Chapter 8 - Silent Drills, Loud Mind

The next morning came too soon. My body was still sore, but I dragged myself to the training grounds like a seasoned war veteran who'd fought exactly one war: against leg day.

Elren was already waiting. Of course he was. Probably didn't even sleep. Maybe he doesn't need sleep. Maybe he just stands in corners, glaring at the wall all night like some kind of efficient gargoyle.

"Silent drills today," he said, tossing me a short sword.

"Wait, what? You're serious about the no-talking rule?"

"Yes."

"But… but talking is how I process pain."

"No talking."

"But—"

"Start."

And so began the most torturous day of my life. Not because the training was harder—though it absolutely was—but because I wasn't allowed to complain about it.

I was supposed to focus on breathing, movement, and precision. Which was great in theory, but unfortunately, my brain doesn't come with a mute button.

Okay, Ava, you can do this. Just swing, step, block, and breathe. No talking. No jokes. Just silence. Total, painful silence. No problem, right?

Wrong. I have been training with him for days, and now suddenly I am expected to keep my mouth shut? This is cruel. Unnecessary. Who does he think I am? A disciplined soldier? I am literally a glitch. I am the human equivalent of a software pop-up. I need to complain. I need to scream. It's how I survive emotionally!

I swung the sword, focusing on the target projection. My feet shuffled out of position, and Elren immediately tapped my shoulder with the flat of his blade, forcing me to reset.

Okay. Reset. Reset. We can do this. Focus. Feet, hips, arms. Breathe. Block. Step back. Rotate. Block again.

Another misstep. Tap. Reset.

Argh! I'm trying, okay? I am not built for this! I am not some battle-hardened protagonist. I am a civilian who just wanted to cross the street and suddenly ended up in death land. I should be at home binge-watching shows and avoiding my responsibilities, not here sparring with a gorgeous human weapon who thinks silence is the pinnacle of training efficiency!

Elren kept moving around me, silent, precise, ever-watchful.

You know what? Maybe he doesn't like the sound of my voice. Maybe he's allergic to jokes. Maybe every time I speak, he loses one year of his life expectancy. Which is fine. Totally fine. I will just monologue in my head. Loudly. All day. He can't stop that. He can stop my mouth, but he can't stop my brain!

Swing. Block. Step. Rotate. Breathe.

Tap. Reset.

Seriously, what does this man eat for breakfast? Patience? Grit? Liquidified disappointment?

Swing. Step. Block.

Oh my god, I almost did it. Wait, don't get cocky, Ava. He's watching you. If you trip now, he'll make you restart from the beginning again. I swear, I'm going to start seeing his judging face in my nightmares. And maybe my dreams. Actually, let's not unpack that. Focus!

Tap. Reset.

Okay, this is personal now. I am going to finish this sequence perfectly even if it kills me. He will see. He will know. Ava Lin does not surrender! I am the master of footwork. I am the queen of silent drills. I am the—

Tap. Reset.

"Focus."

His voice was sharp, the only sound in the training hall.

Focus, he says. As if I am not focusing with every cell in my body! I have never focused so hard in my entire life! Back in my world, I couldn't even focus on a five-minute WeeDube video without checking my phone. And now here I am, dedicating my entire existence to not getting poked in the ribs by a glorified walking sword. Great. Love that for me.

Swing. Step. Block. Rotate.

Tap.

I stopped, panting, glaring at him.

"Was that necessary?"

"Reset."

"I was doing fine!"

"You hesitated."

"Oh, come on!"

"Again."

I groaned but complied. The drill continued. The silence stretched.

I miss complaining. I miss my voice. I miss sarcasm. Is this what solitary confinement feels like? Except with cardio?

Another sequence. I made it through three rotations without a mistake.

Tap.

I bit back a scream. Barely.

You are doing this on purpose, sir. I know it. I can feel it. You are enjoying this. This is vengeance for every time I talked back to you. Well played. I respect the long game. But also, I will win. I will become the most annoyingly silent trainee you have ever seen.

Swing. Step. Block. Perfect rotation. Another step. Another block.

No tap.

Wait. Wait, did I just… did I actually…?

I finished the sequence and looked at him, triumphant.

"Again."

"Seriously?"

"Perfection is repeatable."

"You're a monster."

"Correct."

We kept going until I could barely hold the sword upright. Elren finally called a break, and I collapsed on the floor like a dying fish.

"You're improving."

"Say it louder. I need witnesses."

"Don't get complacent."

"Oh, I'm too tired to get anything."

He tossed me a water bottle, which I caught with the reflexes of someone who had dropped things all day.

"Tomorrow, we try longer sequences."

"I'll need extra coffee for that."

"Earn it."

"Challenge accepted."

That evening, I sprawled on the apartment couch, face buried in a pillow.

Okay, let's recap. I survived leg day, stamina day, and now silent drills. I have been poked, tripped, corrected, and tortured in increasingly creative ways. And somehow, I'm still alive. Go me.

Elren returned with two cups of coffee, setting one down in front of me without a word.

"Oh, so you do have a heart."

"Don't test it."

"Never. I'm an obedient little anomaly."

"That's not the word I'd use."

"What would you use?"

"Loud."

"I'll take it."

I sipped the coffee, savoring the warmth, the bitter comfort of it.

"Elren, what happens if I can't learn fast enough?"

"You die."

"Straight to the point. Brutal."

"This world does not wait."

"Yeah, I'm starting to get that."

We sat in silence for a while. For once, it wasn't awkward. It felt almost… steady.

"Do you think I'll ever get good at this?"

"Yes."

"You sound confident."

"I've seen worse."

"Wow, you really know how to compliment someone."

"You're still alive. That counts."

He really is the king of backhanded encouragement, huh? But I'll take it. I'll take anything right now.

"Hey, Elren?"

"Hm?"

"Thanks for… not giving up on me."

"Don't give me reasons to."

"No promises."

"Try."

His lips twitched, just barely.

Victory. Always.