One lazy morning, on a leisurely weekend, Elysia heard grunts and noises emanating from the garden.
Intrigued, she approached the window , She saw his bother Benjamin practicing martial arts with a group of his subordinates.
The sight stirred memories buried deep within her—a time a thousand years ago when she had sparred with her brother in their family's courtyard.
Back then, her fiery spirit and determination had been unmatched. Unlike most women of her era, a time, when women were preparing for marriage, learning needlework and painting to charm their future husbands, Elysia thrived on the battlefield.
She didn't feel like she belonged in a world where women were expected to focus on domestic skills. Instead, she was drawn to strength, power, and the warriors who protected her family.
When Elysia was twelve, she often felt restless, as if something was missing in her life.
One day, while walking through the castle, she overheard a conversation between two knights about their training. They talked about the hard work, the teamwork, and the excitement of battle. Their words sparked something inside her.
Determined, she secretly snuck out of the castle one afternoon.
As she crept closer to the courtyard, she stumbled upon her father practicing martial combat. His movements were fluid and precise, like a dancer in battle. Each strike, each turn, was executed with such grace and power that it mesmerized her.
She stood quietly at a distance, watching in awe as he sparred with the commander-in-chief. Both men were strong, their skills formidable, making them nearly impossible to defeat. The way they moved, the strength and discipline they displayed, captured Elysia's imagination. She could feel the intensity of their every motion, the quiet power of hand-to-hand combat and martial arts that resonated in the air.
At that moment, a spark ignited within her—a deep, burning desire not just to learn the art of combat, but to master it.
Unable to hold herself back any longer, she stepped forward. Her heart raced as she gathered the courage to speak, her voice unwavering despite the intensity of the moment.
"Father, please teach me!" she exclaimed, her gaze steady, her back straight.
The courtyard fell silent, and all eyes turned to her. For a moment, Elysia felt her nerves flare up, but she refused to let them show. She stood tall, her inner turmoil hidden behind a calm exterior, refusing to be swayed by the sudden attention.
No woman in her time had ever expressed such a wish, and yet here she was, determined to defy convention.
Her father turned to face her, surprise flickering across his face. But as he looked into her eyes, that surprise melted into a warm smile. He saw the fire burning within her, a spark of determination that he had never expected to see in his daughter.
Instead of dismissing her request, he knelt down to her level, his expression filled with pride and affection. "If you truly wish to learn, you must promise me one thing," he said, offering her a small training sword.
"You must train harder than anyone else." A twinkle of pride danced in his eyes as he spoke, as if he had just realized that his daughter was no ordinary girl.
What he didn't know, however, was that this decision would set her on a path toward greatness.
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As Elysia stood there, the sounds from the garden drew her back to the present. She felt a spark of excitement as she watched the combat.
Sensing her presence, Benjamin glanced her way and signaled, grinning.
"Come here!" he called out.
All eyes turned toward Elysia, and her beauty left everyone stunned. Rumors had floated around about their boss having a sister, but no one had seen her before. Now, seeing her in person, they couldn't help but be in awe.
Noticing their reactions, Benjamin shot them a deathly glare. His subordinates immediately snapped out of their daze, clearing their throats nervously.
Elysia stepped into the sunlight, her green eyes sparkling with mischief.
"Do you want to practice?" Benjamin teased, confident she would decline.
His subordinates exchanged glances, incredulous. Why is the boss asking such a beauty to fight? Is he out of his mind? None dared to voice their thoughts aloud.
Even Benjamin himself wasn't sure why he asked. It was an instinct—a natural habit he had developed since Elysia joined his family. Teasing her seemed to come effortlessly, surprising even him at times.
To his surprise, Elysia replied, her tone challenging.
"Why not, brother?" Elysia walked calmly to the center of the courtyard, her posture relaxed, hands clasped behind her back.
Benjamin raised an eyebrow. "You're not even taking a stance?"
Elysia smiled . "I don't need to."
Her confident tone made Benjamin's eyebrows rise higher. With a smirk, he lunged forward, aiming a mock strike at her shoulder.
Before anyone could blink, Elysia grabbed his wrist mid-air. The strength of her grip froze him in place, and gasps rippled through the onlookers.
"What—?" Benjamin muttered, startled. He could feel the raw power behind her grasp. Benjamins man were stunned.
"Nice move, brother," Elysia teased, releasing him with a playful shove.
Benjamin's expression hardened, his competitive streak igniting. Finally, someone who can challenge me. Motioning to his men to step back, he took a proper stance.
"Alright, no more games," he declared, lunging forward with genuine intent.
But Elysia sidestepped effortlessly, twisting her body gracefully to evade his attack. Her movements were fluid, almost too fast to follow.
Benjamin spun, sweeping his leg toward hers. Elysia leaped lightly, landing with ease, her calm expression unbothered.
"Come now, is that all?" she said, her mischievous grin returning.
The duel intensified. Benjamin's strikes came faster, sharper, but Elysia matched him at every turn. Her reflexes were uncanny, her counters instinctive.
At one point, she caught his punch mid-air, twisting his arm behind his back in a single fluid motion.
"Yield?" she asked sweetly.
Benjamin growled but couldn't break free.
"Alright, alright, I yield!" he exclaimed, half-laughing, half-annoyed.
Though defeated, Benjamin couldn't help but feel proud. My sister isn't just a genius; she's strong enough to protect herself.
Elysia released him with a smirk. The men around them erupted into applause.
"I underestimated you," Benjamin admitted, catching his breath. "Where did you learn to fight like that?"
Elysia's gaze grew distant. "From someone dear… long ago," she said softly, her voice tinged with bittersweet nostalgia.
Benjamin raised an eyebrow, intrigued by her cryptic response, but chose not to press further.
"You're full of surprises, sister," he said, patting her shoulder. "Next time, I'll be ready."
Elysia smiled. "I'll be waiting."
As she walked back toward the house, her heart felt lighter. She had felt a connection to her past—a spark of who she truly was.
In the shadows of the courtyard, Sophie watched from a distance, a faint smile playing on her lips. Elysia was no ordinary girl.