Chapter Six: The Sword That Remembered
731 Words
The Shadow Kingdom never knew daylight.
There was no sunrise.
No sunset.
Only an endless silver sky stretching across mountains of black crystal.
Days didn't exist.
Only lessons.
Pain.
And survival.
...
Evelyn collapsed onto one knee, breathing heavily.
Sweat dripped from her forehead onto the polished obsidian floor.
Her muscles burned.
Every part of her body ached.
She had lost again.
Nyx stood several feet away, untouched.
Her black robes flowed gently despite the still air.
"Again."
Evelyn tightened her grip around the wooden practice sword.
"I can't even feel my arms."
"Again."
"I've been fighting for hours."
Nyx's crimson eyes remained emotionless.
"The enemies waiting for you won't care if you're tired."
Silence.
Evelyn slowly pushed herself back to her feet.
She lifted the sword once more.
"I'm ready."
Nyx didn't attack immediately.
Instead...
She walked around Evelyn in slow circles.
"What do you hate?"
The question caught Evelyn off guard.
"What?"
"What do you hate?"
Evelyn frowned.
"I don't understand."
"You will."
Nyx stopped walking.
"Answer."
Evelyn looked down.
The first answer that came to mind surprised her.
"I hate..."
She swallowed.
"...being helpless."
Nyx nodded.
"Good."
"What else?"
"The lies."
"What else?"
"The council."
"What else?"
Evelyn's grip tightened.
"The people who called me family."
Nyx said nothing.
"What else?"
This time...
Tears filled Evelyn's eyes.
"My mate."
The words barely escaped her lips.
"He looked into my eyes..."
"...and still let them bury me."
For the first time...
Nyx's expression softened.
"There."
Evelyn looked confused.
"What?"
"That's your weakness."
"My weakness?"
"You still love him."
"I don't."
"You do."
"No."
"You hate what he did."
Nyx stepped closer.
"But hatred isn't the opposite of love."
Evelyn couldn't answer.
Because deep inside...
She knew Nyx was right.
The memory still hurt.
Which meant...
Some part of her still cared.
Nyx gently took the wooden sword from Evelyn's hands.
"Until you learn the difference between revenge..."
"...and anger..."
"...you will never become a Queen."
She tossed the sword back.
"This time..."
"Attack me."
Evelyn didn't hesitate.
She rushed forward.
Her sword sliced through the air.
Nyx sidestepped effortlessly.
Again.
Again.
Again.
Every strike missed.
Every movement felt clumsy.
Finally...
Nyx tapped Evelyn lightly on the forehead with one finger.
The force sent her tumbling across the floor.
Evelyn groaned.
"This is impossible."
"No."
Nyx replied calmly.
"You are simply fighting like the Luna they buried."
The words echoed inside the hall.
"You apologize before you strike."
"You hesitate before you defend yourself."
"You think about everyone else's safety..."
"...before your own."
Nyx extended her hand.
A different weapon appeared.
Not wood.
Steel.
Its blade was completely black.
Crimson markings curled along its edge like flowing fire.
"This..."
Nyx whispered.
"...is yours."
Evelyn stared.
"I've never seen that sword before."
"I know."
"I don't know how to use it."
Nyx smiled faintly.
"Pick it up."
Slowly...
Evelyn wrapped her fingers around the hilt.
The instant she touched it...
A strange warmth spread through her body.
Her heartbeat quickened.
The sword felt...
Comfortable.
As though it had been waiting for her.
Without thinking...
She raised it.
Her feet shifted on their own.
One step.
Turn.
Slash.
Spin.
The blade cut through the air with impossible elegance.
Again.
Again.
Again.
Movement after movement flowed effortlessly.
Like a dance.
No...
Like a memory.
Nyx watched silently.
Evelyn wasn't learning.
She was remembering.
The final strike stopped inches above the floor.
Silence filled the hall.
Evelyn stared at the sword.
Her breathing became uneven.
"I..."
She looked at Nyx.
"I've never practiced this."
"No."
Nyx walked toward her.
"You haven't."
"Then how..."
Nyx placed a hand on the blade.
"Because your hands remember..."
"...what your mind has forgotten."
A chill ran down Evelyn's spine.
She slowly looked back at the sword.
"Who was I?"
Nyx's crimson eyes reflected the silver sky.
"When the time is right..."
"You won't ask who."
"You'll remember."
Evelyn lowered her gaze.
The sword suddenly hummed.
A faint whisper drifted into the room.
So soft...
She almost thought she'd imagined it.
"My Queen..."
Her eyes widened.
"Did you hear that?"
Nyx remained silent.
The whisper came again.
"My Queen..."
This time...
It came from the sword itself.
Evelyn instinctively loosened her grip.
The humming stopped.
The hall fell quiet once more.
She looked at Nyx, her voice barely above a whisper.
"...Swords don't talk."
Nyx smiled.
"No..."
"They remember."
- Writer
