Chapter Fourteen— Killian
The next few days blurred together.
Nyrah threw herself into training with an intensity that surprised even her. She woke before dawn to practice footwork in her room. She stayed late after Combat Assembly to work on her strikes. She read the mysterious notes that kept appearing at her door until her eyes burned.
And slowly, she got better.
Her ranking climbed. Not dramatically, but steadily. From ninety-fourth to eighty-ninth. Then to eighty-third.
She wasn't winning every fight. But she was lasting longer. Making her opponents work for their victories. And occasionally, she'd pull off a win that shocked everyone watching.
Including herself.
It was after one of those wins that Killian appeared.
Nyrah was catching her breath at the edge of the training yard, wiping sweat from her face. She'd just beaten a girl from one of the minor fae houses. Not a major victory, but a victory nonetheless.
"Not bad," a voice said behind her.
She turned. Killian stood there, arms crossed. He was in his training gear, his dark hair damp with sweat.
"Thanks," Nyrah said cautiously.
"Your footwork's improved." He walked closer. "But your guard drops when you go for overhead strikes. Leaves your ribs exposed."
Nyrah frowned. "I know. I'm working on it."
"Want some help?"
She blinked. "What?"
"Help. Training." Killian picked up a practice sword from the weapon rack. "Unless you'd rather keep figuring it out on your own."
Nyrah glanced around. Other students were watching. Probably wondering why Alpha Ray's son was offering to train a human.
"Ryuu won't like it," she said.
"I don't care what Ryuu likes." Killian tossed her a sword. "Come on. Show me that overhead strike."
Nyrah caught the sword. She should say no. Should walk away. This was asking for trouble.
But the truth was, she needed the help. And Killian was one of the best fighters at the Academy.
"Fine," she said. "One session."
Killian smiled. "One session."
They moved to an empty section of the training yard. Nyrah took her stance and executed the overhead strike she'd been practicing.
Killian blocked it easily. "See? Your right side opened up completely. Do it again."
They went through the motion several times. Each time, Killian pointed out exactly where she was vulnerable. Where she needed to adjust.
"Your problem is you're thinking too much," he said after the fifth attempt. "You're trying to remember the technique instead of just doing it."
"I have to think. I don't have instincts like you do."
"Everyone has instincts. You're just ignoring yours." Killian stepped closer. "Try it with your eyes closed."
"That's insane."
"Just try it."
Nyrah closed her eyes. She could hear Killian moving. Could sense him nearby.
"Now strike," he said.
She swung. The blade met resistance as Killian blocked, but this time, her form felt different. More natural.
"Better," Killian said. "Again."
They practiced like that for another hour. Killian was a demanding teacher, but he was patient. He explained things clearly and didn't make her feel stupid when she messed up.
It was... nice. Different from training with the regular instructors who treated her like she was wasting their time.
When they finally stopped, Nyrah's arms were shaking with exhaustion.
"You're stronger than you think," Killian said. He handed her a water flask. "You just need to trust yourself more."
"Easy for you to say. You've been training since you could walk."
"So have you, according to what I've heard." He leaned against the wall. "You've been preparing for this your whole life. You belong here as much as anyone."
Nyrah drank deeply from the flask. "Most people here would disagree."
"Most people here are idiots." Killian's voice was matter-of-fact. "They judge you based on what you don't have instead of what you do. That's their mistake, not yours."
Nyrah looked at him. Really looked at him. He was watching her with an expression she couldn't quite read. Something between respect and something else. Something softer.
"Why are you helping me?" she asked quietly.
"I told you. You're interesting."
"That's not a real answer."
Killian was quiet for a moment. Then he said, "I've been watching you since you got here. The way you keep getting back up no matter how many times you get knocked down. The way you refuse to quit even when everyone tells you to." He paused. "That takes more strength than any magic or bloodline."
Nyrah's chest felt tight. No one had ever said anything like that to her before.
"Thank you," she managed.
"Don't thank me yet. I'm going to work you hard if you keep training with me." Killian pushed off the wall. "Same time tomorrow?"
"I..." Nyrah hesitated. "Ryuu really won't like this."
"I already told you, I don't care what Ryuu likes." Killian's eyes were serious. "This is about you getting stronger. About you surviving. If he has a problem with that, he can take it up with me."
Nyrah should say no. Should protect the arrangement she'd made with Ryuu.
But Killian was offering her something real. Actual help. Not just protection by association, but genuine training that could make her better.
"Okay," she said. "Same time tomorrow."
Killian's face broke into a genuine smile. Not the mocking one he usually wore. A real smile that reached his eyes.
"Good. Don't be late." He started to walk away, then turned back. "And Nyrah? You did well today."
He left before she could respond.
Nyrah stood there, watching him go. Her heart was doing something weird in her chest. Something she didn't want to examine too closely.
She gathered her things and headed back toward the main building. That's when she felt it. The sensation of being watched.
She looked around but didn't see anyone obvious. Just other students finishing their training. Moving between buildings.
But the feeling didn't go away.
High up on one of the balconies overlooking the training yard, Saela stood in the shadows. She'd been there for the last hour, watching everything.
Watching Killian train Nyrah. Watching the way they interacted. The way Killian looked at her.
And watching the way Nyrah's face lit up when Killian smiled at her.
Saela's hands gripped the balcony railing. Her scales were showing again, creeping up her arms. That deep, angry blue.
First Ryuu. Now Killian.
What was it about this human that made powerful men gravitate toward her? She had no magic. No status. No beauty that could compare to the other women here.
And yet.
Saela had seen the way Ryuu's expression shifted when Nyrah was around. Subtle, but there. She'd seen the way he positioned himself near her. Protected her even when he claimed it was just strategy.
And now Killian. Alpha Ray's son. One of the most eligible males at the Academy. Training a human like she was worth his time.
It didn't make sense.
Unless.
Saela's eyes narrowed as a thought occurred to her. The witch clan helping Nyrah. The mysterious notes. The way she kept improving despite having no natural advantages.
What if it wasn't just about training? What if there was something else? Some kind of enchantment or spell making her attractive to powerful males?
It would explain everything.
Saela watched Nyrah disappear into the building. Then she turned and headed toward the library. She had research to do. Because if there was a spell involved, there would be a way to break it.
And once she broke it, everyone would see Nyrah for what she really was.
Nothing.