The training yard was silent.
Not the peaceful kind of silence.
The kind that comes before something dangerous.
Wind moved slowly through the trees surrounding the estate, carrying the scent of rain and cold earth.
Arinya tightened her grip on the wooden sword.
Across from her stood the vampire heir, looking completely relaxed.
Too relaxed.
Like he was watching a performance instead of standing in a fight.
Kael stepped forward immediately.
"This isn't happening."
The vampire didn't look at him.
His eyes remained locked on Arinya.
"She accepted."
Kael's voice hardened.
"She doesn't understand what she's agreeing to."
Arinya exhaled slowly.
"I understand enough."
Kael turned to her.
"Do you?"
She met his gaze.
"You said if I'm going to survive what's coming, I need to know what I can do."
Kael's jaw tightened.
"…Against him?"
Arinya glanced back at the vampire.
The thin scar on his cheek from last night was still visible.
Her cut.
Her first real strike.
Her chest tightened slightly at the memory.
I actually hurt him.
The vampire noticed her looking.
His smile returned.
"You're thinking too loudly."
Arinya blinked.
"…What?"
He tapped his temple.
"Your face gives everything away."
She frowned.
"Good to know."
Kael stepped between them again.
"This fight ends the moment I say it does."
The vampire shrugged.
"If that helps you sleep."
Kael glared at him.
Then turned to Arinya.
"…Do not hold back."
Her eyebrows lifted.
"I thought you didn't want me fighting him."
"I don't."
Kael stepped away slowly.
"But if you're going to do something reckless…"
His voice lowered.
"…do it properly."
Arinya took a breath.
The yard suddenly felt much smaller.
The vampire heir stretched his neck slightly like someone preparing for exercise.
"Ready?"
Arinya raised the wooden sword.
"Not really."
The vampire laughed.
"Perfect."
Then he vanished.
Arinya's eyes widened.
Too fast—
A blur moved to her left.
She turned instinctively and swung.
The wooden sword cut through the air.
The vampire appeared a few steps away again.
Untouched.
He nodded approvingly.
"Better reflexes than last night."
Arinya exhaled sharply.
"Stop moving like that."
He tilted his head.
"Like what?"
"Like a glitch."
He chuckled.
"Noted."
Then he moved again.
This time Arinya felt the shift in the air before she saw him.
Her body reacted instantly.
She stepped back and swung downward.
The wooden blade collided with something solid.
CRACK
The sound echoed across the yard.
The vampire caught the sword with his hand.
Arinya froze.
"…You're kidding."
He looked at the weapon in his palm.
"Wood?"
Then he gently pushed the sword aside.
Arinya stumbled back.
Her thoughts raced.
He's not even trying.
The vampire sighed.
"You're focusing on the weapon too much."
"Excuse me?"
He pointed at her chest.
"The power is there."
Arinya blinked.
"What power?"
He gave her a look.
"The one that woke up during the eclipse."
Her grip tightened.
"I can't control that."
The vampire stepped closer.
"Then stop trying to control it."
Her heart skipped.
"…What?"
"Feel it instead."
Kael watched silently from the edge of the yard.
His eyes narrowed slightly.
Arinya hesitated.
Her thoughts spiraled.
Feel it?
What does that even mean?
But the memory of the shadow blade flashed through her mind.
The mist.
The energy.
The instinct.
Her breathing slowed.
She closed her eyes for a moment.
And listened.
At first there was nothing.
Just her heartbeat.
Then—
A faint pulse inside her veins.
Like something responding to her attention.
Her eyes opened slowly.
The vampire's smile grew.
"There it is."
Arinya lifted her hand slightly.
The air around her fingers darkened.
Thin strands of shadow began to curl around her palm.
Kael straightened immediately.
The vampire chuckled softly.
"Now we're getting somewhere."
Arinya stared at the swirling mist.
Her voice came out quieter than expected.
"…I didn't do this on purpose."
"You don't have to."
The shadow thickened.
Her heart began beating faster again.
But this time it wasn't fear.
It felt… powerful.
The vampire leaned forward slightly.
"Attack."
Arinya swung.
The shadow followed the motion instinctively.
A dark arc of energy slashed through the air.
The vampire barely dodged.
For the first time—
His expression changed.
Not amusement.
Interest.
He landed a few feet away.
"…Impressive."
Arinya stared at her hand.
The shadows were still moving.
Still listening.
Still alive.
Her inner thoughts whispered in disbelief.
Did I really just do that?
The vampire brushed dust from his sleeve.
"You learn quickly."
Kael's voice cut through the yard.
"That's enough."
But the vampire raised a hand.
"Wait."
His eyes stayed on Arinya.
"You felt it, didn't you?"
She nodded slowly.
"…Yeah."
He smiled.
"Good."
Arinya frowned.
"What do you mean good?"
The vampire pointed at her.
"Because now you know the truth."
Her stomach tightened.
"What truth?"
His red eyes glowed faintly.
"You're not just someone who awakened during the eclipse."
The shadows around her hand swirled faster.
"You're something much rarer."
Arinya felt the energy in her veins pulse again.
"…What are you talking about?"
The vampire heir's smile widened.
"The Shadow Eclipse didn't just choose you."
He took a step closer.
"It recognized you."
The wind rushed through the trees.
The shadows around Arinya's hand flared slightly.
And Kael realized something that made his blood run cold.
Because if the vampire heir was right—
Then this wasn't just an awakening.
It was something much older.
Something that hadn't appeared in centuries.