Kaelira’s POV
“Again.”
I blocked the strike just before Serenya’s blade reached my shoulder and twisted sideways fast enough to force her backward across the training circle.
She recovered immediately.
“Better,” she admitted.
“You’re getting slower.”
“That confidence is dangerous.”
“So is underestimating me.”
A few nearby warriors laughed quietly at that.
Not long ago, most of Ironfang barely looked at me during training sessions. Now they watched openly. Not mockingly anymore either.
The shift still felt strange sometimes.
Serenya lowered her weapon slightly while studying me. “You’ve changed your footing again.”
“I noticed gaps.”
“You notice everything lately.”
I didn’t answer immediately.
Because she wasn’t wrong.
Ever since the council betrayal surfaced, my mind refused
