Aliens didn't seem to exactly be the type for adefine the relationshiptalk, but everything Darrokar did, everything he said, let me know that this thing between us wasn't just some passing fascination with the new species in town.
He wanted to keep me.
Without waiting for my response, he moved toward the chamber’s exit, inclining his head for me to follow. Despite my lingering doubts, it didn’t feel like a request.
The training grounds were blisteringly alive when we arrived, a chaotic melee of roaring warriors, swiping claws, and clashing lavaforged blades.
Darrokar’s presence silenced the chaos almost immediately, his warriors bowing their heads briefly in acknowledgment before shifting focus to me.
I could feel their judgment rippling across the space, tinged with curiosity, disdain, and something else I couldn’t name.
I stepped closer to Darrokar’s side instinctively,though I regretted letting that self-consciousness fear show a second later. He noticed, of course—his sharp gaze had an infuriating ability to catch things I barely let myself register.
“This is your chance,” he said, his voice quiet but firm, pitched low enough for only me to hear. “Do not shy away. Strength does not require familiar words.”
Easy for him to say—he had wings, claws, and all the fiery charisma of a walking inferno. I had … stubbornness and a never-ending list of self-doubts.
“Choose your opponent,” he said aloud, this time ensuring every Drakarn present could hear.
The weight of hundreds of eyes turned to me immediately, an almost physical force. I swallowed hard, my heart hammering against the new armor like it, too, didn’t trust its protection.
“Her,” I said finally, pointing toward a red-scaled, towering warrior standing near the edge of the circle. She was nearly twice my size, her well-toned muscles betraying years of combat experience. If I was going to do this—if I had toproveanything—it wouldn’t be by taking the easy route.
The arena fell dead silent as we stepped into one of the designated rings. My opponent didn’t bother with introductions or a nod—she simply snarled,wings flaring wide as her talons flexed against the blackened stone.
I forced the nerves out of my body, focusing instead on the steadiness of my stance. I wasn’t there to die—I was there to learn.
The first blow came swiftly, a wide arc of claws that had more force than calculation behind it. I ducked, twisting my body sharply enough that her wing flap almost pulled me off-balance. Almost.
She didn’t give me the chance to recover, lunging forward before I could right myself. Her claws raked downward, and I barely avoided taking the full brunt by pivoting my weight and rolling to the side. The ground beneath my palm burned—a cruel reminder that this wasn’t just training. This was the proving ground, and failure wasn’t just embarrassing—it was dangerous.
Darrokar stood at the edge of the ring, his presence a dark shadow that drew my awareness despite the chaos of the fight. I didn’t need to look to know his eyes were fixed on me, golden and unreadable. Was he watching to see if I could keep up or to see how quickly I’d fall?
Either way, my body moved differently knowing he was there—more desperate to succeed, even as my musclestrembled with the effort.
The warrior snarled again, her claws slashing out at me in a series of calculated strikes, each one driving me back toward the edge of the ring. My feet scrambled against the blackened stone as I blocked her blows with the training blade Darrokar had handed me moments earlier—a blade that suddenly felt absurdly small in my grip.
She wasn’t just using brute force anymore; she was toying with me, her attacks designed to keep me defensive and off-balance. I gritted my teeth, frustration simmering with every blow I barely deflected. My breathing was labored, sweat beading on my forehead despite the cool edge of the leathers.
“Is that all you've got,luvae?” Darrokar’s voice sliced through the tension like the edge of a blade, seemingly mild but deceptively sharp.
I didn’t dare look at him, but I could feel the weight of his words. It wasn’t mockery—not entirely—but it was enough to provoke the anger simmering just beneath my skin to a boil.
Focusing on my opponent, I lunged forward, feinting to her right before pivoting on my heel and aiming low at her exposed flank. She moved faster than I anticipated—a flash of red scales and the sharp crack of claw against blade as she parried the strike and thrust her wings outward for an additional push.The force knocked me off-balance, and I stumbled backward, my back perilously close to the molten edge of the ring’s boundary.
The crowd of warriors surrounding the arena let out a low, collective rumble—an almost animalistic sound that made me shiver. I couldn’t tell if they were impressed or disappointed.
Get it together, Terra.
I swallowed hard and zoomed in on her next move. Her claws lashed out again, and this time, I dropped low before spinning behind her, raising the blade toward her exposed back.
The strike landed.
A shallow cut formed just above her hips—nothing debilitating, but enough to draw a sharp hiss of pain. She flared her wings again, spinning to face me with renewed anger, her stance widening as she prepared to attack.
But I had no intention of waiting.
Before she could regain the advantage, I surged forward, blade poised for another strike. I wasn’t foolish enough to think I could overpower her, so I put every ounce of focus into speed and precision, trying to anticipate her reactions.