ad do

killed s

e forced her unease down. This w

d tightly, she made her

against a tree. His eyes fl

t b

her confid

n it," h

ffened.

s no point in bringing it back

'd never done anything like that. Cutting o

nodded

another knife. "You

Clumsy work. B

ate her first kill, she felt

t hunger. It

She had killed.

, she would

ned into

ng this time. Eryndor showed her how to fight.

ement, to move quietly,

became faster, sha

g else was c

y was c

tiny flutter deep inside her. T

nd a little, making her

fighting for h

n learned, and every wound she faced

would have to mak

e hide f

o the world that had t

't have the

thing wa

never be w

eathed deeply. The morning sun peeked through t

he arrived, and she felt

girl who had been kicked out

here was still

"You've gotten better," he said, su

I pinned you d

re getting stronger, but you still think like a m

ht. Sometimes she second-guessed herse

t afford th

t and pulled out a wrapped i

short sword. It was smaller than a warrior's b

caught in h

ed this," Er

sn't just a weapon; it symbolized her growt

m, gratitude in her

f. "Don't thank me.

rked. "No

me, she felt a g

just surviv

ecoming a

o had forsaken her would

eight. It was real. Solid. Hers. A part of her journey now

ent. "One last thing before w

ebrow. "So, I actua

mirk. "But there's still so

into a ready stance

t isn't just about skill. It's about knowi

"I don't want

His tone was steady. "Revenge, anger, pride-they cloud y

understood. He could see the fire in

ard. "Then I'll le

s smirk returning.

h the trees, bringing t

The moon may have been hidden by cl

he moon wa

tching his arms. That'

word loosened. Her muscles felt tired, but

called after her,

a grin. Wouldn't wa

, but she saw a quick look of ap

stion hit her hard. She fell onto the bed, p

she th

It was like a sign that he

ke her training was lacking

life had it

ld her that someth

t would chang

r eyes and held

came next, she

had