Chapter 22 – A Day in the City

Morning light streamed through the open training grounds, glinting off the dulled practice swords as Adrian and Cedric clashed. Their movements were measured, precise—Adrian's stance had improved, his footwork sharper, but the weight of Cedric's strikes still forced him on the defensive.

"Too slow."

Adrian barely tilted his head before Cedric's wooden blade whistled past his ear, stopping just short of striking his shoulder. He had seen the feint too late.

Before he could reset his stance, Cedric twisted his wrist, the follow-up strike aiming for Adrian's ribs.

Damn.

Adrian shifted, using the momentum of his pivot to parry—but his father's strength sent a jolt up his arm, knocking him off balance. He gritted his teeth, planting his foot firmly before Cedric could capitalize.

A brief pause.

His father studied him, eyes sharp but unreadable. Adrian knew that gaze well—his father wasn't just testing his skill, but his reactions, his instincts.

"You're thinking too much."

Cedric lowered his weapon, stepping back.

"You've improved," he admitted, though his voice remained firm. "But you hesitate when analyzing too much. Strength alone means nothing if your body doesn't move when it should."

Adrian exhaled, nodding.

His improvements were real—but his father's words were also true. He still wasn't good enough.

Before he could ask for another round, a small voice cut through the tension.

"Big brother!"

Both turned to see Lyra standing at the edge of the courtyard, bouncing on her heels.

She had her hands behind her back, her expression far too smug for a girl her size. Adrian already knew she wanted something.

Cedric's gaze flicked between them before he sighed. "Go."

Adrian blinked. "What?"

"You've trained enough for today." Cedric gestured toward Lyra, who grinned in triumph. "Take your sister out. She's been pestering your mother about it all morning."

Lyra's eyes sparkled. "Mama said you'd say yes!"

Adrian glanced at Cedric. "You're serious?"

His father's expression didn't change. "Consider it another lesson."

Adrian frowned but didn't question it. His father's 'lessons' rarely came in obvious forms.

Lyra, meanwhile, grabbed his wrist and pulled.

"Come on, before Papa changes his mind!"

---

The city was as lively as ever.

Stone roads stretched ahead, lined with market stalls and vendors calling out their wares. The scent of fresh bread and sizzling meat drifted through the air, blending with the chatter of passing crowds.

Lyra practically skipped ahead, her eyes darting between everything. "Can we get sweet buns first? Or—wait, look at that!"

Adrian sighed. It was impossible to keep up with her thoughts.

"You said sweet buns first," he reminded.

Lyra puffed her cheeks. "But—"

He crossed his arms.

She groaned. "Fine, fine! But only if we get honey ones!"

Adrian smirked. "No complaints here."

Minutes later, they sat near a fountain, Lyra happily biting into her honey-coated bun while Adrian simply watched the people passing by.

He had always been observant, but now... it felt different.

The flow of movement, the shifting expressions, the subtle shifts in weight— he noticed them all as if they were pieces of a puzzle forming something larger.

Before, the city had been just a backdrop. Now, every small detail seemed alive.

"You're staring again."

Adrian blinked, turning to find Lyra squinting at him.

She wiped crumbs from her lips. "What are you thinking about?"

He hesitated. He couldn't exactly tell her his senses were sharper than they should be.

"...Nothing important."

Lyra frowned. "You always say that."

He smirked. "Maybe you just ask too many questions."

She gasped dramatically but didn't argue.

Instead, she turned to the fountain, kicking her legs. "It's nice like this," she said softly. "Just the two of us. You're not training, Papa's not watching, Mama's not worrying."

Adrian's smirk faded.

She wasn't wrong.

For the first time since the ceremony, he felt like things were normal.

No Eclipse System. No training. No lurking danger.

Just a boy and his sister.

---

As Adrian and Lyra continued through the market, a chill ran down his spine.

It wasn't the wind.

It wasn't the crowd.

It was something else.

Something watching.

Unnatural.

He turned—but the feeling vanished as quickly as it had come.

His jaw clenched.

Whatever it was... it wasn't normal.

And it wasn't gone.