out a throwing knife.
"…That's not a hawk."
"I may have also left the tower gate open," Rin said quickly. "Improvisation required."
The hawk dived again.
Kael yanked Lyra to the side.
They rolled together behind a training post—Lyra half on top of him.
They paused.
Their faces were inches apart.
Kael looked up at her, dazed.
She didn't move.
The hawk circled and flew off.
"…You good?" she asked quietly.
He nodded.
Rin poked her head around the pillar.
"That was incredible. You two are progressing emotionally at record speed."
Kael muttered, "I'm bleeding. From my dignity."
---
Lesson Three – The Eye Contact Exercise
"Lesson Three!" Rin called, flipping a page. "Unspoken tension through sustained eye contact."
Kael groaned. "We're not doing this."
Lyra sat down on the bench nearby. "No, I want to see how long you last."
Rin grinned. "Yes! Sit across from each other. No blinking for ten seconds."
Kael sat.
Silence.
They stared.
Four seconds in, Lyra tilted her head slightly.
Kael blinked.
"Ha!" she said.
"Dammit."
"Again," Rin ordered.
They tried again.
This time Kael held longer.
His mind wandered—her eyes were sharp, dark, and unreadable, as always. But today, something shimmered behind them. Warm amusement.
Ten seconds passed.
Twelve.
Fourteen.
Lyra blinked.
"…Okay, that's cheating," she muttered, looking away.
Kael smirked. "Progress."
Rin scribbled furiously.
> "Observation: Eye contact sustains at 14.7 seconds before retreat. High romantic tension confirmed."
---
Lesson Four – Physical Reassurance
"Final lesson," Rin announced, "is physical reassurance. You must initiate contact that conveys comfort and sincerity."
Kael froze. "Like a hug?"
Rin beamed. "Exactly!"
Lyra shifted.
"Kael," Rin said, "offer a light shoulder touch. Nothing weird. Just emotionally honest."
Kael slowly reached out toward Lyra's shoulder.
She narrowed her eyes.
"If you flinch, I'll break your wrist," she warned.
Kael paused.
"I'm starting to see why I'm emotionally stunted."
Rin tapped her quill. "Touch her, coward."
He gently laid his hand on Lyra's shoulder.
For a moment, she didn't move.
Then, slowly, she placed her hand on his.
Not pushing it away.
Just… resting there.
Kael looked at her.
She looked at him.
Then she stood up abruptly. "I'm going back to training."
And walked off—faster than usual.
Kael sat frozen for another minute.
"…What just happened?" he whispered.
Rin grinned.
"You passed."
---
Final Scene – Rin's Research Diary
That night, Rin sat curled under her blankets, scribbling into her velvet-bound notebook.
> "Kael's romantic resistance continues to collapse. Direct exposure to Lyra causes short-term coherence loss."
> "Lyra's reaction is defensive but softening. Blush levels: minimal but present."
She paused, smiling to herself.
> "Conclusion: If left unsupervised, these two will either get married or explode."
She clicked her pen closed.
Tomorrow: pastry-based conflict resolution.
---
End of Chapter 74