Chapter 36: Chapter 36: FIVE DAYS TILL THE TRIALS

The five days passed in a rhythm that was becoming familiar.

Day Two. Florence ambushed him in the courtyard. No warning, just a leg sweep that took his feet out and a grapple that pinned him before he hit the ground. The stones were cold through his tunic. Her forearm pressed across his chest, firm but not hurting him. Her face was inches away, grinning.

"Better," she said. "Your reaction time’s improving. A month ago you would’ve just hit the ground and stayed there."

"A month ago I didn’t know you were going to ambush me every other day."

"Now you do. And you still ended up on the ground."

"You also ended up on the ground." He was referring to the day before, when he’d finally managed to sweep her legs during their evening spar. She’d hit the courtyard stones face-first and come up laughing, a smudge of dirt across her cheek.

"That was different," she said. "I let you do that."

"You absolutely did not let me do that."

"I was being generous."

"You were being slow."

Her grin widened. "Careful, Master. I’m still pinning you."

She released him and stood, offering a hand. He took it.

Then he pulled.

She yelped, a sound far less dignified than an SSS-rank Combat Master should be capable of making, and hit the stones beside him. For a moment they both just lay there, breathing hard, staring at the sky.

"That," Dominic said, "wasn’t you letting me do that."

Florence turned her head to look at him. Something shifted in her expression, surprise, then approval, then something warmer. "You actually got me."

"I told you I got you yesterday too."

"Yesterday was luck. Today was real." She sat up, rubbing her shoulder where she’d hit the stone. "I’m almost proud."

"Almost?"

"Don’t push it."

She stood slowly, dusting off the deep indigo tunic that clung loosely to her frame, and extended her hand toward him for the second time that day. This time, he accepted it without hesitation or pulling away. Her grip was strong yet gentle, the warmth of her palm seeping through the fabric. She held his hand a deliberate moment longer than necessary before finally pulling him to his feet.

Theresa watched silently from the window. Her book lay open in her lap, the pages slightly creased from her absentminded flipping. She hadn’t turned a single page in ten minutes, her eyes fixed on the scene outside.

Day Three. Florence tirelessly drilled footwork, pushing his calves to burn with effort and determination. She adjusted his stance with precise, firm hands on his shoulders, hips, and chin, steadying him.

She stood close enough so her body heat and subtle scent of lavender and sandalwood lingered in the air around him, making him acutely aware of her presence.

"Good," she murmured, stepping back. "Keep that. Don’t think about it. Let your body remember."

She ruffled his hair, a casual, affectionate gesture that was entirely Florence.

"See? You’re learning, Master. I might actually make a fighter out of you."

Dominic snorted, still catching his breath. "Was that a compliment?"

"It was an observation. Don’t let it go to your head." She was already walking back to her starting position. "Now do it again."

Evening of Day Four. The study door opened.

Theresa stepped out with the grimoire tucked under her arm and the weariness of hours of reading settled into the corners of her eyes. She crossed to where Dominic sat at the table, set the book aside, and leaned down.

Her lips pressed his forehead first. Warm. Soft. She lingered there long enough that he felt her breath stir his hair.

Then she tilted his chin up with two fingers and kissed him on the mouth. Slower than the forehead kiss. Deeper. The kind of kiss that said more than she’d spoken all day.

When she pulled back, her hand stayed on his shoulder.

"I’m almost done deciphering the grimore," she said quietly. "I need to understand more before I can explain it properly."

"Take your time."

"I will." A tired half-smile. "But I wanted to finish it quickly."

He didn’t push. He understood early on that Theresa liked to unfold at her own gentle pace.

She gave his lips a quick, sweet kiss again, this time brief, before slipping away to her room. The door softly closed, and the lock clicked into place.

Florence appeared in the archway leading to the courtyard. She had been stretching, or maybe just pretending to stretch, difficult to tell with her. 𝑓𝓇𝘦ℯ𝘸𝘦𝑏𝓃𝑜𝘷ℯ𝑙.𝑐𝑜𝓂

"The soon is almost becoming an anthem," she said.

"She’ll tell us when she’s ready."

"I know." Florence crossed her arms and leaned against the frame. "I’m just not good at waiting."

"You? Impatient?"

"Shocking, right? I conceal it so well."

Dominic snorted. "You conceal nothing well."

"Untrue. I concealed my disappointment when you wore that tunic yesterday."

"What? It’s my good tunic."

"Then we need to buy you better clothes."

"You can’t buy me clothes."

"Master. I can do anything I want. I’m the anointed demon of war."

"A demon of war who wants to take me shopping."

"Even demons need hobbies." She pushed off the doorframe and walked toward him, dropping into the chair across the table. Her grin was sharp but her eyes, in the fading sunset light, were softer than her voice.

"You’re unbearable."

"And yet here you are. Bearing me." She set the cup down and stood. "Come outside. The sunset’s good this evening, and you’ve been sitting at this table brooding for an hour."

"I wasn’t brooding."

"Master." She looked at him over her shoulder, already halfway to the courtyard. "You’re always brooding. It’s one of your qualities."

He followed her silently as she stepped outside. The sky above was painted in shades of orange and pink, the final rays of sunlight catching the high, wispy clouds. Florence settled onto a weathered bench that rested against the east wall, directly above the faint, faded chalk line etched into the ground, and patted the smooth stone slab beside her.

He seated himself gently. She leaned into his shoulder, their silence enveloping them. Neither spoke, just sharing the moment.

The lingering warmth of Theresa’s kiss still tingled on his forehead and lips. The grimoire rested with Theresa, its dark, leather cover slightly cracked, with secrets she wasn’t ready to reveal yet. Tomorrow marked the last day before the Trials, a looming event filled with uncertainty.

But for now, the sunset’s tranquil glow provided solace. He watched in quiet appreciation as the colors deepened and faded into twilight.

Morning of Day Five. Dominic ran precise footwork patterns across the dew-kissed training ground before dawn. The chalk line was barely visible now, smudged from repeated drills. The faint hum of bonded threads in his gloves thrummed in sync with his heartbeat. He could feel Florence’s focused attention brushing against him from inside the academy, her presence almost tangible.

The heavy metal gates of the academy would open soon, signaling the start of a new day. His name was prominently displayed on the digital board, waiting to be called.

He finished one last intense set of footwork drills, muscles vibrating with exertion, then slipped inside to prepare for the day ahead.

***

The campus was alive with vibrant color and energetic noise. Blue and silver banners fluttered from the main hall’s rafters, rippleing in the breeze. Temporary arenas had been constructed in the training yards, their rickety frames supporting various magical and martial duels. Students flocked around the towering tournament board in the central courtyard, voices raised in excitement as they discussed matchups, pointed eagerly at brackets, and whispered bets with hushed intensity.

Dominic stepped through the wrought-iron gates, his familiar jacket and sturdy boots in place. Wobbly was perched on his shoulder, adorned with a bright pink bow that fluttered slightly with each movement. The second bow had disappeared overnight, leaving only a faint imprint near the strap.

People glanced at him briefly, then looked again with more curiosity. Though they couldn’t see the delicate threads of his rank card or identify his exact standing, they immediately noticed how he carried himself differently, his stride now firm and unwavering, with no sign of hesitation or flinch in his posture.

Victor was leaning casually against the ornate fountain in the nearby square, flanked by his squad. He was dressed in newly tailored dueling attire, sleek, dark leather with shimmering accents, indicating he’d prepared for the upcoming matches. When his eyes caught sight of Dominic, he lifted a relaxed hand in greeting, a lazy smile playing on his lips.

"Kane! Glad you made it. I was worried you might not show."

The words sounded friendly, their tone warm and welcoming. Beneath the surface, a subtle edge cut sharp, hinting at underlying tension.

Dominic held his gaze steadily for a long, silent beat, assessing the situation before he kept walking with purpose.

Victor’s smile faltered for half a second, a flicker of uncertainty crossing his face, but he quickly regained his composure and widened his grin again.

His sister watched from twenty feet away, tall and poised with sharp, aristocratic features. Dressed in expensive, tailored clothes, she pretended to listen to her attendants conversing nearby but kept her eyes fixed on Dominic as he passed.

Lysandra had tucked herself into the narrow space between a marble pillar and the wall, a spot that gave her a clear view of the tournament board without putting her in anyone’s way. Her eyes tracked Dominic through the crowd. She’d gotten good at watching him without being noticed, two years of practice. When a pair of older students jostled past, she pressed herself flatter against the pillar and didn’t make a sound.

Dominic stopped in front of the board, which displayed various rankings and upcoming matches. His name sat at the bottom, highlighted in bold. He was listed as an E-rank competitor. His first match was scheduled for tomorrow morning, early enough to start the day with anticipation.

Two months. Two months since the dungeon. Two months of climbing.

Garrett, the combat instructor, stepped up beside him.

"Whatever you’ve been doing, Kane, keep doing it. You move differently now. I’ll be looking forward to your performance."

He walked away.

Dominic stared at his name on the bracket. The sun climbed higher. Tomorrow, the people who had written him off for years would start learning something new.