Over the following months, Aeliana committed herself to training with Kael. The once-clumsy stances and awkward sword grips began to smooth out as she gained strength and confidence. Her footwork improved, and she began to anticipate Kael's movements more effectively. Kael, for his part, was patient yet firm, pushing her to her limits but never too far. He encouraged her victories and constructively critiqued her missteps.
Lucian watched from the sidelines during their sessions whenever his duties allowed.
One afternoon, as the sun dipped lower in the sky, painting the training grounds in hues of gold and amber, Lucian stepped onto the sparring field. Kael had just called for a break, handing Aeliana a flask of water as she wiped her brow.
Aeliana beamed, still catching her breath. "Thank you."
Kael chuckled, leaning on his training sword. "She's a quick learner. A bit too eager sometimes, but her magic compensates when her physical strength wavers."
