Lienna.
“Lienna,” A soldier called out loudly, his voice breaking the stillness of the dawn. I stirred, groggily opening my eyes to find the tent’s canvas illuminated by the faint light of morning.
Luckily, there had been no surprise attack throughout the night, but now, by dawn’s early light, I had to wake up early for my training. It had been weeks out in the open, and as much as I would have liked to believe I was already used to living like this, I still found waking up very early in the morning jarring.
Letting out a yawn, I rubbed the sleep from my eyes and swung my legs over the side of the cot. The chill in the air made me shiver, but I knew it was just a matter of time before the physical exertion of training would have me sweating buckets.
I washed my face with the icy water from the nearby bowl, the shock helping to clear my mind. Running a hand through my tangled hair, I swiftly braided it into a tight bun, securing it with a leather tie. Being in this campaign had taught me that people cared less about appearance as the days went by; I found myself caring less about it too, focusing instead on what I could offer.
Once I finished dressing in the simple tunic and leggings that had become my uniform, I stepped out of my tent and found a soldier waiting for me. His expression was neutral, but his eyes held a flicker of curiosity.
“Ready?” he asked, falling into step beside me.
I nodded, and he led me to the makeshift arena we would be using for our training. The dawn light cast long shadows across the cleared area, and I could see Caspian, Adonis, and Hermes already waiting, their faces stern and focused.
The morning chill seeped into my bones as I approached, but I steeled myself for the trials ahead. Today would be the day they assessed my abilities, determined my worth to their war effort. My heart quickened with anticipation and nerves.
As I entered the arena, Caspian’s gaze met mine, his eyes narrowing slightly. “Let’s begin,” he said, his voice crisp and commanding.
I took a deep breath, squaring my shoulders. It was time to prove myself.
The grueling session began, and my body was pushed to its limits. Caspian put me through a series of physical exercises, stretching my muscles to the point of exhaustion. I ran laps around the arena, my feet pounding the dry earth, and my lungs burning from the exertion.
Next came the sword fighting session, and my heart sank. If they were impressed or repulsed by what was happening, I wouldn’t know with the impassive expressions on their faces, offering no hint of encouragement or criticism. I tried to ignore them, focusing on the task at hand.
Caspian, on the other hand, was relentless. His sword clashed with mine, the sound echoing through the arena. I stumbled backward, my defense wavering, but I refused to yield. With each strike, I regained my footing, my determination growing.
By morning, we were done with the preparations. I collapsed onto the ground, gasping for air, my muscles screaming in protest. Caspian nodded curtly, allowing me a short break.
As I sat, sipping water from a canteen, Hermes and Adonis approached. Their expressions remained neutral, but their eyes seemed to hold a glimmer of interest.
“You’re holding up well,” Adonis said, his voice low.
I nodded, still catching my breath.
The break ended all too soon, and we resumed training. This time, the focus was entirely on my sword fighting skills. I knew I’d made significant progress. My movements were precise and calculated, no longer wild and uncontrolled.
Caspian pressed me hard, but I held my ground. Our swords danced, the clash of steel on steel ringing out. Sweat dripped down my face, but I grinned, exhilarated.
Though I knew Caspian was being gentle with me, the fact that I could hold my own against him filled me with immense pride. For the first time, I felt like a true warrior, not just a novice struggling to survive.
As we finished, Caspian nodded, a hint of approval in his eyes. “You’ve come a long way, Lienna.” Then, he stepped forward, his expression turning thoughtful. “Now it’s time to test how you do with the moon goddess powers.” He announced.
I froze, all the blood rushing away from my face at the statement. I had seen it coming, yet I was still shocked that it was indeed happening. Letting go of the sword, I came back to the center of the training ground, watching as Caspian crossed his arms, watching me.
Once I got into position, Caspian began to walk around me, his boots scuffling against the dry earth. “The moon goddess’s power is dynamic,” he said, his voice low and deliberate, “which means it can be used in countless ways.”
As he spoke, he circled behind me, his presence radiating an aura of calm authority. “It can be used for healing, protection, defense, and attack.”
Soon, he reappeared in front of me, his massive frame towering over me, casting a shadow that stretched across the ground. His eyes locked onto mine, their intensity making my pulse race.
“You’ve experienced the healing nature of the moon goddess’s power,” he said, his voice steady. “You’ve also witnessed its protective nature. Now, it’s time for you to experience the defensive and attacking aspects of this power.”
As he stepped away from me, I noticed three young sentries entering the training ground. Each was armed with wooden swords and stretching their bodies, their movements fluid and practiced.
My heart pounded in my chest, and my fingers turned cold. A sinking feeling had begun to bubble from the bottom of my stomach.
“These three will launch an attack on you,” Caspian announced, his voice firm but measured. “You need to not only defend yourself with the moon goddess’s power but also deliver an attack.”
I swallowed hard, my mouth dry. This was it the moment I’d been training for. The moment I’d face the true test of my abilities.
“Don’t worry about how much powers you use. We’ll be here to care of you. Just make sure you don’t over exert yourself. Your job now is to defend and attack. Do you understand?”
“Yes, master.” I said, my voice surprisingly firm.
The sentries began to fan out, forming a semi-circle around me. Their eyes were focused, their faces set in determined lines.
“Get into position!” Caspian yelled aloud and everyone got into their preferred stance, our gazes on each other.
“Are you ready?” I heard Caspian ask me and I nodded, taking deep breaths. I nodded, not sparing him a glance.
Caspian’s voice echoed through the arena once more. “Remember, Lienna, trust in the moon goddess’s power. Trust in yourself.”
With that, the sentries charged. They were very quick on their feet and before I knew it, they had closed in on the huge distance between them and lunging at me.
I screamed, panic overriding my training, and raised my hands defensively. The moon goddess’s power surged through me in a burst, unleashing a blast of energy.
I felt more than saw the sentries flying backward, their bodies halted mid-lunge. Recovering, I opened my eyes to see two struggling to rise from the ground while the third stood frozen, eyes wide with shock.
“Never close your eyes during a battle!” Caspian yelled, his voice piercing the air.
I nodded, feeling my resolve strengthen. I wouldn’t make that mistake again.
“Again!” Caspian shouted.
This time, I kept my eyes open, dodging and weaving to evade the sentries’ attacks. One still managed to land a blow on my shoulder, but I gritted my teeth and focused. My anger bubbled over, and I concentrated harder.
The sentries launched another assault, but I was ready. My senses sharper than ever, I blocked each attack with precision, my movements fluid and calculated. Confidence swelled within me, and I began to anticipate their strikes.
However, I soon hit a blockade. No matter how hard I tried, I couldn’t transition from defense to offense. Every attack was expertly blocked, but I couldn’t find an opening to counterattack.
Frustration gnawed at me, my muscles tensing. I didn’t want to fail this. I needed all my suffering to be worth it.
Sweat trickled down my face, and my body felt like ice shards had been shoved into every pore. I stared at my attackers, clenching my fists.
In one final, desperate attempt to win, I summoned every last shred of energy and launched an attack. My powers sliced through the air, entirely missing the sentry and shooting into empty space.
Appalled at my grave mistake, I froze, giving the other two sentries enough time to deliver their final blow. The impact sent me stumbling to the ground, my legs buckling beneath me. I couldn’t rise anymore, my breathing coming out in ragged gasps.
I had been zapped of everything strength, energy, hope. I closed my eyes, feeling them sting with tears. I had given everything to land that blow, and there was nothing left.
Defeat washed over me like a wave, its weight crushing. I felt so disappointed in myself.
Someone walked up to me, their shadow covering my face. I opened my eyes to see Caspian bending over me, his expression a mix of concern and admiration.
He stretched out his hand, and I barely managed to take it. His grip was warm, reassuring.
“You did well, Lienna,” he said, his voice gentle.
With a gentle pull, he lifted me to my feet. But when he saw my legs couldn’t support me, he swept me into his arms, cradling me like a child.
Everywhere hurt, everywhere burned, and yet I was feeling so cold. My head spun, and I leaned against Caspian’s chest.
“You lost,” he said, his voice carrying through the haze, “but your performance was impressive.”
“It is?” I croaked out, my voice barely audible as he began to carry me along.
Caspian nodded, his eyes locked on mine. “You held your own against three skilled sentries. That takes skill and courage. For someone who is relatively new to all of this, you did absolutely fine.”
I blinked, trying to process his words. Impressive? Had I truly done well?
He saw my expression and managed a tiny smile. “I had expected you to lose the moment you began.” He said and I managed a scoff.
“I’m not a total failure, am i?” I whispered, struggling to stay present.
“No. You’re a work in progress.” He answered and I let out a breath. “You’ve done well, it’s time for you to get some rest.” He muttered, his deep voice calming.
As Caspian carried me away from the training ground, I caught sight of Hermes and Adonis watching from the sidelines. Their expressions were thoughtful, and I wondered what they had to say about my performance.
Exhaustion claimed me, and I let my head fall against Caspian’s shoulder, the world fading into darkness.