Harper

I opened my eyes slowly, blinking at the soft light. I felt... strange, lighter somehow, like the world had shifted while I was asleep, and I was still trying to catch up. A wave of disorientation hit me hard, but there was something else. I couldn’t remember the last time I’d felt this good. I could have sworn I was exhausted, but now... now it felt like my body was humming with some kind of quiet energy.

A smile tugged at my lips, but it quickly faltered. The memories of last night rushed back, jagged and disjointed, the branch that had sent me crashing to the ground, the pain, the confusion. I reached up instinctively to touch my head, half-expecting to find a bruise or cut, but there was nothing. Smooth skin. Not even the faintest mark. How was that possible? Was I remembering it wrong?

I retraced my memories last night, and I am very sure I should be seriously injured right now. Could this be something with the simulation? Maybe I died, and I just respawned here. I mean, if that’s true, it makes things a little less scary, but do I have an infinite number of lives? Should I be collecting hearts from hidden pots? I should probably try not to be too reckless.

Just then, Maisie appeared, her silhouette framed by the soft morning light. There was something comforting about her presence.

 “I was about to wake you up,” she said, a touch of amusement in her voice. “You were mumbling in your sleep, and I tried to make it out, but it all sounded like nonsense.”

I stared at her, blinking in confusion. “Um... thanks ?” I managed. I wonder what I dreamt about.

Maisie smiled brightly, “Thorin is packing up camp, and Rhylen is waiting for you. He said you must train this morning.”

I felt my stomach drop. Training. With Rhylen. Of course. The thought made my heart sink into my stomach. Thorin had been my safety net, he had a knack for making me feel grounded and calm. But Rhylen? He was another story. He was... intense. Rude. And he was waiting for me. Wonderful.

“What happened to Thorin training me?” I asked, trying to keep the edge out of my voice.

Maisie shrugged, her hand extending toward me to help me up. “He’s waiting for you just over there,” she said, pointing in the direction behind me.

I nodded, trying to push the anxiety gnawing at my insides aside. I took a deep breath, forcing myself to walk in the direction she’d indicated. As I moved closer, I saw Rhylen swinging his sword effortlessly slicing through the air with a fluid grace. There was something mesmerizing about the way he moved. It was like the sword didn’t even weigh anything to him. Like he was made for it.

“I know you’re watching me,” he said without even turning to look at me, his voice low and smooth.

“Are we training with swords today?” I asked, my voice a little tentative, though the excitement of it lingered beneath the surface, fighting to break through.

He chuckled, finally turning to face me. He handed me his sword. The moment it landed in my hands, it felt like it weighed a ton. The cold metal slid through my fingers, and I stumbled, the sword clattering to the ground with a loud noise. My face burned, and I quickly glanced up at Rhylen, pleading silently to not scold me for dropping it.

But instead, he simply grabbed the sword from the dirt and set it aside with a casual flick.

“How did you sleep?” he asked, his voice unexpectedly gentle.

His change in tone caught me off guard. But the confusion only deepened as I tried to make sense of it. “What happened last night?” I asked, trying to piece together the scattered memories. “I lost control of my horse, fell off, and yet... here I am, no injuries.”

Rhylen paused for a moment before he placed his hands on my shoulders, his grip firm but not unkind. “I think you remember it wrong,” he said, his voice quieter now, though still sharp. “You ran off into the woods, stopped your horse, dismounted, and fainted. You’re far weaker than I imagined.”

I bristled at his words. That is not what happened. And weak? Maybe, this is not how I remember it. Does he not want me to know the truth? If I died in the simulation, could this just be a way of explaining my death and the respawn? My brain hurts from trying to figure it out. I’ll leave it for now.

“So, should I go grab my bow?” I asked, trying to steer the conversation back to something I could control.

He shook his head, the seriousness of his expression making my heart skip a beat. “We need to prepare for whatever lies ahead. Today, I’m going to teach you hand-to-hand combat and defense. Try to keep up.”

A flicker of both excitement and apprehension shot through me. It wasn’t exactly what I had imagined, but learning to defend myself, to stand on my own two feet, was empowering. The fear that had haunted me for so long, of being helpless, of being weak, was something I needed to face head-on. But I knew this wasn’t going to be easy.

We found a clearing in the woods, sunlight streaming through the trees in golden beams that bathed the ground beneath us. The air was crisp and filled with the scent of pine. Rhylen stood in the center, his posture straight and ready, like a soldier preparing for battle.

“Watch closely,” he instructed, and I did, as he demonstrated a series of punches and blocks that were so fluid and precise it was almost like watching a dance. It seemed impossible that anyone could move like that. But I had to try. I had no choice.

I took a deep breath, mimicking his movements as best as I could. But I felt clumsy, awkward. I stumbled through the motions, my fists too slow, my stance too wide. And then I heard the sigh. It was sharp, cutting through the air, and I felt my cheeks flush with embarrassment.

“Really?” he asked, his voice dripping with sarcasm. “That’s the best you can do? Try again.”

The sting of his words cut deep, but I wasn’t about to let it break me. I squared my shoulders, narrowed my focus, and tried again. I wouldn’t give up that easily.

“Okay, okay! What’s next?” I said, more determined this time, despite the frustration simmering inside me.

Rhylen’s lips twitched, though I wasn’t sure if it was a smirk or something else. He stepped closer, adjusting my stance with an almost brutal precision. “Your feet,” he said, “need to be grounded. You need to be ready to move at a moment’s notice. Or, you know, you could just stay on the ground. It might be safer.”

It wasn’t exactly encouraging, but I steeled myself and set to work, hour after hour. The pain in my muscles, the sweat that poured down my face, the constant mistakes, it all blurred together. But gradually, something started to click. Slowly, my movements grew less stiff, less forced. I began to feel the rhythm of it, like a dance I hadn’t known how to perform before.

“Wow… you came close to getting that one right.” Rhylen quipped after one particular attempt. “If you squint really hard.”

I couldn’t help the frustrated laugh that escaped me. Maybe it was all part of his weird method. Boot camp style I guess, but I wasn’t giving up now.

By midday, I was soaked in sweat, exhausted, but I couldn’t deny the sense of empowerment growing inside me.

Rhylen paused for a moment, watching me carefully, his eyes narrowing. “You’re doing... passably fine for someone who knows nothing,” he said with a smirk. “But remember this… fighting isn’t just about physical strength. It’s about believing in yourself. In your ability to protect those you care about... or, you know, not getting yourself killed.”

His words stung, but they also resonated deeply. This wasn’t just about fighting; it was about something deeper. It was about inner strength. About resilience.

The camp was fully packed, Maisie and Thorin sat close by awaiting us to finish. I realized that we were getting ready to move again. The day was far from over. We would ride until nightfall, making our way through the woods toward the Pool. And tomorrow... tomorrow we would train again.