The training grounds were quiet in the morning breeze, but the stillness didn't last long.
Ansh strutted into the center of the field, wooden sword clutched proudly in both hands. He puffed out his chest as though he were already a master swordsman. Daav circled over his head, chirping encouragement like a tiny cheerleader.
"This is it!" Ansh announced grandly, stabbing the air with the wooden blade. "The day the world learns of my unmatched sword talent! I, Ansh the Great, shall conquer all foes with one mighty swing!"
Vijay groaned and covered his face. "Oh no… this is going to be painful."
Ashwini cracked her knuckles, stepping forward with the calm of an executioner. "For you, yes."
At the edge of the grounds, Vice Principal Rajyugas stood with his arms folded. His cold gaze pinned the three of them in place. "Ansh."
"Yes, Vice Principal?" Ansh said, standing straight.
"From today, you will learn swordsmanship. It is essential. And the one to train you will be—" His eyes slid to Ashwini.
Ansh's jaw dropped. "WHAT?! Her?! You're making her my teacher?!"
Ashwini smirked, brushing her hair back. "Oh, don't look so disappointed. I'll make sure you learn."
"Learn what?" Ansh grumbled. "How to get beaten into the ground?"
"Exactly," she said sweetly.
Vijay snorted. "Serves you right."
"Shut up, traitor!" Ansh barked, pointing his wooden sword at him.
"Enough," Rajyugas said sharply. His gaze fell on Ashwini. "Don't hold back. He will not grow if you coddle him."
Ashwini bowed her head slightly. "Understood."
Ansh's confidence crumbled. He looked at his flimsy wooden sword, then at Ashwini, who now stood across from him, her aura faintly glowing with the pulse of tree-nature.
"W-wait, wait, wait," Ansh stammered. "She gets powers and I only get this stick? That's unfair! That's abuse! That's—"
"Begin," Rajyugas said flatly.
Ashwini didn't hesitate. Roots burst from the ground, wrapping around Ansh's ankles before he even finished complaining.
"Wha—HEY!" Ansh squealed, hopping awkwardly as the roots tripped him. He swung the wooden sword wildly, missing everything.
Ashwini strolled toward him calmly, almost lazily, like a predator in no rush to finish its prey. "Lesson one: your enemy will never wait for you to be ready."
With a flick of her wrist, a branch sprouted from the earth and smacked him square on the back.
"OW! That's assault!" Ansh yelped, stumbling forward. He swung his wooden sword furiously, cutting nothing but air.
"Lesson two," Ashwini said, voice cool, "stop flailing like a drunk goose. Aim with purpose."
"I am aiming!" Ansh shouted indignantly. "I aimed right at your face!"
She sidestepped easily, her vine snapping against his leg. He shrieked and hopped on one foot.
From the sidelines, Vijay doubled over laughing. "This is the best training session I've ever seen."
"Shut up, Vijay! You're next!" Ansh roared, swinging his sword at nothing as Ashwini ducked smoothly under his clumsy strike.
Another vine smacked him in the back. He faceplanted in the dirt. Daav squeaked and landed beside him, fanning his wings as if in sympathy.
Ashwini planted her hands on her hips. "Lesson three: control your balance. You can't swing a sword properly if you fall every two seconds."
"I'm not falling!" Ansh said, muffled from the dirt. "I'm… testing gravity!"
Rajyugas, watching from the side, pinched the bridge of his nose.
The duel dragged on. Or rather, Ashwini's lecture continued, and Ansh's suffering dragged on.
Every time he tried to lunge, she tripped him with roots.
Every time he tried to swing, she deflected with a branch.
Every time he tried to taunt her, she smacked him in the ribs with merciless precision.
At one point, Daav tried to interfere, spitting a spark of flame toward Ashwini. She raised one eyebrow, summoned a wall of vines, and sent Daav tumbling with a harmless puff of leaves.
"Traitor number two!" Ansh cried as Daav scrambled back to him. "You're supposed to help me, not flop around uselessly!"
Daav squeaked guiltily and hid behind his neck.
By the end of the match, Ansh was bruised, battered, and crawling on the ground, clutching his wooden sword like a dying soldier.
Ashwini stood above him, flawless and unruffled. She leaned down and said softly, "Lesson four, Ansh. Sometimes, the best defense… is to stay quiet."
Ansh glared weakly up at her. "Lesson four… you're evil."
Vijay clapped loudly. "Bravo! Teacher Ashwini, truly a masterpiece performance!"
"Shut up, Vijay," Ansh groaned.
"Your turn," Rajyugas' voice cut across the ground. His eyes shifted to Vijay.
Vijay's smirk vanished instantly. His jaw dropped. "Wait, what?! Me?!"
Ashwini's lips curled into a dangerous smile. She twirled her branch of roots like a whip. "Of course. Come, Vijay. Don't be shy."
Vijay looked at Ansh, who was lying in the dirt, twitching. "Oh no. Oh, absolutely not."
Ansh raised a shaky hand. "G-go… face her. Suffer with me…"
"I'd rather die," Vijay muttered.
"You might," Ansh said helpfully.
Rajyugas' eyes narrowed. "Step forward, Vijay."
Reluctantly, with all the energy of a man marching to his funeral, Vijay stepped into the arena. He lifted his own wooden sword, swallowing hard.
Ashwini bowed her head mockingly. "Lesson one for you, Vijay—don't underestimate your opponent."
Vijay muttered under his breath, "Oh, I already know you're a demon."
"Good," Ashwini said sweetly. Then her roots lashed forward.
The fight was swift and brutal. Vijay had sharper reflexes than Ansh, managing to dodge a few strikes, but Ashwini's control was overwhelming. She disarmed him with a twist of roots, tripped him, and smacked him across the back before he even hit the ground.
Ansh, sitting up weakly, cackled. "HA! Now you know my pain!"
"Shut… up!" Vijay wheezed as Ashwini pinned him with roots.
By the end, both boys lay side by side at the corner of the field, beaten and groaning like discarded ragdolls.
Ashwini dusted off her hands, perfectly calm. "Lesson complete."
Daav fluttered down between Ansh and Vijay, chirping smugly.
"Don't… you dare laugh at me too," Vijay growled.
Ansh lifted a trembling hand. "Daav… note this down. Today we discovered… Ashwini is a sadist."
Ashwini folded her arms. "Today, you discovered discipline."
Rajyugas, watching silently, gave the faintest nod. For once, even he seemed satisfied.
The two boys groaned in unison.
The training had only just begun.