And when those sparks landed on the nearest statue, fire burst across its body with a crackling roar, illuminating the clearing.
Sorayah’s eyes widened in awe, her chest rising and falling as her heart swelled with triumph. Joy flooded through her like a crashing wave. She continued to clang her sword and dagger together, the sound sharp and rhythmic as more sparks flew through the air. Each spark found its mark, setting fire to the other leaf-made statues. One by one, they erupted in flas.
Only when the last statue crumbled into ash did Sorayah sink to the ground, collapsing to her knees with a heavy exhale. Her arms trembled. Her lungs burned. She was drenched in sweat, panting as if she had just run for miles. But through the exhaustion, a smile tugged at the corner of her lips.
"I did it," she whispered to herself between gulps of air. Her voice trembled, thick with disbelief. "I really did it."
"Well done, Sorayah," ca Dimitri’s voice, deep and amused. He rose slowly from the river bank, a wide, almost smug smirk plastered across his face. He began walking toward her, his boots crunching against the blackened earth. "Looks like you’re going to live a little longer than I expected."
Sorayah scoffed and turned her face away, making sure he didn’t catch the small, satisfied grin she tried to hide. She stared at the ground, letting the silence settle for a mont. Only the chirping of distant birds, the murmur of a nearby stream, and the whispering wind remained.
When she finally looked up again, Dimitri was standing before her, arm extended. His hand hovered in the space between them, palm open, offering help. But what stunned her more than the gesture was the smile on his lips. It wasn’t the usual crooked, mocking smirk she had grown used to. It was warm. Gentle. Human.
Her heartbeat stuttered.
What’s wrong with him? she thought, swallowing hard. That expression didn’t belong to a man like him.
"What do you want?" she asked cautiously, her voice quiet and hoarse. Her brow arched, lined with suspicion.
What she truly wanted was to remain seated, to breathe, to let her limbs rest. The battle with the statues had drained everything from her. Even the smallest movent sent new aches shooting through her muscles.
"Get up," Dimitri said simply, ignoring her reluctance. "You still have to learn how to shoot your arrow properly and your swordsmanship needs refining."
Before she could protest or even consider taking his hand, Dimitri reached down and took hers firmly, pulling her to her feet without ceremony.
"Now?!" Sorayah exclaid, staggering slightly. Her eyes widened with disbelief. "I am not interested in learning anything right now, Your Highness. I have injuries all over my body, I’m exhausted from fighting those cursed statues." She planted her hands on her hips, her voice sharp with frustration. "Let’s continue tomorrow, Your Highness. I’ll learn whatever remains then." She added with an exhausted expression.
"You only fought a few statues and you’re already complaining?" Dimitri stepped closer, his coat billowing behind him. His tone had shifted as it was sharper now, clipped with challenge. "What if you were facing thousands of soldiers on a battlefield? You think they’ll give you a break?"
He studied her, eyes dark and assessing. "You’re talented, Sorayah. And don’t insult with that lie about learning from your father. That’s just a poorly crafted cover."
Sorayah froze, her pulse suddenly pounding in her ears.
"I’ve lived among humans before," Dimitri continued, voice low and deliberate. "I’ve seen their swordsmanship. The moves you already displayed before aren’t tricks picked up in so village. They’re taught among royalty, refined within palace walls. The technique you used... I’ve only seen it once before, from a crown prince I t long ago in the human court."
He stepped closer, his gaze locking onto hers like a predator’s. "So tell , Sorayah. Who are you really? What kind of story are you going to spin this ti?"
Sorayah’s throat tightened. Her mind raced.
"I worked at the palace," she replied quickly, her voice firm despite the flutter in her chest. "I was the crown prince’s personal maid. I... I observed his training sessions. That’s how I learned. In secret."
"Oh?" Dimitri tilted his head, studying her again. That smirk returned, curling at the edge of his mouth. "Clever little maid," he murmured. "You lie well."
He turned away slightly, letting her squirm in the heavy silence.
"Anyway," he added casually, "I can heal you if you want."
Heal ?" she echoed, confusion plain on her face.
"Yes." Dimitri turned back to her, his voice softer now, more intimate. "Your body’s exhausted, bruised, and battered. But I can fix it. Every wound. Every ache. I can take it all away."
Sorayah blinked. The abrupt shift in conversation threw her off balance.
He couldn’t possibly just accept her words like that. There had to be sothing else lurking beneath that deceptively calm expression.
He’s definitely thinking about sothing else... I really have to be careful, Sorayah thought, swallowing hard. Slowly, she lowered herself to her knees, her hands trembling slightly.
"Please, spare my life, Your Highness," she pleaded, her voice low and submissive. "I’m just a common maid."
Dimitri tilted his head, watching her intently. Then, after a beat of silence, he chuckled, though it held no mirth.
"Oh, I see," he said, a sly glint in his eyes. "Well, you’re in luck. You’ll be the first person I’ve ever heal. And I’m only doing it because you’re coming with to a particular werewolf city that I intend to ruin." His smile widened, cold and unsettling. "Just you and . So, you’d better be prepared or et your end."
"Huh?" Sorayah’s eyes widened, her heart pounding with shock and disbelief.
"The war begins tomorrow," Dimitri continued without pause. "I’ll be sending soldiers to various cities they’re tasked to conquer, but there’s one particular city that you and I will take down first."
He casually tossed the bow and a quiver of arrows toward her. Sorayah instinctively caught them, though her limbs still ached.
"Now, show what you’ve got," Dimitri said. "Prove your archery skills before I teach you anything new."
"Wait..." she breathed, her voice laced with confusion. "You said we’re going to war? Alone? Why? Why just the two of us? Why and you?"
"That city isn’t on the emperor’s official list," he replied, his tone suddenly sharp with authority. "It’s already pledged its alliance. The imperial concubine who just died ca from there. Because of her, the city is under protection. But I have unfinished business in that place, people to rescue, debts to collect. Once that’s done, we’ll burn it to the ground. The emperor can no longer shield them from my wrath."
Sorayah’s eyebrows shot up. "What? I don’t understand any of this, Your Highness. Why involve ? What does that city have to do with ?"
"You’ll find out in due ti," he said simply, his voice low and resolute. "But rember this, you’re coming with , and for your own survival, you’d better take everything I teach you seriously. You’ll need every skill you have. It’s a matter of life and death."
He leaned in closer, his intense gaze locking with hers. "Even if you’re dood to die, it’s better to fight to the end."
"I really don’t understand what you’re talking about," Sorayah snapped, the frustration in her voice boiling over. "And honestly? I don’t want to understand. I refuse to go to war with you alone. I don’t know who you want to save, and I don’t care. I certainly don’t want to be part of so personal vendetta against a city that’s already pledged loyalty to the emperor. Besides I’m just a common maid."
"If war is inevitable, then I’d rather be sent with the rest of the soldiers than dragged into your blood-stained plans. I definitely don’t want to risk my life." Sorayah added.
"You really think you have a choice?" Dimitri asked, his smirk returning with a vengeance. He stepped forward, his coat trailing behind him like a shadow.
"You don’t, young lady. When I say you’re coming with , that’s exactly what will happen. The crown prince of the human kingdom is still being hunted, and the Alpha Emperor would be very interested to know that his personal maid has been found." He arched a brow at her, letting the threat sink in.
Sorayah froze.
"Besides, you’re a woman. Your presence will be... useful," he added aningfully. "Yes, we’ll head there first, just the two of us. But reinforcents will co later. Until then, you and I will fight together and survive together. That’s why I’m pushing you now. You need to have that head of yours screwed on tight if you want it to stay on your shoulders."
Dimitri then grabbed her arm and lifted her effortlessly to her feet. Her body tensed in response, caught between fear and defiance.
I’m really screwed, she thought, her heart hamring wildly against her ribs.
He has found another way to threaten now and that is being the human crown prince personal servant.
"So now, tell ," Dimitri said, his voice suddenly calm, almost mocking. "Do you want to heal you first, or should we begin training imdiately with your body already bruised and battered?"
Sorayah blinked, her heart beating faster than usual with fear. "And how exactly do you plan to do that, Your Highness?"
"Co closer," he said, flashing her a slow, enigmatic smile. "And find out."
He extended a hand toward her again, his eyes glittering with unreadable intent.
"Hurry. We don’t have ti to waste."
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