Chapter 35 - The Challenger

As Liria staggered from the training grounds, trying to massage the soreness from her arms, she spotted a figure blocking her path. He leaned against a stone pillar, his posture lazy but his gaze intense, fixed squarely on her with a glint that bordered on malice. She recognized him instantly the demon with a sharp, hawkish face, intense amber eyes, and dark, unruly hair. He wore a sleek tunic of royal purple and black, adorned with intricate silver embroidery, marking him as someone of high status within the palace.