AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Every feint he made, every swift sidestep, seemed to predict where I would be next.
The taste of impending defeat threatened to choke me.
I had to dig deep, pulling from reservoirs of strength I didn’t know I still had.
My vision narrowed, focusing only on Ralen and the blade that danced threateningly close to me.
I heard the murmurs of the other students, their whispers a mix of concern and disbelief.
But then, a misstep.
My foot caught on a loose stone, sending a sharp jolt of pain up my leg.
I teetered, off-balance.
Ralen saw his opening and lunged.
Time seemed to slow.
I braced myself for the impact, but it never came.
Instead, a strong hand gripped my arm, steadying me.
It was Kala.
“Enough!” he declared, his voice echoing through the grounds.
Ralen stepped back, sheathing his blade, his chest heaving from the exertion.
I panted heavily, feeling both gratitude and humiliation.
Kala looked into my eyes, his gaze piercing. “You’ve always taught us that a warrior knows their limits. Today, you’ve ignored yours.”
The words stung, but I knew he was right.
The weight of my stubbornness settled heavily on my shoulders, and I sighed. “Thank you, Kala. But I… I have no choice.”
As the students dispersed, the reality of my limitations settled in.
I couldn’t keep pushing myself like this.
But as I limped back to my cell, one thing was clear: even in my weakened state, my students had my back.
It was a bitter pill of realization but wrapped in the comforting knowledge that I wasn’t alone in this fight.
* * *
The antechamber’s air was thick with anticipation.
The earthy aroma of the combat arena mixed with the tang of freshly sharpened metal and the nervous sweat of the fighters.
The low hum of murmured conversations filled my ears as the waiting warriors mentally prepared themselves for battle.
Each of us was cloaked in our own thoughts, wrapped in private rituals that brought comfort and clarity before the impending clashes.
I approached the weapon’s rack, a well-lit alcove that showcased an array of menacing tools of destruction.
Every piece gleamed with deadly precision, from the gracefully curved blades to the heavy, crushing mallets.
