No one wanted to be demoted.
Fianna smirked. So this was a battle not just for advancent but for survival.
Elana folded her arms. "Your battles start next week. Prepare accordingly. Dismissed."
As the students began to file out, the tension in the air was palpable. Everyone was already evaluating their potential opponents.
Fianna glanced at Caspian one last ti before walking off.
This was going to be interesting
.....
(POV: Vynesaa El'Leather)
Clash!
Steel t steel, the ringing sound echoing through the academy's private training hall.
The duel between Vynesaa El'Leather and Fianna Redmond had been going on for nearly fifteen minutes, yet neither of them was willing to back down.
Vynesaa's blade moved with precise, elegant arcs—like flowing water. Each movent calculated.
She barely seed out of breath, her lavender eyes locked onto Fianna's every move.
Fianna, on the other hand, was unrelenting.
Her strikes carried more weight, and though her form was aggressive, she never left herself completely exposed.
The two clashed again, swords grinding against each other.
"You're showing too little," Vynesaa said, her voice calm but firm.
Fianna narrowed her eyes. "What do you an?"
Vynesaa shifted her stance. "You're trying too hard to hide your movents. That works against an inexperienced opponent, but against soone strong, it makes you predictable."
She stepped back and lifted her sword slightly. "Instead, show more. Let your enemy think they see everything… and then strike."
Fianna's expression hardened.
"I see."
She adjusted her grip and lunged forward, this ti exaggerating her motion.
It looked as though she was aiming for a high strike, but at the last second—she twisted her wrist, bringing the blade lower.
Clang!
Vynesaa barely parried in ti, her eyes flashing with approval.
"Like that?" Fianna asked, smirking.
Vynesaa returned the smirk. "Better. But still predictable."
Without warning, she turned her wrist, redirecting Fianna's blade.
The movent forced Fianna slightly off-balance, and in that mont—Vynesaa struck.
Fianna barely managed to block, skidding back a few feet.
She had lost the exchange, but it wasn't a clean victory for Vynesaa either.
Both of them stood still for a mont, catching their breath.
Then, Fianna exhaled. "That's enough for today."
She lowered her blade and walked toward the weapon rack to return it.
Vynesaa wiped so sweat off her brow, then followed suit.
It was a good duel.
Fianna was talented—sharper than most. There was a reason she had a reputation in the academy.
As they exited the training hall, Vynesaa glanced at her.
"Hey, Fianna."
Fianna raised an eyebrow. "What?"
"There's sothing I want to ask you."
Fianna stopped walking, turning slightly toward her.
"Go ahead."
Vynesaa crossed her arms. "How do you know Caspian?"
Fianna's expression remained neutral.
"Why?" Fianna asked.
Vynesaa shrugged. "It just ca to my mind."
For a mont, Fianna didn't answer. Then she exhaled.
"I've known him since childhood."
Vynesaa tilted her head. "So you knew he was an Arcwright?"
This ti, Fianna flinched. It was barely noticeable, but Vynesaa caught it.
Then, after a short pause, Fianna nodded. "Yes."
Vynesaa moved instantly.
In a flash, she reached for Fianna's collar, grabbing the fabric and pulling her close—but Fianna reacted just as quickly.
Instead of resisting, she shifted her weight, twisted slightly, and used Vynesaa's montum against her—breaking free and shoving her back.
Vynesaa stumbled slightly but recovered.
Now, they were staring at each other.
"Why didn't you help him?" Vynesaa asked, her voice quieter now.
Fianna clenched her jaw. "What are you talking about?"
Vynesaa's eyes narrowed. "You know what I an."
There was silence.
Then, Vynesaa took a step forward.
"You knew he was an Arcwright. You knew what that ant. You also knew how he was treated."
Fianna looked away for a brief second—but that second was enough.
She knew.
"You knew he was beaten." Vynesaa's voice was almost a whisper now.
The air between them grew heavy.
For a long ti, Fianna didn't answer.
Then, finally, she spoke.
"It wasn't that simple, Vynesaa."
Vynesaa scoffed. "Then explain."
Fianna's hands tightened into fists. There was sothing in her eyes—guilt, frustration.
"I… I didn't have a choice."
Vynesaa stared at her for a long mont. Then she let out a breath and stepped back.
"You always have a choice."
She turned and started walking away.
Fianna stood there, unmoving.
...
(POV: Fianna Redmond)
The weight of Vynesaa's words lingered between them, heavy and suffocating.
"You always have a choice."
As Vynesaa turned to walk away, Fianna clenched her fists. Sothing inside her twisted—anger, frustration, maybe even guilt.
But why should she feel guilty?
Her voice ca out before she could stop herself.
"What could I even do?"
Vynesaa halted.
Fianna took a deep breath. "I was a child, Vynesaa. I didn't know how things worked back then. I tried… in the ways that I could."
Vynesaa slowly turned back around, her expression unreadable.
Fianna exhaled. "My family isn't a Dukedom. We are one class lower than them." She paused, her voice steady but tinged with bitterness. "Do you know what that ans? It ans we have power—but not enough. Influence—but not control. Authority—but not protection."
She looked straight into Vynesaa's sharp lavender eyes. "What could I have done? Stand against a Ducal family? Interfere in sothing I had no control over?"
Vynesaa remained silent, watching her closely.
Then—
"And if you're saying all this… that you have no control then tell —how do you even know Caspian?" Vynesaa asked.
But there was a flicker in Vynesaa's eyes, a slight hesitation.
Fianna inhaled, steadying herself.
And then—she spoke the words she had never said out loud before.
"He was my fiancé."
Vynesaa's expression finally changed—slightly, but noticeably.
"He was my only friend. I adored him." Fianna's voice softened. "To be honest… I liked him."
The words felt strange leaving her lips. Not because they were false—but because they were a truth she had buried for years.
Vynesaa still said nothing.
Fianna let out a shaky breath. "But… the Caspian I see now isn't the sa."
She looked down at her hands, as if searching for sothing that wasn't there.
"I don't know if you changed him, or if the world did."
Her voice was barely above a whisper now. "But he isn't the sa person anymore."
Vynesaa was quiet for a long mont.
Then, finally, she spoke.
"No."
Fianna looked up.
Vynesaa's eyes were cold.
"He is."
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