The sun sat high in the sky, hot and unforgiving.
Heat clung to Mira's skin, mixing with sweat as she stood across from Mikael, her chest rising and falling with controlled breaths.
Everything hurt.
Her arms.
Her legs.
Even the smallest movement pulled at muscles that had been pushed too far, too fast.
But she didn't stop.
"Again," Mikael said, his tone flat and unmoved.
Mira swallowed, anger rising in her veins.
"You're supposed to teach me!" She snapped. "Not beat me up."
Mikael's eyes narrowed.
"Do you want to train..." he started slowly, his voice low. "Or not?"
Mira's jaw clenched.
"Again, I want to be trained not—"
"The two go hand in hand," he cut in. "You need to learn the basics before anything technical."
He paused.
"Queen."
It
