The following days they met up in the same clearing in the woods by the large oak tree, the same one from her dreams, and trained.

The sun hung low in the sky, casting an amber glow over the training grounds, the air thick with heat. Aerin's muscles burned with exertion, each swing of her wooden sword feeling heavier than the last. Sweat dripped from her brow, mingling with the tears of frustration she fought to hold back. She felt the frustration build higher and higher. It had been weeks since she and Talon began this relentless routine, and still, she felt no closer to achieving the mastery she craved.

"Again," Talon’s voice was firm, unyielding.

Aerin clenched her jaw, raising her wooden sword once more. She charged, only to be met with a swift, effortless parry. She stumbled, landing hard on the ground, her breath coming in ragged gasps. She had gone over his every move every night, every morning just to be able to meet his next move.

"It's no use," she spat, pushing herself up with shaking arms. "I'm just wasting your time. I'm wasting my time." The air felt tense between the two of them. Aerin looked deep into Talon’s eyes, they were motionless. She sighed and turned her back from him. “I’m done with this,” she said quietly, “I’m done with all of it, if i can’t even nudge you with a wooden sword how could i ever in my life beat them?” Her head lowered and she took a deep, deep breath. The air felt so warm it burned in her lungs.

Talon’s expression softened, just a fraction. "No time spent in pursuit of strength is wasted, Aerin."

She glared at him, feeling the tears finally spill over. "Easy for you to say. You’re already strong."

Talon circled her, his eyes sharp, watching her every move. "You’ve got to stop telegraphing your strikes. I can see them coming a mile away."

Aerin narrowed her eyes, frustration bubbling. "Oh, so now you’re a master strategist? Last time, you tripped over your own feet."

"That was a calculated stumble," Talon said, his grin mischievous. "A distraction technique. Clearly worked since you’re still thinking about it."

"Or maybe I’m just keeping track of all the times you’ve made a fool of yourself," Aerin quipped, darting forward with a strike aimed at his side. He blocked it easily, laughing.

"Careful, Aerin. If I didn’t know better, I’d think you were obsessed with me."

She groaned, stepping back with a shake of her head. "Obsessed? With that smug face of yours? I’d rather spar with a brick wall."

"Funny," Talon said, lunging toward her with another swift attack. "That’s what most people say after meeting you."

She couldn’t take it anymore, her magic was weak, her strength, everything about her was weak. She sat down with her back to the large oak tree. It’s shadows giving them a shelter from the low, hot blazing sunlight.

Talon sighed, lowering his own weapon. He walked over, extending a hand to help her up. Reluctantly, she took it, feeling the rough calluses of his palm against her own. For a moment, they stood there in silence, the tension between them easing just slightly.

"It wasn't always this way," Talon said quietly, his gaze distant. He shook his head, like he was talking to someone, maybe a thought. He hesitated before he spoke again. "There was a time when I was just as frustrated, just as lost. I was alone, angry and scared. But someone believed in me. Someone pushed me to keep going."

Aerin blinked, her anger dimming slightly into curiosity. "Who?" She asked, not to sound too intrigued.

Talon looked away again, he didn’t want to meet her eyes. The shadows of his past flickering in his eyes. "My father. He trained me until I could hardly stand. He was relentless, but he believed in what I could become, even when I didn’t." Aerin looked at the scars on his arm, they were faded so they must have been from a long time ago. She had heard tales of Talon’s exploits before. He had a reputation for his chivalrous deeds, his actions embodying the very essence of an assassin. Yet, despite his reputation, Talon remained emotionally distant. His broad shoulders bore the weight of many secrets, his blue eyes guarded, revealing nothing of the turmoil within.

Aerin swallowed, the bitterness in her chest grew. "I never really knew my parents," she admitted, her voice barely a whisper. "I’ve always had to fend for myself. I don’t even know what it feels like to have someone believe in me."

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Talon’s gaze softened as he finally looked at her again, a rare warmth breaking through his usual stoic demeanor. "Then let me be the first. I believe in you, Aerin. I see your strength, even if you don’t. And I will keep training you until you see it too."

Her heart clenched at his words, a mix of pain and comfort swirling within her. But before anything the grudge and high walls came up again. He would regret it, believing in her. She would fail him. Fail Mara, fail her family again. Again and again, like last time. The night when they died and she had only sat there and watched.

But after taking a deep breath, Aerin nodded, a new resolve hardening her features. "Alright. Let’s go again." She didn’t have any other choice. It was either this or to give up. And giving up felt like dying.

Talon’s lips curved into a small, approving smile. "That’s the spirit."

As the sun dipped below the horizon, they resumed their training, each strike and parry not just a test of skill, but a forging of trust.

The days bled into one another, a blur of sweat, sore muscles, and relentless training. From dawn until dusk, Aerin and Talon pushed themselves to the brink, their swords clashing in a symphony of steel. Talon’s commands were sharp, his corrections precise, but with each day, Aerin felt a small spark of progress, a flicker of hope that perhaps she wasn’t entirely lost.

"Keep your guard up," Talon barked as their wooden swords met again, the impact reverberating through her bones. "Your opponent won’t wait for you to recover."

Aerin gritted her teeth, adjusting her stance. She could feel her muscles protesting, the weight of exhaustion pulling at her limbs, but she refused to back down. She lunged, her movements becoming more fluid, more controlled with each attempt.

Aerin wiped the sweat from her brow, glaring at Talon as he leaned casually on his sword, barely out of breath. "How do you always look like you just woke up from a nap after these sessions?"

Talon shrugged, his smirk infuriatingly calm. "Some of us are just naturally gifted, I suppose."

"Naturally gifted at being insufferable, maybe," Aerin muttered, readying herself for another attack. "Do you ever stop talking?"

"Only when I’m too busy winning," Talon replied, stepping into her strike and deflecting it with ease. "But don’t worry, I’ll give you a few tips if you ask nicely."

Aerin huffed, narrowly avoiding his counterattack. "I’d rather lose than ask you for help."

"You’re halfway there, then," Talon teased, his grin widening as he danced out of her reach. "But hey, at least you’re consistent."

"Keep talking," Aerin shot back, frustration lacing her words. "It’ll make it that much sweeter when I finally knock that smirk off your face."

"Better," Talon acknowledged, his eyes gleaming with a rare hint of approval. "But don’t get cocky."

As the sun dipped below the horizon, casting long shadows across the training grounds, they finally called it a day. Aerin wiped the sweat from her brow, her body aching but her spirit undeterred. She glanced at Talon, who nodded in silent agreement. They were making progress. Finally, She couldn’t wait to tell Mara about this.

Dragging herself back to her room above the bar, Aerin felt the weight of the day’s exertion settle into her bones. The room was small and sparsely furnished, but it was her sanctuary. She sank onto the narrow bed, the mattress creaking under her weight, and let out a long, weary sigh.

The moonlight filtered through the single window, casting a silvery glow across the worn wooden floor. The sounds from the bar below got quieter as her body relaxed. Aerin stared up at the ceiling, her mind drifting as exhaustion tugged at her consciousness. She closed her eyes, hoping for a dreamless sleep, but the moment her mind began to drift, the dream returned.

She was back in the forest, the air thick with the scent of pine and damp earth. The fallen tree lay across her path, its branches twisted and broken. Beyond it, shadows moved, dark and menacing. She could see the men, their faces dark and obscured but their intent clear. They advanced, their whispers chilling her to the bone. They smelled, sounded and looked like the same men from her other dreams but at the same time they felt so unfamiliar.

Aerin tried to move, but her limbs felt heavy, unresponsive. Panic surged through her as the men drew closer, their eyes glowing with malice. Just like the creatures from the night when her family were slaughtered, murdered. Their eyes were glowing and she tried to drown the feeling of vomiting from the memories of blood and destruction. She struggled to cry out, but her voice was trapped in her throat, a silent scream echoing in the darkness. The oak tree behind her grew taller, taller as her body melted into the gound and her consciousness started to drift and become one with the grass and earth under her. She struggled over to the clearing as she felt their presence behind her, drawing closer and closer. They were right behind her as she crawled until her body became so muddy and covered in dirt and grass. She struggled as far as she could manage, crawling with more and more effort, her muscles ached with every stroke of her limbs on the ground. She would make it to the clearing. Her eyes watered as she tried to scream but no sound, she tried again and again and again. The men started to circle around her like wolves. They were fast, not human, not fae. She couldn't see their faces even as they came closer, only their glowing eyes. She tugged at the ground , grasped the tall grass just as one of the men grabbed one of her feet.

She jolted awake, her heart pounding, sweat slick on her skin. Her breath was deep and shallow at the same time, the room spinning. The nightmare was always the same, an unending torment that haunted her nights. But this one was different. The men didn’t talk about their master or their plans. This time they were not men, they were something not from this world. She pressed a trembling hand to her chest, trying to steady her breath. The sound from the bar below made her aware that she was awake. But the dream felt like a warning. The fear was a constant companion, one she couldn’t seem to shake no matter how hard she trained.

Rising from the bed, Aerin walked to the window, looking out at the quiet streets below. The moon hung high, a silent sentinel in the night sky. She leaned her forehead against the cool glass, her thoughts drifting back to her dream. “What could it mean?” She thought. The streets were empty, almost haunted, as she looked out down the street. Not a single soul was out. SHe heard some voices down from the bar but there was no one out.

She sighed and thought again about Talon’s words,

"I believe in you, Aerin."

The memory of his voice was a small comfort, a reminder that she wasn’t alone in her struggle. She straightened, determination hardening her resolve. She wouldn’t let the nightmares break her. She wouldn’t let the past dictate her future.

With a final, deep breath, Aerin turned away from the window and returned to her bed. She knew the nightmares would come again, but she also knew she had the strength to face them. Tomorrow was another day, another chance to grow stronger, to push beyond her limits.

As she closed her eyes, the fatigue finally overtaking her, Aerin clung to that hope, letting it carry her into a restless sleep. The road ahead was long and fraught with challenges, but she

was determined to see it through. For herself, and for the future she dared to dream of.