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The clang of metal against metal echoed through the training grounds, each strike sharp and unrelenting. My eyes followed the blur of movement as the soldiers sparred, sweat dripping from their brows, muscles straining with effort. Amidst them stood Zagan.

Unlike the others, his presence demanded attention—not just because of his authority but because of the effortless way he moved. The sword was an extension of his body, every motion precise, controlled, deadly. He cut through his opponents as though he were merely slicing through air, his dark, tousled hair clinging to his forehead, strands sticking to the sheen of sweat on his skin. The sharp line of his jaw, the taut muscles flexing beneath his loose tunic—everything about him exuded raw, untamed power.

I swallowed. It wasn’t the first time I had seen him fight, but something about witnessing it up close made my breath hitch. He was… captivating in a way I hadn’t quite registered before.

Then his eyes—those piercing, purple eyes—locked onto mine. My spine stiffened, but I couldn’t look away. The intensity in his gaze was almost suffocating, as if he could see right through me, as if he knew exactly what thoughts had just crossed my mind.

A smirk curled on his lips as he strode toward me, his movements slow, deliberate. The soldiers around him lowered their weapons, stepping aside as though they, too, could sense the shift in the air.

"Are you now ready to die?" His voice was a deep rumble, laced with amusement, but there was a dangerous edge to it.

I forced myself to lift my chin. "If I was, would I be standing here?"

He tilted his head slightly, as if considering my words, then chuckled—a low, rich sound that sent an unexpected shiver down my spine.

"Brave words." He reached for a cloth, wiping the sweat from his brow before tossing it aside. "But tell me, my lady, how long have you been standing there?" His smirk deepened. "Admiring, were you?"

Heat rushed to my face. "Hardly," I scoffed, crossing my arms. Gosh, why is his body so hot? His sweat drips down his gliterring skin. "I was simply... observing."

His sharp eyes locked onto mine, and in a single stride, he closed the distance between us. I met his gaze, willing my pulse to remain steady.

He tossed a sword at my feet. The weight of his challenge hung in the air between us. Every soldier had stopped training to watch, their eyes filled with curiosity and doubt.

I bent down, wrapping my fingers around the hilt. The metal was cool, solid—just like my resolve.

If he wanted to test me, I would not back down. "I'll spare your life, but you have to earn it."

The courtyard was eerily silent, the sky overcast with thick, heavy clouds. The wind carried a biting chill, swirling around the stone walls as if whispering warnings of what was to come. I tightened my grip on the sword, forcing my fingers to stop trembling. A duel…

I had no choice but to face him. I know this is just a challenge, to earn his trust. He wouldn't be interested in killing me, nor become his queen. But there was no way I could win.

Zagan stood across from me, his posture lazy yet sharp, as though the entire world was beneath his notice. His piercing gaze flickered over me, void of emotion, assessing. Not once did he look at me as an opponent—just another foolish woman who had thrown herself into his path.

“Don’t hold back,” he said, the smooth command of his voice cutting through the cold air. “If you want to live, fight me with everything you have.”

I squared my shoulders, forcing myself to meet his gaze. I wasn’t here to amuse him. I wasn’t here to beg. And I certainly wasn’t here to become another one of the desperate women clawing at his attention.

“I’ll survive,” I said, lifting my sword. “I must." If not, how can I execute my revenge?

Something flickered in his eyes. Not interest. Not amusement. Just mild acknowledgment, as if he were curious how long I would last.

Then, he moved.

I barely had time to react before his sword slashed through the air. Fast. Too fast. I stumbled back, barely parrying the strike in time. The force of it rattled my bones, sending a jolt up my arm.

“Too slow,” he muttered, sidestepping with effortless grace. “If this is all you have, I wonder how long you’ll last before you drop that sword.”

I gritted my teeth, forcing myself to steady my stance. Zagan wasn’t fighting to kill. He was testing me, prodding at my resolve to see if I would break and scurry back home. I panted, raising my sword again,

He tilted his head slightly, as if the idea amused him. “I expect you to run away like all the others.”

I lunged, striking toward his side. He blocked it effortlessly, barely moving. He wasn’t even breaking a sweat, while I was already struggling to keep up.

“Desperation doesn’t make you stronger,” he said, his tone unreadable. “Are you here to avenge something? Or did you simply come seeking a new bed to crawl into?”

I faltered for half a second—just a second—but it was enough for him to close the distance, disarming my strike before I could even react. I barely dodged his counterattack, the tip of his sword grazing my sleeve.

Blood rushed to my face. “Excuse me?”

Zagan didn’t bother to look impressed. “You wouldn’t be the first woman who’s come looking for me. And most don’t even bother to pick up a sword.”

Heat flared in my cheeks—not from embarrassment, but sheer indignation. “Do you think I came here to seduce you?” I clenched my jaw, frustration curling in my chest. Of all the ridiculous—Okay, sure. Objectively speaking, he was… well, he had the kind of looks that could tempt even the most disciplined heart. If he weren’t such an insufferable, infuriating—

No. Erase. Erase. That wasn’t the point at all!

With renewed determination, I surged forward again, aiming for his shoulder. He dodged. Again. Effortlessly. He barely had to move to keep me at bay.

“You hesitate too much,” he said, sidestepping another attempt. “Indecision will get you killed.”

I grit my teeth. “I don’t hesitate.” I lunged again. This time, I didn’t hold back. I pushed every ounce of my strength into the strike, knowing it wouldn’t be enough but refusing to waver. My sword cut through the air, grazing the edge of his collar. A thin line of crimson beaded at his neck. 

Zagan paused.

For a heartbeat, silence hung between us. He lifted a hand, touching the shallow cut with a single finger, then looked at the blood with mild curiosity.

“…You actually landed a hit.” No, it wasn't me.

He lifted his gaze back to mine, and I swallowed hard. 

The air shifted between us and without warning, the sky darkened further. A powerful presence descended from above, the wind howling as a dark-winged figure swooped down.

“CELESTIAN!” one of the soldiers yelled from the courtyard.

Zagan barely spared them a glance, his stance unfazed. "Stay back,"

But the Celestian wasn’t aiming for him.

My breath caught as it lunged straight for me, claws outstretched. I couldn’t react fast enough. My feet wouldn’t move. I was too slow.

No—this is it. I… I can’t—

A golden glow erupted around me. The Celestian’s attack never landed. Instead, it crashed against an invisible barrier, the force rippling outward. The creature screeched in frustration, slamming its claws against the shield again and again. But it didn’t break. It didn’t even crack.

I stared at my own hands, trembling, bathed in the golden light. What… was this?

The Celestian let out a choked sound. Its body twitched, convulsing, before it suddenly collapsed. Blood drained from its form as though something had siphoned its very life force away.

"Thalia!" His voice echoed. Smoke filled me, I couldn't see anyone. I hear voices, the screams of soldiers panicking.

As soon as the smoke resides, I saw Zagan. He looks at me terrified. Not with scorn. Not with pity. But with something else entirely. "Thalia?" He murmured my name and sent a chill down my spine. Because for the first time since this duel began, Zagan wasn’t looking at me as an inconvenience.

He was looking at me as something unknown.

_____________________To be continued______________________