Noon hit like a slap.
The courtyard was already heating up, fog long gone, sun beating down on cracked stone and sweaty kids. Everyone dragged themselves back—groaning, limping, glaring daggers at me like I'd personally invented sore muscles.
Tano flopped onto the ground the second he arrived.
"I'm dying. Officially dead. Bury me under the herb shed."
Mira dropped her sword with a clang. "If I have to hold another horse stance, my legs are filing for divorce."
Kaelin clutched her tablet like a lifeline. "I calculated it. We've lost approximately 47% of our dignity since dawn."
The younger ones just whimpered in a pile.
I clapped once. Sharp.
"Up. Circle. We're doing circulation next. Sit cross-legged. Breathe. Feel the qi. Don't force it."
More groans. Louder this time.
"Again with the breathing? My lungs are on strike!"
"I'm pretty sure my qi is allergic to me."
I ignored them. Dropped into position myself. Closed my eyes. Let the tiny spark in my core flicker. It was still pathetic, but growing. One breath at a time.
They copied—badly. Shoulders hunched. Breathing shallow. Half of them looked like they were constipated.
Then the main hall door slammed open.
Heavy boots. Sharp steps.
A tall kid—maybe eighteen—strode out like he owned the mountain. Black training jacket zipped to the chin. Hair slicked back. Sword at his hip. Face set in permanent smug.
Daxen Holt.
The senior. The one everyone listened to. The one who'd been running "training" before I woke up. The one who'd let the sect rot into this mess because he thought barking orders was the same as leading.
He stopped at the edge of the circle. Arms crossed. Looked down at me.
"So. The little cleaner finally grew a spine."
Silence dropped like a brick.
Tano sat up fast. Mira's hand twitched toward her sword. Kaelin hid behind her tablet.
Daxen's eyes flicked over the group. "What the hell is this? Sitting in a circle like we're having tea? We train swords here, not play meditation games."
I didn't stand. Just opened one eye.
"Breathing first. Swords later. You'd know that if you ever bothered with basics."
His jaw tightened. "Basics? Kid, I've been training these losers for two years. They can barely swing without tripping. You think sitting and huffing fixes that?"
"Obviously not. That's why you failed."
A ripple of gasps.
Daxen stepped closer. Towering. "Watch your mouth, Kai. Last I checked, you were the one scrubbing floors and crying in corners. Now you think you're in charge?"
I stood slowly. Met his glare. Smirked.
"Last I checked, the sect's still trash. So yeah. Someone has to fix it. Might as well be me."
Mira muttered under her breath, "Oh no, here we go."
Tano whispered, "Ten seconds till someone bleeds."
Daxen laughed—short, mean.
"You? Fix us? With what? Your sad little breathing circle? These kids need real training. Not your hippie bullshit."
He turned to the group.
"Up! Swords! We're doing Equilibrium of Six Sword. Now."
A few hesitated. Looked at me.
Daxen snapped. "I said now!"
They scrambled. Grabbed training swords. Fell into sloppy lines.
I stayed where I was. Arms crossed.
Daxen noticed. "You deaf?"
"I'm not doing that garbage."
His eyes narrowed. "Excuse me?"
"That sword form? It's trash. Overcomplicated intro for babies. You're teaching them fancy flourishes before they can even stand properly. No wonder half of them can't hit a barn door."
Gasps again. Louder.
Mira's mouth dropped open. Tano started coughing like he inhaled his own tongue.
Daxen's face went red.
"You little—"
"Watch."
I stepped forward. Dropped into the most basic horse stance. Perfect alignment. Core engaged. Breath steady.
Then I drew an imaginary sword. Slow. Deliberate. One clean cut forward. No flourish. No wasted motion. Just pure line.
The air seemed to hum for half a second.
I exhaled.
"That's a sword stance. Everything else is decoration until they master this."
Daxen stared. Then barked a laugh.
"You think one pretty cut makes you better than me?"
"I think you're scared it does."
The courtyard went dead quiet.
Even the wind seemed to hold its breath.
Daxen's hand went to his sword hilt.
"You wanna test that theory, cleaner boy?"
I grinned. Sharp. Feral.
"Anytime. But first—fix your own stance. Your hips are crooked. Left shoulder's high. You're leaking qi like a busted pipe."
His face twisted.
The kids were frozen. Eyes wide. Mouths open.
Tano whispered, "Holy shit. Kai just called out Daxen. In front of everyone."
Mira muttered, "We're so dead."
Daxen drew his sword. Slow. Dramatic.
"Fine. Let's see what the great Kai's got."
I didn't draw anything. Just stood there. Hands loose.
"Come on then. Show me your 'real training'."
He lunged. Basic thrust. Fast for this sect. Predictable as hell.
I sidestepped. Barely moved. Let the blade whistle past.
He spun. Swing wide.
I ducked. Stood back up. Smirking.
"Sloppy."
He growled. Attacked again. Faster.
I weaved. Not even breathing hard. Every move telegraphed. Every opening screaming.
After the fifth miss, he stopped. Panting.
The kids were gaping.
Daxen snarled. "Stand still and fight like a man!"
"Why? So you can hit me easier?"
He charged.
I caught his wrist mid-swing. Twisted just enough. Sword clattered to the ground.
He froze.
I leaned in. Voice low.
"You're strong for a senior in a dying sect. But you're teaching them wrong. And deep down? You know it."
I released him.
He staggered back. Face burning.
The courtyard was silent except for heavy breathing.
I turned to the group.
"Back to breathing. Ten more minutes. Then we fix stances. Real ones."
No one moved at first.
Then Mira picked up her sword. Placed it down. Sat cross-legged.
Tano sighed dramatically. "Fine. But if I die, I'm haunting you."
One by one, they sat.
Daxen stood there. Sword on the ground. Fists clenched.
I looked at him.
"You joining? Or you gonna keep embarrassing yourself?"
He glared. Long moment.
Then he picked up his sword. Sheathed it.
Walked to the circle. Sat at the edge. Arms crossed. Silent.
Not obedience.
Not yet.
But he sat.
I smirked.
Good enough for now.
The Ashen Sovereign had just drawn his first real line in the dirt.
And the whole damn sect had seen it.