Two Days Before the Mission
Aiden stood quietly, leaning against the worn fence that bordered the training grounds at the village's edge. The early morning air was cool, still carrying the faint chill of the night. Mist clung to the grass, and the village behind him remained silent, save for the occasional crack of distant movement as others slowly stirred awake.
His arms were crossed loosely over his chest, careful to avoid pressing too hard against his ribs. They still ached, a dull reminder of his last battle.
Ribs take weeks to heal... right?
He frowned, silently questioning Zane's idea of "light training." Still, he wasn't about to complain. He had accepted this path, and rest wasn't exactly part of the deal anymore.
Footsteps approached, soft at first, then clearer as they drew closer.
Aiden shifted, expecting one of the seasoned warriors or perhaps Zane himself. Instead, to his surprise, the figure that emerged from the treeline was familiar — yet not who he imagined.
Lyanna.
Her long, pale blonde hair caught the morning sunlight, glowing faintly as it swayed behind her. She walked with casual grace, though her left hand held a steel blade. Not ceremonial. Real.
Aiden blinked in surprise.
Her?
She can fight?
He thought back, wasn't her dominant hand injured during the battle? She had been treated, but still…
Lyanna's eyes met his. They were half-lidded, sleepy, as though she'd only just rolled out of bed. Despite the sword in her hand, she looked more annoyed than battle-ready.
"How do you manage waking up this early?" she asked with a soft groan, rubbing her eyes with her free hand.
Aiden raised an eyebrow, unimpressed.
"It's not that early," he replied.
Lyanna shot him a tired look.
"It's five," she said bluntly, as if that alone was a crime against nature.
Aiden couldn't help but let a faint smile tug at the corner of his lips.
"Aren't you some kind of scout leader?" he asked, voice light with amusement. "Aren't you supposed to wake up early?"
Lyanna shot him a flat look, her expression perfectly unimpressed.
"Does this look like a scout expedition to you?"
Before he could respond, she turned and approached a small chest near the fence. Her movements were casual, but purposeful. She flipped the lid open and rummaged briefly, pulling out a dull-looking dagger.
She tossed it lightly in her hand before glancing back at him.
"You're supposed to use a dagger," she said simply. "Not my decision."
Aiden's eyes narrowed slightly. Zane, then.
Of course.
"Fine by me," he replied, rolling his shoulders. The ache in his ribs protested, but he ignored it. "So what's the plan? We just fight and see who comes out on top?"
Lyanna gave a soft snort as she walked back toward him, the dagger held loosely at her side.
"I already know how that would end," she said dryly. "This isn't about winning. We just need to judge your level."
Her words felt simple, but Aiden caught the hidden sharpness in them. This wasn't just a spar. It was another test.
As she stepped into position, she shifted the sword into her right hand — her non-dominant one. The movement wasn't smooth.
Aiden immediately noticed the slight strain in her wrist and the faint wince she tried to hide.
"I still can't use the other hand properly," Lyanna admitted, casually enough, though there was a touch of frustration beneath her words. "So, at least here's your chance."
Aiden's smile faded slightly.
I'm sill unsure about my dagger skills...
Her stance, the sharpness in her eyes, and the weight of her words made one thing clear — even wounded, she was going to push him. Hard.
Without ceremony, she tossed the dull dagger toward him.
"Catch."
Aiden caught it easily, fingers curling around the hilt with instinctive precision. The weapon wasn't special — balanced, but worn from countless drills. Still, it felt comfortable enough.
They each took a few steps back, creating distance. Lyanna rested her blade against her shoulder casually, yet her eyes never left him.
"Before we start," she warned, her tone turning sharper, "this is a simple test. Don't use your mark."
If only I could, Aiden thought bitterly.
"Understood."
Aiden adjusted his grip, holding the dagger in his right hand with the blade pointing forward. As he shifted his stance, something unexpected stirred in him.
It felt... natural.
The weight, the way the blade aligned with his wrist, the subtle shift of his center of gravity, it clicked, as if his body had done this many times before, even if his mind couldn't recall when or where.
He exhaled slowly, eyes locking onto Lyanna.
Without another word, she pushed forward.
No hesitation. No testing the waters.
Her blade, though wielded in her non-dominant hand, came for him in a swift, precise arc aimed at his midsection.
Aiden reacted on instinct, shifting his feet and bringing the dagger up to deflect. The clash of dull metal rang out softly, but the force behind her strike vibrated up his arm.
She's fast, he realized immediately.
Faster than she had any right to be, given her injury.
Lyanna didn't slow. The moment her blade was parried, she twisted her body, stepping in and flicking her wrist to send the sword toward his shoulder in a sharp backhand.
Aiden ducked low, his ribs twinging painfully at the motion. Gritting his teeth, he sidestepped, using his free hand to lightly push against her forearm, throwing off her balance just enough to buy space.
"Good reaction," she commented, voice calm yet focused.
But she didn't stop.
Lyanna advanced again, this time with shorter, tighter swings — testing his defense. She wasn't aiming to land a decisive blow. Not yet.
Each strike came with controlled precision, forcing Aiden to respond quickly but carefully. His dagger felt light, nimble, but it lacked reach. Every time he blocked, he was pushed closer into her zone.
She's forcing me onto the defensive.
Aiden's breathing grew sharper, but his focus sharpened along with it.
He parried left — blocked right — dipped under a diagonal slash. His footwork grew tighter, more refined as the exchange continued. Movements that should have felt foreign came smoothly, as if muscle memory had taken over.
Still, Lyanna was clearly superior. Even with her handicap, she dictated the pace, keeping him from regaining initiative.
But Aiden wasn't without his moments.
During one exchange, when she lunged just a little too forward, he twisted his body sideways and slashed toward her exposed side.
Lyanna reacted fast, hopping back and raising her blade defensively, but Aiden saw the flicker of surprise in her eyes.
A brief pause followed.
"Hm. That wasn't bad," she admitted, adjusting her grip slightly.
Aiden straightened, exhaling slowly, feeling sweat form on his brow.
"You're quick to read patterns," she added, circling him now with measured steps. "But you hesitate too much."
Before he could process her words, she shot forward again.
This time, the blade came faster. Aiden blocked high, only to realize too late that it was a feint.
Her foot swept out, catching his ankle.
Aiden's balance broke instantly.
His back hit the dirt with a dull thud, the wind knocked from his lungs. The dagger slipped from his hand and clattered nearby.
By the time he processed what happened, Lyanna's blade was already pointed at his throat — her eyes sharp, fixed but not cruel.
Silence lingered between them, save for his ragged breathing.
Finally, she lowered the sword and offered him a hand.
"You did well," she said simply.
Aiden grasped her wrist and allowed her to pull him up.
"That didn't feel like 'well'," he muttered, brushing dirt from his clothes.
Lyanna gave a faint smile, though her usual aloofness returned quickly.
"It was. You have instinct. Good flow. But," she added, turning slightly as she headed back toward the fence, "instinct alone won't be enough. Against what's coming... hesitation will kill you."
Her words hung heavy in the morning air.
She didn't go easy on me... not even a little.
And deep down, Aiden was thankful for that.
He exhaled slowly, wiping sweat from his brow before returning the dull dagger to the chest by the fence.
"So, what now?" he asked, turning back toward Lyanna.
She hesitated for a moment, her expression shifting slightly.
"There is something... problematic," she said carefully.
Aiden's shoulders slumped.
"Problems? Again?" he muttered under his breath, already dreading whatever came next.
"It's about Selina."
That immediately got his attention.
Before Lyanna could continue, Aiden raised his hand, cutting her off.
"Wait. Me first," he said quickly, frowning. "How young is she, exactly?"
Lyanna blinked, caught off guard. "She's in her teens. Why?"
"Because she's clearly inexperienced," Aiden pointed out, crossing his arms. "I guessed she was the youngest in the group, but still. Why would you bring someone like that along? This isn't a place for her."
Lyanna's steps slowed, and for the first time since they started talking, she looked a little conflicted.
"She… is an elven princess," she said quietly.
Aiden stared at her.
"Princess?" he repeated, eyebrows shooting up. "Isn't that more of a reason not to drag her into danger? Risking nobility in a rebellion doesn't sound like the smartest move."
Lyanna stopped completely now, turning to face him more directly.
"I'm royalty," she said bluntly.
Aiden froze.
"...What?"
She sighed, clearly unimpressed.
"Did you even pay attention to a single conversation in this village?"
"I've been here for, like, a day and a half," Aiden retorted defensively. "Most of which I spent in bed."
"Fair point," Lyanna admitted, though her expression didn't soften much. "Zane, my older brother, and I are both from the royal family. Or what's left of it."
Aiden processed that slowly, frowning.
"So... you're royalty. Is Selina from the royalty?"
"Not exactly," Lyanna replied, her voice quieter now, a hint of weariness seeping in. "Selina is our cousin. She's... different."
"Different how?"
Lyanna hesitated. Her gaze drifted toward the village as if weighing what she should say.
"She's trying to prove herself," she said finally. "It's complicated here. People in the village aren't fond of nobility. Zane gets a pass because he's strong and organized, he built this place, held everyone together. But Selina?"
She shook her head slightly.
"Selina is seen as a noble girl playing hero. Some think she's naive. Others think she's a liability."
Aiden stayed quiet, letting her words settle.
"So... she's fighting to prove she belongs," he said after a moment.
"Exactly."
He thought back to Selina's wide-eyed determination, the way she tried so hard to act capable despite her inexperience. It made more sense now.
"...That's rough," Aiden muttered quietly.
Lyanna gave a small nod, her arms crossed tightly as she stared out toward the village.
"I think I know where this is going," Aiden continued, already feeling the weight settle on him. "She asked to come with me on the next mission, didn't she?"
"Yeah..." Lyanna confirmed, her tone heavy. "But... this isn't something for her. Not that kind of mission."
Aiden frowned, tension knotting in his chest. He still didn't even know the full details.
Before he could ask, Lyanna's eyes sharpened slightly and she turned her attention fully onto him.
"Actually, speaking of that... why you?" she asked directly, her voice curious but edged. "What exactly did you and Zane talk about for him to assign it to you?"
Aiden blinked, caught off guard by the sudden shift.
"...We had mutual friends," he answered, keeping his tone vague.
It sounded weak even to his own ears, but it was all he had.
Lyanna narrowed her eyes.
"Mutual friends? That's not much of a reason for something like this," she said skeptically.
Aiden shrugged lightly, though there was no confidence behind it.
"It was apparently enough for your brother."
"I see..." Lyanna muttered, though it was clear she wasn't fully convinced.
A heavy silence lingered for a moment before she spoke again, her voice quieter, more serious.
"I can't let Selina go."
Aiden arched a brow.
"Can't you just... not tell her when I'm leaving?" he suggested.
Lyanna let out a faint, bitter laugh.
"If only it were that simple. She's got more insight than you might think. Honestly..." Lyanna paused, then sighed. "She probably knows more about the mission than I do."
Aiden blinked, surprised.
"Really?"
"Sometimes..." Lyanna trailed off for a moment, eyes distant, before continuing. "Sometimes I feel like she's more fit for my role than I am."
Protective, yet she acknowledged Selina's abilities.
That can only end up badly.
For a brief second, her usual confidence slipped. Aiden caught a glimpse of the weight she carried — of expectations and doubts not so different from his own.
Still, she straightened quickly, her mask returning.
Aiden felt something stir within him. Responsibility, maybe. Or something closer to reluctant resolve.
"Those words may not mean much," he said quietly, "but whatever happens, I'll make sure she's safe."
Lyanna studied him for a moment, her sharp eyes softening just slightly.
"...Yeah," she murmured. "But let's hope it doesn't come to that."
She turned away, slinging her sword lazily over her shoulder as if their heavy talk hadn't just happened.
"Anyway. We're done here. I'm heading back to bed," she said, her casual tone returning. "I'll report to Zane. Might even praise your effort a little, but don't expect much."
Aiden watched as she walked off, leaving him alone by the fence.
The morning felt quieter now. The faint sounds of the village waking up drifted through the air, but his mind stayed fixed on their conversation and on Selina.
I could talk to her, he thought, the idea lingering in his mind.
But no. Not yet.
There were other things he needed to figure out first.
I'm sure they have a mirror somewhere, he thought grimly.
It was time to test something, something important.