First day of training
1144 Words
Malory's POV
I stared at Elara's beautiful face. The physical similarities between us were undeniable, and I couldn't help but marvel at the raw power of genetics. I knew that when I grew old, I would look exactly like her, though I highly doubted I would ever manage to inherit her effortless, elegant gentleness.
Elara lingered in my room for a long time, chatting aimlessly about court life. It was a routine she had maintained ever since they brought me back to the palace. I knew she was desperately trying to patch over the eighteen years of silence between us. I was deeply touched by her devotion, leaning into the intoxicating feeling of finally being cherished.
"Alright, it's time for bed. You need a full night of rest to tackle tomorrow with absolute focus," Elara chided gently when I let out my twelfth yawn of the evening.
I needed the sleep, if only to temporarily block out the looming dread of what awaited me at dawn.
Perhaps it was the residual effects of the royal pack physicians' medicines, but I sank into a heavy, dreamless slumber, waking up long before the sun had fully cleared the horizon.
***
I quickly washed my face, pulled my long hair up into a tight, high ponytail, and changed into a supportive athletic top and loose track pants, throwing a sleek black athletic jacket over the top. If the man waiting for me on the fields wasn't Caspian, I probably would have been in a fantastic mood.
Elara was already waiting for me at the grand dining table when I came down. We ate breakfast together—a lavish, incredibly delicious spread of pastries, fresh fruits, and roasted meats. Unfortunately, Aldrich had pressing alpha duties to oversee and couldn't join us. Since my session wasn't scheduled for another two hours, I took my time, enjoying a quiet stroll through the royal glass gardens with my mother.
We eventually sat down on a stone bench, basking in the morning sun.
"Before I knew it, my little girl turned into a fierce woman," Elara mused softly. "It is officially time for your true legacy to begin."
"Mum…" I murmured, reaching over to squeeze her hand.
I could feel the faint trace of sadness radiating from her. Ever since my recovery, we had been practically joined at the hip. Now that my formal training was starting, she was already missing my company.
"I am perfectly fine, sweetheart. You have to grow wings eventually. Are you ready to face your tutor?"
Caspian's smug, smirking face immediately flashed across my mind, and my expression hardened.
I let out a sharp snort.
"I don't think I'll be ready for his attitude if I lived a thousand lifetimes."
Elara chuckled, giving me an indulgent look as if I were an unreasoning pup.
"Don't be so deeply resistant to him, Malory. He is our most courageous protector. I think any praise leveled at him is entirely justified. He is an exceptional man."
The more she built him up, the more I wanted to tear his arrogant reputation to shreds. For whatever reason, I just couldn't stand the thought of dealing with his smug face.
"You're completely forgetting how shamelessly he behaved yesterday!" I pointed out.
"Darling, you are beautiful," Elara countered smoothly, her eyes dancing with amusement. "Of course a young man would want to court you. If anything, it proves he possesses excellent taste."
I blinked, completely stunned by her defense.
"Mum!"
"Hahaha! Alright, I will stop teasing!" she laughed, wrapping an arm around my shoulders. "He's just a bit smooth with his tongue. But tell me the truth... don't you think he's incredibly handsome?"
"Mum, please!" I groaned, turning my face away in absolute embarrassment.
"Don't shut yourself off entirely," she whispered cheekily, giving my hand a playful squeeze as she guided me toward the massive training grounds. "You are an adult now, and you deserve to find a partner who calls to your soul."
When we arrived at the training arena, Aldrich was already on the field, flanked by several high-ranking warriors. He was wearing a heavy frown as he spoke in muted, intense tones with Caspian. Both men looked utterly severe, completely unrecognizable from the playful personas they displayed in private.
The moment their discussion concluded, Aldrich left his commanders and walked toward us, pulling me into a massive, protective hug.
"I am incredibly proud of you, sweetheart. I've already explicitly instructed him to remember this is your very first formal physical session."
Elara let out a small, wistful sigh.
"I didn't expect my heart to feel quite this heavy. I know I can come watch you at any time, but the palace is going to feel entirely empty without you roaming the halls."
Aldrich immediately took her hand, his expression softening into an adoring gaze. Sensing that they were about to start radiating fated-mate pheromones and whispering sweet nothings again, I promptly abandoned them, stepping onto the field to confront Caspian rather than endure their PDA.
"Lady Malory, you look exceptionally radiant today," Caspian greeted me, standing at the edge of the massive stone-and-iron training grounds. He maintained a perfectly stoic, professional expression, but I could clearly spot the mocking spark of amusement dancing in his silver-gray eyes.
"If you weren't wearing such an obviously fake mask of seriousness, I might actually believe you," I countered dryly.
He let out a sharp, genuine laugh.
"You are thoroughly entertaining. For the record, my invitation from yesterday still stands."
I truly couldn't handle his attitude. I turned around, looking for a distraction from my parents, only to spot their retreating figures walking arm-in-arm back toward the palace doors.
Caspian tracked my gaze, a knowing smirk playing on his lips.
"Aldrich and Elara have a kingdom to run, my lady. They won't be lingering around to shield you from the hard work."
"I wasn't looking to them for protection!" I snapped back.
"Right, of course. A strong, independent young woman," Caspian mused, his tone shifting into something a bit sharper, more authoritative. "Since I gave Aldrich my word that I would oversee your development, I have no intention of taking it easy on you just because you have a pretty face. Let us begin with the basics: your physical baseline."
I followed him deeper into the arena.
Once inside the perimeter, I realized the facility was vastly larger than it appeared from the palace windows. Complex combat equipment was meticulously ordered along the stone walls, surrounding a pristine dirt running track.
"Alright, Malory. We will start with the simplest metric: conditioning."
He paused, a wicked, teasing glint entering his eyes.
"Or do you require a private demonstration on how to properly run?"
I threw him a massive, theatrical roll of my eyes, kicked my legs into gear, and bolted past him down the track.
- Writer
