📖 WAN Empire
The training room was silent except for the sound of my breathing.
"Again."
Emerald's voice was calm, controlled, but firm.
I clenched my fists and repeated the movement he had just shown me, my muscles screaming in protest. I wasn't trained for this. I wasn't strong like them. I was just trying to survive.
"You're hesitating," he said.
"I'm trying," I snapped before I could stop myself.
The room went quiet.
I immediately lowered my head. "I'm sorry."
Emerald studied me for a long moment before speaking. "Fear will get you killed here, Curly. Not weakness. Fear."
I swallowed hard.
"Take a break," he finally said.
Relief washed over me as I stepped aside, my legs trembling. I sat on the floor, hugging my knees, trying to calm my racing heart.
"Training a slave now?" a mocking voice echoed from the doorway.
I stiffened.
Vince.
He leaned against the doorframe, arms crossed, eyes dark and unreadable. The bruise on his face had faded, but the anger behind his gaze hadn't.
"She's not a slave," Emerald replied evenly.
Vince laughed. "That's funny. Because Mother would disagree."
I felt my chest tighten.
Vince's eyes flicked to me. Slowly, deliberately, he walked closer.
"You're quiet today," he said. "Not running anymore?"
I stood up instinctively, taking a step back.
"Enough," Emerald said sharply. "Leave."
Vince ignored him.
"You know," Vince continued, circling me like a predator, "most girls don't survive long here. They break. Or they disappear."
My heart pounded violently.
"But you," he said, stopping in front of me, lowering his voice, "you're different."
"Step away from her," Emerald warned, his tone dangerously low.
Vince smirked. "Or what?"
For a brief second, I thought they might actually fight.
Then Vince leaned closer to my ear. "You think he can protect you forever?"
I flinched.
"Get out," Emerald said again, leaving no room for argument this time.
Vince straightened, his smile gone. "This isn't over," he muttered—whether to me or Emerald, I wasn't sure.
He turned and left.
The moment the door closed, my knees nearly gave out.
Emerald moved instantly, steadying me before I could fall.
"Are you okay?" he asked quietly.
I nodded, though my hands were shaking.
"You shouldn't be alone with him," he said. "Ever."
"Why does he hate me?" I asked, my voice barely steady.
Emerald hesitated.
"He doesn't hate you," he finally said. "That's the problem."
I frowned. "Then what does he want?"
Emerald looked away.
"Things he shouldn't."
Silence stretched between us.
"Why are you helping me?" I asked again, meeting his eyes.
His jaw tightened.
"Because… it's better you survive than fail."
I blinked, unsure how to respond.
Before I could ask more, footsteps echoed in the hall.
Emerald stepped back instantly, his expression returning to unreadable calm.
"Go back to the Slave House," he said. "And Curly—"
"Yes?"
"Trust no one completely. Not even me."
I watched him walk away, my heart heavy with confusion.
As I returned to my room that night, one thing was clear:
I was no longer invisible.
And in WAN Empire, being seen was the most dangerous thing of all.
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