In the courtyard behind Thalindra's house, I was met with a space unlike anything I'd seen. It was an impressive, rugged training ground a private arena walled in by towering, ancient trees that cast dappled shadows over the stone floor.
The ground was uneven, littered with worn boulders and uneven patches of grass, and there were practice dummies scattered across, each marred and scorched.
Metal targets glinted in the sun, nailed to the tree trunks, while an assortment of weapons rested along the edges, each one polished and sharp. The atmosphere hummed with a silent, challenging energy that both intrigued and intimidated me.
Thalindra motioned me to the center of the yard, her demeanor no-nonsense and a bit intimidating as she crossed her arms, her gaze assessing.