The next day, after breakfast when the sun shined high above, the cadets headed to the training grounds to find it already occupied with Wanderers observing Meren and Seren in the sparring ring.

The two fought with swords, seeming to match each other in strength and speed, so it was really matter of endurance and cunning. Meren, if Asterin remembered right had the endurance down. But Seren…

He sidestepped Meren, feigned for his right, before twirling and holding the blade to his friend’s throat.

He always was the more cunning of the two.

Sweat covered both Kenra, breaths leaving them in short gasps. Meren glared at Seren, who in turn grinned as he acknowledged the surrounding cadets with a small bow of his head.

He always was one to put on a show. In another life, he may have thrived as an actor.

Just like their appearances, the two companions’ personalities conflicted like night and day.

Meren, despite his regal features and soft-spoken mannerisms that were vital for court, wanted nothing to do with such a public life. In one of their many conversations while lounging underneath the stars, he confided in Asterin that he wished he had not been born into a Great House. Living in a small town, owning a bookshop with a cafe and a cat, would please him more. He could keep solitude in the stacks and, because the town would be familiar with each other, there would be little need to converse with so many people on a daily basis.

Seren, who was not born into a Great House yet taken in by Meren’s mother, bore the erratic and wild personality that often reminded Asterin of a wild boar. Few wanted to stand against him. With his large horns and muscular frame, he was the picture of a man groomed for war—which was in fact the honor of his original Clan. Therefore it was nearly impossible for him not to draw a crowd, and he once admitted to Asterin how much he enjoyed taking the spotlight away from Meren.

Many in court would whisper that the Great House of Yazael should have made Seren the honorary heir despite his heritage. He could command the attention of the room with his appearance alone, whereas Meren often preferred to fall into the shadows.

Both Kenra were aware of this. Asterin had witnessed plenty of fights surrounding the sore topic.

Meren stepped away from Seren, his eyes darting here and there. His tongue darted out to lick his lips as he observed the gathered cadets and Wanderers. No doubt he was searching for a way to leave without being swarmed.

Movement in the corner of her eye drew Asterin’s attention, and she found Ada subtly waving her over with Dralais and Dox beside him.

Asterin walked over, glancing between the three and trying to surmise what brought this about.

“I have not had formal combat training and, capable as you may think you are now, there is a lot of improvement needed ahead of the Grand Tournament.” Ada nodded to Dralais and Dox. “I have struck a deal with my brother to use one of his trainees to help you train in terms of combat.”

“A deal?” Asterin’s gaze drifted to Dralais, who nodded.

“I am more knowledgeable than my brother when it comes to your… capabilities in other areas,” he gave a subtle nod to Dox, who Asterin surmised had been left out of the more minute details of her extra training. “That’s where I can assist.”

Then what part of my training will you be taking part in, Ada?” Asterin couldn’t help but wonder aloud.

He grinned. “Strengthening your mind. But that’s something not suited for daylight hours.”

Asterin frowned, but still followed along with Dox to the training grounds. There was no set curriculum for them for the first day—it was all up to the trainers what they were meant to do.

They took up a small section of one of the mini fighting areas.

No sooner did they step foot on the sandy ground—Dox kicked out at Asterin, knocking her on her back.

“First lesson, don’t let your opponent surprise you.”

A few trainees glanced over at them. Most were fighting against other Valkyr officers. None faced each other. Only them.

Asterin stood quickly, brushing herself off. There was barely any time to block the next attack, the two standing with forearms clashing.

The Sandu grinned down at Asterin. “This’ll be fun.”

They began training in the early mornings after that. It was often Dox who woke up Asterin, dragging her to the training grounds where Dralais and Ada awaited them. The two Wanderers merely watched her nearly get pummeled into a pulp before the two had to run back to the barn and pretend they had just risen for the day—going through the motions with the other recruits.

Occasionally, Asterin would catch Raibyn glancing between the two of them, curiosity in her gaze, but not once did she approach either of them about it.

At first it was difficult for Asterin to keep her eyes open for the extra hours of the day, her muscles groaning with each movement. And, Gods, when it finally came time for their official training after the first week? She somehow did even worse than before, moving sluggishly and becoming a living punching bag for the other trainees. She swore she saw some amount of pity even from Dralais each time an attack landed.

She would get scolded by the higher-ups, face the consequences of limited meals along with other punishments until she ‘got herself together.’ The first time it happened, Asterin was forced to watch her fellow recruits enjoy a hearty meal whilst she had to accept only a few meager vegetables.

But when Dox woke her the next morning, she found a meat patty waiting for her—that the Sandu admitted Raibyn snuck in the night before and saved for when no one would be the wiser. Said woman stood slightly behind Dox with a small wave in Asterin’s direction.

The three of them didn’t mention it to each other as Raibyn was seamlessly integrated into their early morning training, but small gestures like that would become more frequent as time went on.

It start with Raibyn sneaking Asterin food, and pressed to words of encouragement, which Dox and the brothers picked up on and started doing as well.

When Asterin finally managed to block Dox and Raibyn’s dual attack and counter it with one of her own, the three stood there in silence for a few moments before celebrating—tugging each other into a hug.

But then one of the sergeants found them and Dralais had to use the excuse that they were helping with menial tasks before sending them back to the barn.

Everything became easier after that. Not to say the physical training wasn’t any more grueling, but Asterin did not find it so hard to face with the others at her side.

No, that was an issue that came up with Ada’s training methods.