Cel shifted his weight forward, Silent Moon rising in a basic guard position. Across from him, Silas stood with his spear held loosely - too loosely, the weapon’s dark shaft resting against his palm like he’d forgotten it was there. Behind them, Zara made herself comfortable on the couch with the casual indifference of someone settling in to watch paint dry.199Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkMOwRYzT69
199Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu5CbF4cKEO
Cel moved first.199Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEpJbntIHTO
199Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa4XfpCMhr4
He closed the distance in three quick steps, Silent Moon cutting toward Silas’s shoulder in a controlled arc. The strike was measured and careful, exactly as he’d practiced in the Academy.199Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYE9yur7khs
199Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr0vAq6xOEc
Silas’s spear intercepted with minimal movement. The dark shaft caught Silent Moon’s edge and redirected it past his body in one smooth motion.199Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ6XbIbGgH7
199Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzmYIvO0zPY
Cel adjusted, bringing his blade back for a thrust aimed at center mass.199Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ87MOo0Fd0F
199Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9Cnvs1QIT9
The spear’s heel struck his wrist - not hard, just enough to knock his aim off. The thrust went wide by a hand’s width.199Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEi1xMaAuS9
199Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKqPNq6JAtk
Cel stepped back, resetting his stance. Tried a different approach. A feint high, then cutting low toward Silas’s legs.199Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYv6rQntauA
199Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwkV3E98LEr
The spear moved like water. Down, across, deflecting the strike before it could land. Silas hadn’t even shifted his feet.199Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0Qv4a4fpf8
199Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDvyHkCKBDc
Another exchange. Then another. Each time Cel attacked with controlled force, Silas’s defense turned it aside with the kind of economy that came from years of practice. The spear never moved more than necessary. Never wasted motion.199Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdrjAvftKKn
199Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsjJTsa2dW3
Five exchanges. Ten. Cel’s breathing remained steady, his body barely taxed by the effort.199Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkZMONRsKHk
199Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZv3Q7y7nik
But he wasn’t landing anything.199Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6ZhkszFiyE
199Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGbfmSvqIUM
Not even close.199Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXGjQ77Knf1
199Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt2RQyzZZzz
Frustration built in his chest. He could feel the raw energy thrumming just beneath his skin - an unrelenting force that surged through his body. Strength that could crush boulders. Speed that could bridge gaps before foes even sensed his approach.199Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV9QHzns0RQ
199Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVWFqoxihJC
And he was using maybe a quarter of it.199Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0jFFtUbRqN
199Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOmqNtgJEUe
The realization struck with uncomfortable clarity.199Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmVbsj7AM8H
199Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxb0oReEE0d
There was no need to hold back.199Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcxtC6vqC9y
199Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmdFPluHxRE
This wasn’t the Academy. Wasn’t Instructor Calder’s careful supervision or other students who might actually get hurt if he put real force behind his strikes.199Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhIFqF1crl7
199Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFekFXvNwIu
This was someone strong enough to hunt down other Chosen as part of the Reckoning. Someone Esrin had assigned to train him specifically.199Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6RLymnrYMQ
199Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmZstOFSgkI
Someone who could handle it.199Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFT4gcn1GPY
199Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ18rNXIYEnz
Cel’s next strike came with everything he had.199Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaW8r9Ltg9A
199Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRPxnHs6Y2s
Silent Moon blurred forward, the blade cutting through air with a sound like tearing fabric. The full weight of his divinely enhanced strength drove the attack, no restraint, no careful measurement.199Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXGhD8eBY3e
199Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP88wF1ZUdW
Silas’s eyes widened.199Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpe3SOQ7HDc
199Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7wqsrPWoTp
The spear came up fast - faster than before, the casual looseness replaced by actual urgency. Steel met wood with a crack that echoed across the stone.199Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiOcSNjH0ft
199Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4BwbAzEZ4z
The impact drove Silas back two steps.199Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcHrNPbA1Ya
199Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUExK9j085Q
His boots scraped against stone as he caught his balance, green eyes sharp with sudden focus. The surprise on his face lasted maybe half a second before shifting into something else.199Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmabuzwAvag
199Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXFg7Irss18
Interest.199Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3kjOwWVxFM
199Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyAmdsDli6a
Cel pressed forward. He didn’t give Silas time to reset, didn’t let the distance rebuild. Silent Moon moved in continuous arcs, each strike powered by strength that exceeded human limits.199Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxCBzI63U2w
199Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB5dhXZiPzD
High slash. Low cut. Thrust. Each attack flowed into the next without pause, building momentum and pressure.199Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW3493cfhZe
199Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVvAcYunSPh
Silas’s spear wove defensive patterns that blurred at the edges. He was moving now - really moving, feet shifting across stone in quick steps that maintained distance and created angles. The casual ease had burned away completely.199Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxVu7huoVsz
199Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhUTehBW5Cc
But he was still defending.199Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ11crdX2rEQ
199Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIhKTF8XLXp
Still just deflecting.199Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmTgNeTIkem
199Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaWVgwFZoxK
Still in complete control.199Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqRGriWpGXj
199Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgheMjohdQx
Cel’s blade came down in an overhead strike meant to split stone. Silas caught it on his spear’s shaft, the impact sending a visible tremor through his arms.199Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOOIhLe8T9O
199Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzUhsv44txD
Then he twisted.199Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyH4X3WLSi3
199Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2WjeunA90p
The movement was sudden, precise. The spear rotated beneath Silent Moon’s edge, redirecting the blade’s momentum while simultaneously creating space. Silas stepped inside Cel’s guard in the same motion, the spear’s heel driving toward his gut.199Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg79zNM1MFo
199Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5ZtMSSbnYQ
Cel’s instincts moved him sideways before conscious thought caught up. The strike missed by inches.199Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr8OvH6UEs3
199Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡScvbjzeKh2
He recovered fast, Silent Moon rising for a counter - but Silas was already out of range, the spear resetting to neutral guard.199Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBDS1z3V0tc
199Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsUFDQnH2c7
They circled each other. Cel’s breathing had picked up now, adrenaline sharpening his focus. Silas looked composed despite the sudden escalation, though a slight sheen of sweat had appeared on his forehead.199Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl2QRLxPpNT
199Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1OpnWJaLU3
The exchanges continued. Faster now. Harder.199Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6wOlAh0YdW
199Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXtyIoQPCJh
Cel threw everything at him - raw aggression backed by impossible strength, each strike meant to overwhelm through sheer force. 199Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVMOqW2FZjo
199Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4K7VmnojzT
And Silas just... handled it.199Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw7byPwfDqk
199Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5CTcr64yFt
The skill gap was obvious now. Undeniable. Every strike Cel made, Silas had an answer for. Every opening Cel tried to exploit closed before he could capitalize. The spear moved with absolute certainty, each deflection flowing into the next defensive position without hesitation.199Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMToU88kH50
199Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsy5BoOUGA6
It wasn’t that Silas was faster or stronger. He wasn’t.199Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTKQA1vJkZk
199Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgSEBkx5eMc
But technique bridged gaps that raw ability couldn’t.199Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJKfnvJwFxY
199Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSLEWrZl5EA
Silas read his movements before they completed. Anticipated angles before they materialized. Defended with minimal effort because he understood combat at a level Cel didn’t, couldn’t, might never reach.199Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNN4AYW3LWr
199Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCdK2ON7SlZ
A wild horizontal slash aimed at Silas’s ribs. The spear dropped, caught the blade, lifted it over his head in a smooth arc that left Cel’s entire right side exposed.199Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj6EwSYlniB
199Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgLWCB0u1jX
The spear’s shaft struck his ribs - not the blade, just wood against flesh, but hard enough that air exploded from his lungs.199Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡouukK9P8OB
199Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9WalMO899h
Cel staggered back, gasping.199Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEKiPComyfG
199Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxH8bjQsJjp
Silas didn’t press the advantage. Just reset to neutral, watching him with those green eyes that had gone sharp and assessing.199Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡko4VYp51E3
199Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkHupThg5C1
Another exchange. Cel tried to adjust, to learn from what just happened. He feinted left, drove right, putting full strength behind a thrust meant to—199Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxJoTm7bp1u
199Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡegD0AGpy3P
The spear wasn’t there.199Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQeGOO8gcUl
199Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf0RJqzQxxl
It had moved before he completed the attack, repositioning to a guard that made his thrust pointless. Then it lashed out - quick, controlled - and cracked against his knee.199Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDQD6ldyzHK
199Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSTOIsinCLF
His leg buckled. He caught himself on one hand, Silent Moon still gripped in the other.199Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyTI3fIFT2m
199Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSVNcxg9aXy
“Stop.”199Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmfNHj0V524
199Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZwUesRCYxY
Silas’s voice cut through the sound of Cel’s harsh breathing. Not loud. Just firm.199Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtTjPrUzGza
199Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXxgYqln3ZI
Cel looked up from his position half-kneeling on stone.199Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjPaR9uUud3
199Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCYDQYnaBwG
Silas stood perhaps five steps away, spear held loosely again. That casual ease had returned, though his breathing came slightly elevated now. 199Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ76UHGVOC8M
199Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn2ejqDo6EI
“That’s enough for assessment.”199Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3Bfjb97VJn
199Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbSJYk5QwzS
Cel pushed himself upright slowly, ribs and knee both aching from impacts that hadn’t been meant to injure but had definitely made their point.199Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpqtgV5EzqB
199Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHTVmPAtsGm
“Pathetic.”199Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOvJ9JXSOvj
199Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWHdq5CDjPY
Zara’s voice carried across the stone - flat, dismissive, utterly certain.199Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUZbufKhpdt
199Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT1zJo8sQPF
Cel’s head snapped toward her.199Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhUnylcAaQP
199Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ71kqvrGrF
She hadn’t moved from the couch. Still sprawled in that same careless position, one arm draped over the back, legs crossed at the ankles. Her blue eyes met his with open contempt.199Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMsoQsaC7VH
199Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2EUle7ZZOr
Heat flooded through him - anger mixed with humiliation mixed with something sharper. His jaw clenched. His hand tightened on Silent Moon’s hilt.199Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFM0tvw1fSG
199Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0HCi10kg4t
He glared at her.199Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6Zpoj8rRuY
199Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIOD8NRkFMB
She glared back.199Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLYlVb05qrk
199Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKUOWHGMxvt
The difference was that her glare carried no uncertainty. No doubt. Just absolute conviction that what she’d witnessed confirmed exactly what she’d expected to see - weakness performing exactly as weakness should.199Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMf6SsLNOnt
199Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQmtIW4C7aI
The air between them went tight.199Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7f6cDSr2AE
199Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWajFP7syCo
Then Silas stepped directly into Cel’s line of sight, his expression still pleasant but carrying a weight it hadn’t held before.199Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNt4eP4swYH
199Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡks9SMOJR9G
“Easy.” His tone stayed light. Friendly. “Everyone starts somewhere. You think I was any better when I began?”199Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6ZrCXLxMzD
199Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPPapet8xSj
The question landed with obvious falseness. Silas was a Mortbane. He had probably been training since childhood. Had grown up in a Great Clan with resources and inherited talent Cel couldn’t even imagine.199Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ08BFhqdvrD
199Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJNjhsj3OGq
But the intent behind the words was clear enough. 199Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQJc7xctqWE
199Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhpkMHOIbp6
Cel forced his breathing to steady. Let the anger settle back down where it belonged - buried deep, controlled, waiting for targets that actually mattered.199Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUxyVqR3BGm
199Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTjcL0DNdY7
Zara made a sound that might have been disgust, then shifted on the couch to face away from them both.199Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuybdeZXdCl
199Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpyd0M6DPuq
Silas watched her for a moment, then turned back to Cel with something that looked like genuine warmth.199Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaZIQxBKVpW
199Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1CXaBLdSMo
“Let me give you the assessment. You’ve got good instincts - really good. Your reactions are solid. And you have a body that can actually keep up with it. That’s rare. Most people want more than their bodies can answer.”199Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0TigupAliJ
199Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxZ4iwP5W8j
A pause.199Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhN0rfExk8a
199Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcCarZl1re6
“Everything else is bad.” 199Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5l0JG6qCzx
199Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy3OXqAZuTm
The bluntness hit harder than the spear had. 199Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfLG2qRbkvZ
199Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMglrPhYniB
“Your technique is basically nonexistent. Your footwork needs complete rebuilding. Your understanding of distance, timing, reading opponents - all of it needs work.” Silas’s tone stayed matter-of-fact. Not cruel. Just honest. “You fight like someone who’s survived through raw capability alone. Which...” He tilted his head slightly. “I’m guessing is accurate?”199Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzhxq5VmQGe
199Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGtRhdsmONf
Cel looked down at Silent Moon’s blade. Remembered his first desperate, bloody kill. Waking inside the Tremorborne. Tearing himself free. 199Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL5UUb50ulf
199Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyJQRZ5zk8F
“Yes.”199Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvtEZOcBdTB
199Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8VpQM8ezN1
The word came quiet.199Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRWK7l4va6i
199Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZSyKb0VW7w
Silas nodded slowly. “That’s what I thought.”199Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI3RO5Rq912
199Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgep998a3T1
Silence stretched between them. Not comfortable, but not hostile either. Just the weight of assessment settling.199Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk6oIAcgqGH
199Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzFYtWX3Bxe
Then Silas’s expression shifted - the seriousness bleeding away, replaced by something lighter. Curiosity.199Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAhYgO0ZDtf
199Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpPMYmthbmh
“Changing topics.” His tone gained a slightly playful edge. “I heard what happened. You and our young lady got into it?”199Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡryVDWcYVgP
199Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfcMX12IYGi
Cel’s brow furrowed. “Young lady?”199Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF668lENpER
199Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyLz7UsGgz9
“House Mortveil’s daughter. Hestia.” Silas’s smile widened slightly. “You two had quite the fight, from what I heard.”199Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8Zng5IsvTF
199Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8PsDhDTHHY
Cold settled in Cel’s stomach. How did he know about that? Had Esrin told them? Or was information about Reckoning members just shared automatically somehow?199Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7LWptRDeUe
199Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6k9k6F6QsA
“How—”199Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaVGEMZACZu
199Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtaQTvgw0j6
“It’s my business to know,” Silas said simply. “So what happened?”199Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfFsB3cobWV
199Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpNPbdod11F
Cel’s jaw tightened. The memory of Hestia’s blade at his throat surfaced. Her crimson eyes boring into his. The vision of his death she’d somehow witnessed.199Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOIAKNLOOFQ
199Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt2cITa2I9m
“It just happened.”199Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc3j9Ea9Ccm
199Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBz2E7xsMRa
Silas studied him for a moment, green eyes sharp despite the casual smile. Then he laughed - bright and genuine.199Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrW0nLHAC4q
199Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9bBy4Mmr4c
“Don’t worry about it. You know what they say - what loves each other, teases each other.”199Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTUljSNvNKV
199Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiX1WgP5MYo
Cel stared at him.199Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkU6o4E1S2n
199Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiJJzbVZxkG
The implication hung in the air between them, so absurd that for several heartbeats Cel couldn’t process it.199Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaiMShkDCAc
199Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVp41BBLS36
Then disbelief crashed through.199Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBL20nrUKV8
199Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdlJKBeaqqs
“What?”199Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx7kS9Yt1nY
199Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡht5Y79P2PP
Silas’s laugh intensified. His shoulders shook with it, one hand coming up to cover his mouth as if that might contain the sound.199Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJHbXtGfNdC
199Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡljvPxg7auB
Cel continued staring, completely unable to form words around the sheer wrongness of that suggestion.199Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqS996a75Lv
199Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCHvTKof4my
Silas recovered after a moment, though his grin remained wide and thoroughly amused. He stepped forward and slung an arm around Cel’s shoulders, pulling him close in a gesture that was probably meant to be companionable but felt more like being captured.199Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6bjwPyj9sP
199Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPVTwyOKf7w
“Come on.” His voice dropped low. “She’s pretty, isn’t she?”199Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKet4uE6do1
199Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡumGZYFzCqX
The question caught Cel completely off-guard.199Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBuOlO35DPo
199Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVLCAj1gdAU
He opened his mouth. Closed it. Every answer he found confirmed something. 199Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMsSRIVCvJw
199Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU0Mz7I14fP
Because... yes. Objectively. Hestia was beautiful. Pale skin that seemed to glow. Crimson eyes that held impossible depth. Jet-black hair that fell like curtains of silk. The kind of beauty that noble daughters were raised to cultivate and that most people would spend their lives never witnessing up close.199Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdsTDudU7xb
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“I...” His throat worked. “I suppose she’s... objectively attractive.”199Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2tqxut8ixg
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The admission came out strangled.199Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDdamUuHatc
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Silas’s grin somehow widened further.199Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl48Cx0iz7H
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Then reality reasserted itself.199Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSeaLOkP0ox
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What the hell were they even talking about? This had nothing to do with training. Nothing to do with why he was here. 199Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeNVXdDCgww
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Cel broke free from Silas’s grip, stepping back quickly. “What does this have to do with training?”199Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG0ScKYrMkG
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The question came out sharper than intended. Heat had crawled up his neck, settling in his cheeks in a way that made him acutely aware of how ridiculous this conversation had become.199Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJpFS2jze8W
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Silas laughed again, holding up both hands in a gesture of surrender. “Nothing! Absolutely nothing. Just making small talk between colleagues. We’re going to be working together constantly - might as well get to know each other a bit.”199Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvweaJY7qH5
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He lowered his hands, his expression softening into something more genuine. “Relax. Training’s serious business, but we don’t have to be serious every second. Sometimes a bit of levity helps.”199Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvOCCGZw1Ie
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Cel’s jaw remained tight. But the logic was... reasonable. If frustrating.199Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb4WOoJSr5H
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“Fine.”199Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWQhQbNNnDZ
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“Good.” Silas gestured toward the open stone. “Now let’s actually work on those shortcomings I mentioned. Because you’ve got a long way to go, and we don’t have much time to get you there.”199Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS5u0FT8vm6
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----199Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVDdex9tXYz
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​​​​​​​Heyho, Author here!199Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQHXiaUsj9I
Sorry for the unexpected pause. If you're curious about what caused it, feel free to join the Discord - I explained it there.199Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbJ6fzJhO1f
I'd also recommend joining in general if you want to stay updated going forward!199Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvavrm0aZxs
https://discord.gg/Uduxc48wfm199Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG4ThdTeRd9
1234 copyright protection195ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8fJToXImxN 尼

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