章 36: Thirty Six

As I stood before the intricate gold mirror in my room, the soft morning light dancing across my face, I couldn't help but feel a pang of melancholy settle within me. Tomorrow marked the end of my extended stay in the manor, a fortnight that had slipped away with alarming speed. I had promised myself I'd return to The Dread within a week, but the comfort and camaraderie I'd found here had proved to be growing on me. And so, I'd stayed the full two weeks, savoring the warmth of my newfound friendships. Lennon and I exchanged letters almost daily, but I hadn't seen him since the night he surprised me with a visit. My thoughts drifted to the day ahead, a packed schedule that would see me donning my armor and facing off against Zane in the training ring. The rush of adrenaline that came with sparring was a sensation I'd grown to crave, but it was the prospect of facing Zane that truly set my heart racing. Our sessions had become more bearable as the days passed, an infuriating yet entertaining blend of verbal sparring and physical combat that left me eager for more. His arrogant smirk and biting wit had initially grated on my nerves, but as the days passed, I'd come to appreciate the way he pushed me to excel, to test my limits and shatter them. I'd even managed to catch him off guard on occasion, landing a perfectly aimed kick or swift punch that sent him stumbling back. The look of surprise on his face, followed by a swift recovery and a wicked grin, was a sight to behold. I'd knocked him on his ass a time or two, the satisfaction of those fleeting victories still warm in my memory. Of course, those triumphs were always short-lived, as he'd quickly regain his footing and come at me with renewed ferocity, determined to prove himself the superior warrior. But even in defeat, I'd found a sense of pride and accomplishment. For every blow I landed, Zane would return with two, his movements a blur of steel and muscle as he pressed me to my limits. And yet, despite the intensity of our battles, the venom was slowly morphing into banter. A constant, a playful undercurrent that ran beneath the surface of our sparring. It was a game we played, a delicate dance of words and actions that left me annoyed but entertained. As I tied my hair back into a tight braid, my mind's eye conjured the image of Zane's chiseled features, his piercing blue eyes glinting with amusement as he landed a particularly clever blow. I felt a flutter in my chest, a sensation I hastily attributed to my looming departure tomorrow. I'd only be gone for two days, yet a sadness lingered there. I'd become used to seeing my new friends every day, and it felt wrong to leave them. After training I'd have to tear myself away to attend the monthly royal meeting with Thadeus. The enormity of the situation weighed heavily on my shoulders, a constant reminder that I would be surrounded by every region's royal Sidhe. Thadeus had promised me it would be nothing but mundane political banter, and he simply wanted a comrade to share in our mutual boredom. Which I trusted was most likely the case, since every other Sidhe in the group declined his invitation to attend. But despite his words, my trepidation remained just beneath the surface. But with a deep breath, I pushed aside my worries for the upcoming meeting and instead focused on the task at hand: training. I strode into the training ring, the familiar scent of sweat and worn leather filling my lungs as I made my way to the center. Zane was already there, his eyes fixed on me with an intensity that made my heart skip a beat. But as I approached, I noticed something was off. The usual spark in his eyes, the mischievous glint that always seemed to hint at some hidden joke, was nowhere to be found. Instead, his expression was guarded, his jaw clenched in a way that made me wonder if he was grinding his teeth. I entered the ring and we began to circle each other, our movements fluid and practiced as we sized each other up. I'd been training with Zane for two weeks now, and I knew his moves well. But today, he seemed...different. His usual fluidity was replaced by a stiff, almost mechanical precision that made me wary.