The training grounds were still half-asleep.
Mist clung low to the stone floor, curling around the practice pillars and wooden dummies like thin white fingers. The air smelled faintly of iron, sweat, and old stone. Somewhere beyond the walls, birds were beginning to stir.
Seraphina stood near the center of the grounds, tightening the strap of her glove with her teeth before snapping it into place. Her uniform was on, but one sleeve was slightly crooked, the fabric not yet properly settled on her shoulders.
She looked up the moment Kael stepped into view.
"You're late, I said five minutes," she said.
Kael glanced at the sun, then back at her.
"You said five minutes," he said. "But you got here, what—about a minute ago? That's true, isn't it?" He shrugged lightly. "I didn't want to stand around waiting, so I slowed down. After seeing you, I think that was the right call."
Seraphina opened her mouth to argue—then stopped.
Because… he wasn't wrong.
Yesterday's Awakening Ceremony had completely drained her. She had fallen asleep the moment she reached her room. When she woke up early this morning, her mind had gone blank except for one thought.
I want to test my skills against Kael.
So she'd run straight to his room.
Still in her pajamas.
Only after waking him up and going back to her own room did it hit her.
She'd been standing in front of him like that.
Her face had gone burning hot. She'd changed clothes in a panic, nearly tripping over herself, and by the time she finished, almost ten minutes had passed. She'd sprinted to the training grounds as fast as she could.
There was no way to argue now.
Seraphina let out a quiet sigh and rubbed the back of her neck, laughing to hide her embarrassment.
"…Yeah," she admitted. "That's on me."
Then she straightened up, shaking off the embarrassment. Her eyes sharpened, focus settling in.
"Alright," she said. "Enough talking."
She raised her hands slightly, mana beginning to stir.
"Let's spar."
Kael saw the look in her eyes and gave up on refusing.
She really wanted this.
Honestly, so did he. He'd been wanting to test himself for a while, and Seraphina just happened to be standing in front of him now. Still, there was one problem—he couldn't go all out. If he hit her too hard, his mother would definitely hear about it somehow, and he didn't feel like getting a lecture about manners and being a gentleman later.
Yeah. No thanks.
He glanced around the training ground and walked over to the weapon rack. Most of it was empty this early, but after a moment he found a wooden sword that looked decent enough. He picked it up, giving it a light swing to test the weight.
Very light.
Turning back, he rested the tip of the sword against his finger, pressing just hard enough to feel it.
"Alright," he said, looking at her. "First things first."
He put the sword's tip to the ground.
"Let's set some ground rules."
Seraphina answered immediately.
"Ground rules? What kind of ground rules?" She waved a hand. "Why do we even need them? Fine—rule number one: we just start sparring."
Kael raised an eyebrow.
"No," he said. "Rules are there so that if you lose, you don't start saying I cheated or that my skill rank is higher than yours. And that rules increase your chances of winning."
She stared at him for a second. Then snorted.
"Oh please, Kael. Why would I accuse you of cheating?" She crossed her arms. "Don't you trust me?"
Kael didn't answer right away. He just looked at her.
His eyes narrowed. "Are you seriously saying that after everything you've done?"
She tilted her head. "What I've done?"
He pointed at her. "You're the one who runs to mother and tells her everything I do. For nearly two months I think."
"That's not—"
He cut her off. "It totally is."
"…Because," she said carefully, "your mother asks."
That doesn't explain running.
She shook her head, still smiling. "Relax. I won't, and I will definitely win."
Then she leaned forward slightly, eyes sharp again.
"Besides," she added, "our main topic is always you anyway."
Kael frowned. "What does that even mean?"
She grinned. "You know. Women's talk."
Then she waved a hand. "Alright, fine. I'll agree to rules. But we both only get two." She tilted her head. "Fair?"
Kael thought about it for half a second. "I don't really have many rules anyway." He nodded. "Works for me. You go first."
Seraphina's smile turned a little too confident.
"Well, if I'm going to win," she said lightly, "the rules should be bad for you, right?"
"First rule," she continued, stepping closer. "You tie up your left arm."
Kael frowned. "My left arm?"
She nodded. "That way you can't use Black Sun because your right hand will be occupied with sword and if you use black sun you lose your sword. I am genius, right?"
Kael let out a slow breath, then nodded. "Fine. What's the second?"
Seraphina's grin widened.
"Second rule," she said. "If I win, you have to do one thing I tell you."
Kael paused. "…That's vague."
"That's the point," she replied sweetly.
He stared at her for a moment, then shook his head with a quiet chuckle.
"Alright," he said. "If those are your rules, then listen to mine. These are the real rules."
He lowered the wooden sword and pointed it toward the ground.
"First rule. I'm drawing a circle. If anyone steps outside it—even with just one foot—they lose."
He lifted his gaze to her.
"Second rule. If someone says 'I lost,' then that counts as losing. And if someone can't keep fighting, they lose too—even if they don't admit it themselves."
He straightened slightly. "No arguments."
"It's not fun," Seraphina said, crossing her arms, "I thought you'd ask me something if you win."
Kael raised an eyebrow. "What would I even ask?"
"Nothing!" she said, half laughing, half red. "Just draw your circle and start the fight."
Kael looked at her for a moment, then shook his head. He started tying his left arm carefully.
Once done, he picked up the wooden sword. Then he drew a neat circle on the stone floor, about ten meters in radius. Stepping back, he pointed the tip at the center.
"Circle's done," he said. "Stay inside."
Seraphina's eyes lit up as she coiled her Light Whip. "Fine," she said, smirking. "But don't cry when I win."
Kael laughed softly. "We'll see about that."