Night passed quietly, but the morning came differently than usual for Kael. Just before the sun had fully risen, a sharp knock echoed through Kael's room, followed by a voice.
"Kael! Wake up!" Seraphina called, her tone sharp and urgent.
Before Kael could even process the sound, the door swung open with a loud bang. Seraphina burst in, and in one fluid motion, she leapt forward, aiming directly at Kael's abdomen.
Kael, still startled by the noise, hadn't yet opened his eyes. Before he could react, a heavy weight landed squarely on him. The blanket he had wrapped around himself offered almost no resistance to the force.
The moment her knees pressed against his stomach, Air from Kael's lungs were squeezed out instantly. For a heartbeat, it felt as though everything inside him was about to spill outward. He was fortunate that he hadn't eaten anything recently. Had there been food in his stomach, the result would have been catastrophic.
For a second, Kael honestly thought he was going to throw up.
The impact knocked the breath clean out of him. It felt like something heavy had collapsed straight into his stomach, forcing everything inward at once.
that made his gut twist. His throat tightened on , and a wave of nausea rolled up hard and his eyes began to water.
This is bad—
Embarrassment hit immediately.
He swallowed a few times, steadying himself, willing the nausea down. And trying to not cry.
Good thing I didn't eat.
That thought grounded him.
The pain slowly faded. Kael groaned, blinking at the sudden intrusion. He looked up and saw Seraphina. Normally, he was the early riser, waking before dawn, while Seraphina lingered in bed until nine or ten. Today, however, the roles were like reversed. She was already upright, hair a little messy, eyes bright and determined. Whatʼs she doing here.
"What…?" Kael murmured, still half-nausea.
She tilted her head, one of her knees still on his abdomen.
"…You're awake now," she said, sounding mildly satisfied.
Kael tried to inhale deeply and immediately regretted it. His stomach protested with a dull ache, and he let out another low groan instead.
"Get… off," he managed, voice rough and weak.
She blinked once, then laughed—a short, bright sound. "Oh. Right."
She shifted her weight and hopped off him, landing on the floor beside the bed as if she weighed nothing at all. Kael rolled onto his side immadietly, one arm curling over his abdomen, the other gripping the blanket.
His breathing slowly evened out.
"That was harsh, " he muttered.
Seraphina crossed her arms, looking unapologetic. "You didn't wake up from the knock."
"You didn't wait," Kael replied flatly.
She leaned closer, peering down at him. "You are strong, right?. I thought you'd dodge."
Kael closed his eyes for a moment. I was asleep.
He opened them again and looked at her properly. She really was awake—fully awake. Hair loose and uneven, clothes thrown on hastily.
"What time is it?" he asked.
" five ocklock," she said immediately. "Perfect for training."
Kael stared at her.
"…Training."
She nodded, as if this explained everything. "I want to see your skills. And show mine too. "
He exhaled slowly, careful not to aggravate his stomach. The ache was fading now, leaving behind only mild discomfort.
"So you decided to ambush me," he said.
She shrugged. "You're hard to catch when you're prepared."
Kael huffed quietly. "You nearly made me throw up."
"That means it worked," she replied, entirely too pleased.
He pushed himself upright, moving cautiously. The room tilted just a little before settling. He sat on the edge of the bed, rubbing his abdomen once before letting his hand fall.
"…Next time," he said, calm returning to his voice, " Please wait after knock."
Seraphina smiled wider at that.
"Okay," she said. "But I can't promise."
She turned toward the door, already walking away. "Get dressed. Training grounds. Five minutes."
Kael watched her leave, the door closing behind her gently than it had opened.
He sat there for a moment longer, then shook his head softly.
I really didn't eat… good. I am glad for that.
Slowly, he stood and started to prepare his training clothes. Then
He frowned slightly, replaying the image in his head—messy hair, thrown-on clothes, no uniform, no proper gear. She'd rushed straight out the moment the thought crossed her mind. Because I said tomorrow yesterday.
Which meant she wasn't ready.
That'll take time.
Kael stood up, moving carefully at first, then more normally as his body settled. He dressed properly this time, pulling on his training clothes and tightening the straps without hurrying. There was no reason to rush when she herself wouldn't be prepared.
He adjusted his boots, then headed out.
The halls were quieter now, washed in the pale light of early morning. As Kael walked toward the training grounds, his thoughts drifted, already planning how to teach her a lesson.
That was when a familiar voice stopped him.
"Up early."
Kael looked up.
Master Jorah stood near the corridor intersection, arms folded, posture relaxed but solid. His hair was streaked with gray, his presence calm in a way that came only from decades of experience. He wasn't in full armor, just simple training wear, but the air around him felt different than usual.
Kael inclined his head slightly. "Good morning, Master Jorah."
Jorah's eyes lingered on him for a moment longer than necessary. "You don't usually head for the grounds this early. Especially after yesterday."
Kael kept his expression neutral. "I was invited."
Jorah huffed quietly, the corner of his mouth twitching. "That explains it." He glanced in the direction of the training grounds. "The young lady?"
Kael nodded once.
"Figured," Jorah said.
They walked a few steps together in silence. Jorah's gaze flicked briefly to Kael's posture, his steps, the way his weight shifted as he moved.
"You're favoring your core," Jorah noted casually.
Kael paused for half a breath, then continued walking. "Just stiffness."
"Hm." Jorah didn't press, but his eyes sharpened slightly. "Carelessness is biggest weakness."
Kael understood the lesson beneath the words. "I'll remember."
Jorah stopped at the next turn. "Don't overdo it today. Training is for growth."
Kael met his gaze. "I know."
For a moment, Jorah studied him—really studied him—then nodded. "Good. Go on."
Kael bowed lightly and continued toward the training grounds, the sound of his steps steady against the stone.
Behind him, Jorah watched until the boy disappeared from sight.
"…I am sorry, Kael." he muttered.
Kael didn't hear him.
By the time Kael reached the training grounds, nearly ten minutes had passed. The morning air was still cool, the sun barely rising over the walls.
Seraphina was there just finishing adjusting her uniform, hair still slightly messy.