Sienna led Kael deeper into the forest, her movements as silent and fluid as a shadow. Kael followed cautiously, clutching the blade tightly. The Heartstone's faint hum was the only sound that broke the stillness.
"Where are we going?" Kael asked after several minutes of winding through the trees.
"To a place where we won't be interrupted," Sienna replied without turning. "If I'm going to teach you, I'll need to see what you're capable of—and where you're most likely to get yourself killed."
Her bluntness made Kael scowl, but he bit back a retort. He had agreed to this, after all.
Eventually, they emerged into another clearing. This one was larger than the first, bordered by a brook that trickled over smooth stones. The sunlight filtered through the trees, casting dappled patterns on the ground.
"This will do," Sienna said, turning to face him. She leaned against a nearby tree and crossed her arms. "First lesson: show me how you fight."
Kael blinked. "What?"
"You heard me." She gestured toward him lazily. "Defend yourself."
Before Kael could respond, Sienna whipped a throwing knife from her belt and hurled it at him.
Instinct took over. Kael raised the blade, and the Heartstone flared to life. A shield of green energy erupted in front of him, deflecting the knife with a loud crack.
Sienna whistled, clearly impressed. "Not bad. The blade's protecting you instinctively, but that's not enough. If you rely on it to do all the work, you'll be dead before you know it."
Kael lowered the blade, his heart pounding. "You could've killed me!"
"If I wanted you dead, you'd be dead," Sienna said, her tone flat. "Now stop whining and focus. Try attacking me this time."
Kael hesitated. He wasn't sure he wanted to fight her—especially when she'd already proven she was faster and more experienced. But the determined look on her face told him she wouldn't take no for an answer.
Taking a deep breath, he adjusted his grip on the blade and charged.
Sienna dodged his first swing with ease, her movements precise and calculated. "Too slow," she said, stepping aside as Kael swung again. "Your stance is sloppy. You're overcommitting."
Kael growled in frustration, his strikes becoming more aggressive. Each time, Sienna evaded him effortlessly, her mocking commentary only fueling his anger.
Finally, she caught his wrist mid-swing and twisted it, forcing him to drop the blade. She kicked it away and pinned him to the ground in one fluid motion.
"Lesson two: don't let your emotions control you," she said, her voice calm despite his struggles. "Anger makes you predictable. And predictable gets you killed."
Kael glared up at her, his chest heaving. "Easy for you to say. You've had training."
Sienna released him and stepped back, retrieving the blade. She held it out to him, her expression unreadable. "You think I started out like this? I had to claw my way up, same as you. The only difference is, I didn't have a weapon like this to bail me out."
Kael sat up and took the blade, the warmth of the Heartstone calming his racing thoughts. "So what am I supposed to do?"
"Learn," Sienna said simply. "Control doesn't come overnight, but it starts with understanding the weapon you're holding. The Heartstone is powerful, but it's also dangerous. If you don't master it, it will consume you—and everything around you."
Kael nodded, swallowing the lump in his throat. "How do I master it?"
Sienna smiled faintly. "One step at a time. Now get up. We're not done yet."
---
The hours that followed were grueling. Sienna put Kael through a series of drills, forcing him to swing, block, and parry until his arms felt like lead. She corrected his stance, his footwork, and even his breathing, her sharp critiques cutting through his frustration.
"Your enemy won't wait for you to catch your breath," she said as Kael paused to wipe the sweat from his brow. "Every second you hesitate is a second they can use to kill you."
Kael gritted his teeth and pushed himself harder, determined not to give her the satisfaction of seeing him quit.
By the time the sun began to set, Kael was exhausted but still standing. The blade felt more like an extension of his arm now, its energy a steady rhythm in the background of his thoughts.
Sienna nodded approvingly as she watched him practice. "You're getting there," she said. "But you've got a long way to go."
Kael lowered the blade and turned to her, his expression serious. "Why are you helping me?"
Sienna leaned against a tree, her sharp green eyes studying him. "Because I've seen what happens when power like yours falls into the wrong hands. The Shadow Guild isn't the only group after that blade, Kael. If you're not ready to defend it—and yourself—you'll end up as another casualty in this war."
Kael frowned. "What war?"
"The war that's coming," Sienna said, her tone dark. "You've heard the stories about Ghorak, haven't you? He's not just some legend. His forces are real, and they're growing stronger every day. If he gets his hands on the Heartstone…"
She trailed off, her gaze distant.
Kael swallowed hard. He had heard the stories, but they had always seemed so far removed from his life in Durn. Now, with the blade in his hand and Sienna's warnings ringing in his ears, the threat felt all too real.
"What do I do?" he asked quietly.
Sienna straightened, her expression hardening. "You fight. You train until you can wield that blade without hesitation. And when the time comes, you stand against whatever comes your way."
Kael nodded, determination settling in his chest. He didn't fully understand the scope of what he was facing, but he knew one thing: he couldn't afford to fail.
As the first stars appeared in the night sky, Kael gripped the blade tightly, its glow casting faint shadows across the clearing. The path ahead was uncertain, but for the first time, he felt a flicker of hope