Chapter 7 – First Kill
240 Words
The next night, I couldn’t escape the sound of the fight replaying in my head — the crunch of bone, the thud of bodies.
I found Rylan outside again, sharpening a blade against a whetstone.
“You’ve done that before,” I said quietly.
He didn’t look up. “Too many times.”
There was a pause, heavy and thick. Then his gaze lifted to mine. “You’ll have to learn too.”
“I’m not a killer.”
“Not yet.”
The training started that night. Rylan’s hands were firm as he corrected my stance, his chest brushing my back when he adjusted my aim. Every touch was electric, burning through the cold air.
We were halfway through when a howl cut through the night — closer than before. Rylan stiffened.
“They’re here.”
The attack was sudden. Rogues poured from the trees, snapping and snarling. I froze until one lunged at me. Instinct took over — my hands shifted into claws, my vision sharpening until every detail was painfully clear.
When it came at me again, I struck. The rogue went down hard, blood steaming against the snow.
I was shaking, breath coming fast, but Rylan was watching me with something dark in his eyes.
“You enjoyed that,” he said softly.
“I—” My voice caught. “No.”
But the truth was, some part of me had. And that terrified me.
- Writer
