The silver glow of the moon stretched across the red carpet of Trevino Manor, draping the empty halls in an eerie stillness. Outside, the wind whispered through the open courtyard, its cold breath stirring the training dummies and ruffling the leaves of the trimmed hedges.
A pair of wooden blades sliced through the air with sharp, precise swings. Each strike landed with a dull crack against the post, sending faint echoes through the night.
Solaine exhaled sharply, beads of sweat trailing down his forehead as he forced himself to keep moving, his body tense with barely contained frustration.
Then—
"Young master," a quiet voice cut through the air like a knife.
Solaine stilled. His grip on his wooden sword tightened as he turned, his amber eyes narrowing at the familiar figure standing at the edge of the courtyard.
Lunaris.
She bowed her head slightly, strands of silver hair slipping over her shoulder. "I've come to give my report on the task you've given me."