"Ugh!" Valerie’s strained efforts echoed through the training ground as he practiced his moves. Arrayed before him were nurous targets. He took out so with swift karate chops and powerful jabs, but his main focus was on his fire ability. His hands ignited with blue flas, smaller than the usual red-orange inferno he was accustod to summoning, but they still effectively torched the targets, leaving them ablaze as smoke curled into the air.
As he stepped back from the smoldering remains, his second-in-command, Derek, approached and handed him a water skin. Valerie took it eagerly, chugging down the cool water that soothed his burning throat. Despite the days that had passed, he still wasn’t accustod to the mountain’s intense heat.
Valerie looked entirely different from when he had first arrived. Unlike his grandfather, he didn’t cut his long hair; instead, he piled it into a ssy bun atop his head. The harsh life in the mountains had left its marks on him. He was tanner than usual, had lost so weight, and gained considerable muscle. His features had hardened, and the steel in his eyes, combined with his more rugged appearance, made him look far less effeminate.
"That was amazing," Derek complinted, taking the water skin and handing him a towel instead which he used to wipe the soot off his face and cleaned the rest of his body. Water was a luxury in this mountain.
"That was amazing," Derek said, his tone supportive as he handed Valerie a towel to wipe the soot from his face. Water was scarce in these mountains, and every drop was precious.
"That was useless," Valerie snapped, pointing at the smoldering targets. "This won’t help against Aldric in the death duel. I leave for Astaria tomorrow, and I’m still not ready. How is this supposed to be helpful?!"
Derek remained composed, understanding Valerie’s frustration. He had grown accustod to these outbursts during their grueling training sessions.
"You should be grateful for your humble beginnings," Grandfather Keon interjected, lounging in a reclining chair nearby. He observed the scene with detached amusent, casually snacking on nuts.
Valerie stord over to him, anger simring in his eyes. "I ca to master the blue fla, not for cheap parlor tricks!"
"It took years to master it," Keon replied coolly, reclining further. "You want to learn in four days what took decades? Who do you think you are, a primordial god? You should make do with what you’ve learned."
Valerie laughed, a bitter, hollow sound. "Of course, you’d say that. I need a lethal move to use against Aldric, but you had doing breathing exercises for two days! Who does that?"
"You were too tense," Keon said, popping another nut into his mouth. "Relaxation is key. I would’ve recomnded sex, but we’re all males here, and I doubt you swing that way. Otherwise, Derek might have sufficed." He smirked, nodding towards Derek.
Derek froze, clearly uncomfortable, while Valerie’s frustration boiled over. "Do you think this is funny?! I’m terrified I’ll lose and fail Islinda. I might die, and you act like you don’t care at all."
Silence followed, stretching uncomfortably as Valerie waited for his grandfather to show any sign of concern. When Keon remained impassive, Valerie’s laugh threw his head, his laughter turned cold, "Why did I expect anything else? You never fought for anything. No wonder Mother thinks you’re a useless failure—"
It happened too quickly for any of them to comprehend. Valerie could not finish the rest of his statent because his grandfather who was once seated now stood in front of him, with great rage on his face. He had his hand around his throat while his other hand was alight with a dangerously bright blue fla that was scarily close to his face.
"Complete that statent and I’ll do your half brother Aldric a favor by finishing you up." He threatened him, the heat of the blue fla raging with the burning anger cursing through his vein right now.
Valerie did not dare move nor challenge his grandfather right now, knowing it would be his doom. He swallowed, sweating from the heat of the fla.
"I thought as much." Grandfather Keon sneered when he did not speak a word."I thought you knew so much about ? Go on, say it."
"I didn’t an it," he managed, his voice shaking. "I just need your help, Grandfather."
Keon’s grip tightened briefly before shoving Valerie away. "I’d rather see you dead than have a rude, ungrateful twerp for a grandson. Maeve might be ruthless, but I expected more from her bloodline.
You don’t even understand the worth of your bloodline. Nor the sacrifices I’ve made to protect our court and the Fae realm."
Valerie stumbled, rubbing his neck. He could see now that Keon would have shown no rcy in a fight.
"You don’t deserve to learn the blue fla," Keon declared. "You don’t need to leave tomorrow, you’re leaving now."
"What?!" Valerie’s head reeled from the sudden rejection. What was up with the old Fae?
"But I—"
"You heard . Get out of my mountain. This useless old Fae mastered the blue fla alone. I’m sure Maeve’s prodigy can do the sa." Keon’s tone dripped with sarcasm.
But Valerie went after him, trying to reason with him. "Seriously, grandfather, calm down and let us -" he attempted to touch him.
But Grandfather Keon turned around and blue flas erupted causing Valerie to stagger back. His grandfather ford a wall of flas which demarcated them. Valerie could see the fire reflected in his eyes when he said one final ti. "Leave."
Realizing the futility of arguing, Valerie turned and said to Derek who had been watching the scene helplessly. "Let’s go."
Derek seed like he wanted to plead on Valerie’s behind but the wall of fire grew stronger and he took that as a hint from the old Fae not to interfere.
With a disappointed sigh, Derek followed after Valerie. Together, they left.
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