Lienna.
My mind reeled as I stared after him. Sword fighting? Was he serious? I’d never even held a sword before, let alone fought with one.
Caspian stopped a few paces away, turning to face me. “First, we need to get you comfortable with the sword’s weight and balance.”
He strode back to me, taking the sword from my trembling hands. “Hold it like this,” he instructed, guiding my hands into position.
His touch sent shivers down my spine, but I pushed aside the distraction, focusing on the lesson.
“Now, try to lift it,” he said, stepping back.
I gripped the hilt, taking a deep breath. The sword felt heavier than before, but I refused to drop it again. With a grunt, I lifted it, wobbling slightly.
Caspian’s eyes narrowed. “Steady…”
I bit my lip, concentrating on keeping the sword upright. This was just the beginning, and I had a feeling it would be a very long day.
“Your stance is wrong,” Caspian muttered, his eyes scrutinizing me. I flushed deeply, breathing heavily. My shoulders were starting to ache from holding the sword. He walked behind me, adjusting my posture with firm hands. “Shoulders back, feet shoulder-width apart,” he instructed.
Stepping back, he examined me critically. “Now, try swinging it.”
I lifted the blade, swinging it from left to right. The motion sent me stumbling forward, and I barely caught myself in time. Caspian’s narrowed eyes seemed to bore into my soul.
“You’re terrible at this,” he stated bluntly. “Is the blade too heavy?”
I shook my head hastily, despite my shoulders screaming in protest. Lowering the sword, I hesitated, but Caspian’s glare made me raise it high once more. I didn’t want to get on his bad side too quickly.
“Keep swinging,” he ordered, gesturing with his head. I exhaled sharply and swung the sword again, swaying slightly but regaining my footing faster this time.
Caspian watched intently, his expression unyielding. “You’re holding the sword wrong,” he muttered after a few swings. “And your stance is back to being horrible.”
He stepped forward, adjusting my grip and posture once more. I continued swinging, straining to maintain proper form and summon all my strength. But fatigue soon took its toll. My swings grew wild, and I staggered with each attempt.
Caspian’s eyes flashed with a mixture of frustration and amusement. Finally, he’d had enough. “That’s enough,” he declared, folding his arms.
“Now, charge forward.”
I stuttered, confused. “W-what?”
“Charge forward,” Caspian repeated, his voice firm. “At me.”
My eyes widened in alarm. “A-at you?” I repeated, sword trembling in my hand.
Caspian nodded, his gaze never leaving mine. “Attack me.” My mind reeled. Was he serious? Attack a shifter king? I hesitated, unsure what to do. But Caspian’s expectant gaze brooked no refusal. Taking a deep breath, I steeled myself.
Here goes nothing. I charged forward, sword raised, and my heart pounding in my chest. Right away, my legs gave out as I stumbled on a rock, falling flat on the ground. The sword clattered beside me. Though I’d expected something like this to happen, embarrassment still flushed my cheeks.
I quickly scrambled to my feet, picking up the blade. “Let’s try this again.” I muttered to myself. I charged forward, determined, but Caspian sidestepped me effortlessly. His footwork was fluid, and he placed his foot in my path, sending me tumbling to the ground once more. “Be more aware of your surroundings,” Caspian’s scolding voice echoed through the training grounds.
My face burned hotter. “You keep charging like a blind bull,” he added, shaking his head. I stood up, brushing dirt from my clothes, and retrieved the sword. Tears stung my eyes, but I hastily blinked them back. I couldn’t afford to show weakness.
I turned to face Caspian, meeting his stern gaze. “Again,” he ordered, his calm voice betraying the anger in his eyes. And so we repeated the exercise. Again. And again. And again.
Each failed attempt ended with me sprawled on the ground, Caspian’s criticism piercing my ego like a dagger.
“You’re too slow.”
“Your footing is wrong.”
“Use your hips, not just your arms.”
After countless failed attempts, I lay exhausted, unable to lift a finger. My body ached from head to toe. “I thought you were just teaching me how to use the Moon Goddess’s powers,” I muttered aloud, groaning. “Why am I learning how to fight?”
Caspian’s voice came instantly, his figure looming over me. “You need to gather some physical strength first.” I looked up to find him standing directly in front of me, his eyes intense.
“The Moon Goddess’s powers require balance physical and mental,” he explained. “You can’t harness her energy if you’re fragile.” I nodded, understanding, but my body protested with a thousand complaints.
Caspian offered his hand, helping me up from the ground. When I finally managed to steady myself, he glanced around the training grounds, his eyes surveying the area. “Run three laps around this place,” he instructed, turning his back to me.
Exhausted and disgruntled, I stared after him, my mind rebelling against the task. But I knew better than to disobey. I took a deep breath and began to run, my legs heavy and uncooperative. By the time I stumbled back to the starting point, I was almost passing out. My throat was parched, my entire clothing soaked with sweat. All I wanted was to collapse onto my bed.
But Caspian awaited me, his icy gaze piercing through my exhaustion. He strode towards me, his movements fluid and effortless. Lowering himself lightly so he could be on eye level with me, he muttered, “If you can’t handle three laps around this arena, how would you manage wielding the Moon Goddess’s power?”
His words struck me like a whip, searing me open and filling me with embarrassment. “That thing will kill you before you even begin to use it,” he finished, straightening up. His expression was unforgiving.
“That would be all for today,” he declared, taking several steps back. “You are to resume here as early as possible tomorrow.” With that, he turned and walked away, leaving me alone with my thoughts.
To say I was hurt would be an understatement. Caspian’s words cut deep, but I knew they were necessary. I couldn’t afford to dawdle now. I managed to console myself with that thought and slowly made my way to my room, each step a struggle.
As I entered my room, I collapsed onto my bed, exhausted. But my mind refused to rest, replaying Caspian’s words like a mantra. Mara arrived soon after, carrying a tray of steaming food and a medicinal kit. “How was your training?” she asked, setting the tray beside me.
I sat up, rubbing my eyes. “Horrible…” I muttered, stuffing my mouth with bread and soup. “I can’t believe I’ll be doing this tomorrow. It’s torture.”
Mara smiled sympathetically as she began treating my bruises. “Well… As uncomfortable as it may seem right now, it’s better to have an open mind and do what King Caspian says.”
I winced as she applied balm to my knees and other sore spots. “Why is that?” I asked, curiosity piqued.
Mara shrugged, letting out a breath before speaking. “Neither of the kings will admit it out loud, but there will come a time when they’ll undoubtedly need your help. That is, if they don’t already need it now.”
Her words hung in the air, heavy with implication. We fell silent, while she worked. I thought about Mara’s words, processing the weight of their meaning. Eventually, I let out a sigh, rubbing my tense shoulders.
“That’s probably true,” I admitted, looking up at Mara. A small smile crept onto my face. “Thank you for reminding me, Mara. I’ll keep it in mind.” Mara smiled back, packing up her medicinal kit. “I’m glad you found it useful. Have a good night’s sleep. You’ll need it.”
She stood, and I watched as she walked toward the door.
“Mara?” I called out, remembering my soiled clothes.
“Yes?” she replied, turning back.
“Could you bring some more tunics and breeches? The ones I received are already soiled.”
Mara chuckled. “Of course, I’ll be back in a jiffy.”
With that, Mara left, closing the door behind her. I settled back into bed, my thoughts still reeling from the day’s events. Caspian’s harsh words and Mara’s reassuring ones swirled in my mind, fueling my determination.
Mara returned with the new clothes, taking away my empty dishes. “Sleep well, Lienna,” she said with a smile.
I nodded, grateful. “Thank you, Mara.”
After she left, I tried to settle into sleep, but my mind remained restless, jumping from one scenario to another. Eventually, exhaustion claimed me, and I drifted off to a dreamless sleep.
Very early the next morning, I rose from bed, feeling a mix of anticipation and trepidation. I got ready, donning the fresh clothes Mara had brought. Vefore heading out, I assessed myself in the mirror. My hair was tied back in a ponytail, and my attire was practical yet comfortable.
Satisfied, I made my way to the training grounds. The crisp morning air invigorated me as I began jogging around the arena. I was just ending my second lap when I saw King Caspian approaching. His stride was purposeful, and his eyes gleamed with a hint of excitement.
I slowed to a stop, waiting for him to come closer. As he approached, I bowed, greeting him with respect. “Someone seems very pumped today,” Caspian said, his voice tinged with amusement.
I straightened, my voice slightly breathless. “I am… Your Majesty.” Caspian’s gaze narrowed, scrutinizing me.
“Good, let’s begin.”