I sat on the edge of my bed, the training sword across my lap, still dusty from earlier. The room was quiet, just the soft creak of wood and the fading light slipping through the window. My arms were sore, and my legs still felt heavy from all the footwork drills. But even tired, I couldn't stop thinking about this morning—about how easily Cassie moved during our duel. She wasn't flashy or loud about it, just... good. Really good. Way better than I expected. And way better than me.
I wanted to catch up. Not because I felt embarrassed—okay, maybe a little, but because I didn't want to be the guy she had to go easy on. I wanted to give her a real match next time. Something she'd take seriously. She had trusted me enough to show me that side of her, and the least I could do was be someone who deserved to see it again.
I was contemplating all of it, standing in the middle of my room, when a voice, low and clear, cut through the quiet.
"Hey."
