Lorelai stood in the silence that followed the end of her spar with Thrax. Her chest rose and fell with the rhythm of her breath, the burn of exertion in her muscles felt like a badge of honor. The fight had been intense but the most unexpected part had come just after, when her dash ability had ranked up.
The intricacies of how the skill worked felt more clear. Her senses heightened, every movement of air and flicker of light more vivid. She tested her feet against the ground, shifting her weight back and forth, and felt a strange buzzing sensation under her skin. The breeze on her face felt more tangible, more immediate, as though every detail of the world around her was alive and responsive.
Lorelai blinked, she had been startled by the message that had flashed across her vision, the skill notification still hanging in her peripheral vision.
"Well, let’s see what this does," she muttered to herself, her voice quiet in the still air. She was alone now, save for Avantus, who had walked off to inspect the damage to the grounds that Thrax had caused during the spar. He was always quick to leave her with her thoughts after a challenge, a silent way of saying: You did well, but you can do better.
Lorelai turned her focus back to her feet. Her hand still gripped the cold shaft of her spear, the weight of it comforting in her palm. She exhaled slowly, feeling the new energy humming in her body. Testing her newly upgraded Dash felt like stepping into an entirely different world.
With a sharp intake of breath, she took the first step forward.
[Dash]
Her body blurred as if the air itself had parted for her. In the fraction of a second that followed, her surroundings stretched and bent as she moved at an impossible speed. But when she planted her feet, the world snapped back into focus, and to her amazement—there were now two Lorelais.
A shimmering afterimage of herself lingered for a fraction of a second where she had just been, a mirror of motion frozen in place. The afterimage was transparent but vivid, a perfect reflection of her in her exact stance, down to the way her spear was positioned.
“Whoa,” she whispered, her pulse quickening as she took a second step, and again, an afterimage split off from her. She couldn’t help but laugh softly. It was as if the world had increased her depth, a new layer to play with.
Lorelai darted to the left, then the right, watching as her movements multiplied, each afterimage trailing behind her like phantom versions of herself. It was dizzying—faster, more fluid. She could feel herself moving through the air with a new kind of precision, like a predator testing the limits of its speed. Her dash wasn’t just a movement skill anymore; its utility to manipulate the battlefield was invaluable.
"Let’s see if I can make this work in combat," she murmured to herself, then froze as the thought struck her.
The last time she’d faced Thrax, his speed had been overwhelming, relentless. But now… now she had an edge, an opportunity to gain a few precious moments to turn the tides or rhythm of a fight. Not only could she dodge, but she could deceive him. The afterimages weren’t just for show; they could confuse him, throw him off balance or find a way to further increase its usefulness.
Her heart raced with excitement. For the first time she began to crave the thrill of combat, the chance to win, to pit yourself against worthy foes. She started running through a series of movements, repeating the dash technique over and over, trying to see how long the afterimages would persist. To her surprise, they didn’t disappear immediately. After each dash, a new image would remain in the spot she’d just vacated, and if she adjusted her pace or angle, a new afterimage would flicker into existence.
"Five... six... seven..." Lorelai counted silently as she moved faster, her form a blur of ghostly duplicates. At her peak, she was creating three distinct afterimages, all in the same fluid motion, each trailing behind her like reflections in a funhouse mirror.
Her heart swelled with pride, this was her next step. The sound of footsteps approaching from behind brought her back to the present. Lorelai paused and looked over her shoulder to see Avantus’s approving gaze shifting back and forth between her flickering afterimage to her face, a knowing smile tugging at the corners of his lips. He nodded slowly, arms crossed over his chest.
“Impressive, Lorelai,” he said, his voice calm, laced with quiet approval. “I can see you’re grasping the potential of the skill. Keep honing it, but for now I suggest you get some rest. You’ve earned it.”
Lorelai straightened, feeling a sense of pride swell within her chest. The validation from Avantus felt good, but it was Thrax’s unrelenting force that had pushed her. She wanted to continue testing her limits with this ability, but for now rest was in order. She hadn’t realized how much the spar took out of her until she finally stopped moving.
Royal Road is the home of this novel. Visit there to read the original and support the author.
“I’ll head to the baths, I haven't been able to relax loke that since I've been here,” she said, wiping the dripping sweat from her brow and from the end of her nose. The sound of water was calling to her, a soothing balm to her sore muscles. "Thanks, Avantus."
Avantus gave a short nod before turning away and walking toward the exit of the training grounds. Lorelai watched him go, her heart still racing from the adrenaline of the fight and the rush of her new skill. She couldn’t wait to push herself further, but a long hot bath would be a welcome reprieve.
----------------------------------------
The communal bathhouse was nestled near the eastern edge of the training grounds, its steam rising from the pools like a beckoning siren call. Lorelai hadn't had a chance to use the bath, she had opted for quicker showers contrary to a more leisurely wash. The warm water an absolute necessity after the grueling sparring session. It was usually a quiet location, everyone looking to relax.
Lorelai stepped into the bathhouse, feeling the heat hit her skin in a rush. She could hear the soft splash of water, the hum of conversations between other students, but nothing truly registered in her mind except the thought of relaxing.
She made her way to the changing room undressing quickly, and wrapped a towel around her hair before slipping into the main bath. The water was pleasantly hot, enveloping her like a blanket, the soothing heat easing the tension from her muscles.
Lorelai sank deeper into the water, closing her eyes and letting out a long breath as the day’s stress melted away. Her body felt weightless in the warmth, and she allowed herself a moment of calm. As her mind wandered, she couldn’t help but replay the fight in her head; the way Thrax had charged with such ferocity, the heat of his attacks, how he seemed to possess frigid cold too, and the way her dash had allowed her to evade his spear with newfound confidence. She grinned softly, already excited for their next confrontation.
It was then that a shift in the air made her pause. The faint sound of footsteps, and then a voice—too familiar—cut through the steam.
“Well, well, look who's in the male bath, were you perhaps looking for me?”
Lorelai’s head snapped up, her heart leaping into her throat as she saw Thrax stepping from the steam, a man chiseled in muscle, his towel draped over his shoulder. Lorelai's face grew red as her eyes involuntarily scanned his entire, and impressive, figure. His golden eyes gleamed as he approached, and though his expression was amusement, the subtle tension in his stance spoke volumes.
Lorelai covered herself with her arms and hands to the best of her ability shutting her eyes, momentarily disoriented. “Thrax?” Her voice squealed in a mix of surprise, confusion, and embarrassment. “What are you doing here?”
The dragonkin smirked, his broad chest glistening with water droplets, “I thought you came to see me in the male bath, or were you so distracted you didn't notice the female entrance?” He asked, his voice low and teasing. “Why are you're eyes closed? Don't like the way I look, I am not sorry that I cannot say the same.”
Lorelai flushed, half embarrassed, half liking the compliment. “You’re right, I didn't see the other entrance, now if you'll excuse me.”
Lorelai used her hand to block the view of Thrax's lower half as she quickly clambered out of the water, she heard him chuckled, his smirk only widening as she tried to step around him. His eyes bore into her hour-glass figure, his eyes scanning her naked form before meeting her gaze again. “My little dragon’s got quite the figure, don't worry I won't bite unless you want me to.”
Lorelai's heart was racing, her thoughts in a whirl. She wasn’t sure what it was about Thrax’s presence that always made her pulse spike, was it his proximity? His overly large...ego? Or some other thing that made her stomach flutter against her better judgment?
“I’m going,” she said, her voice stuttering from embarrassment, her chest bare prioritizing not getting an eyeful for herself.
“Like I said,” Thrax smirking, looking entirely too pleased that he happened upon a woman in a bath, “I just couldn't resist checking in, not every day I get to see you in the bath, after all.”
Lorelai rolled her eyes, feeling a flush creep up her neck further as she darted back into the changing room. Thrax’s grin widened, his sharp teeth glinting in the soft glow of the bathhouse lights. “Ah leaving so soon? You can touch me all you want, wont bother me one bit!" He shouted to her from the steam, "We haven't had the chance to cuddle yet!"
Lorelai huffed, trying not to let his teasing affect her, looking around for the entrance to the female side. “Well, if you’re here to chat, don’t expect any compliments from me. I’m trying to relax.”
“Oh, I’m not here for compliments,” Thrax said, sitting on the edge of the pool, his legs dipping into the water. “I’m just here to wash and relax myself. Besides, I can't say I didn't enjoy the extra reward I just received. It’s not every day you find someone who’s so… adorable.”
Lorelai arched an eyebrow, analyzing his words for a moment. They didn’t seem solely like playful teasing now but something else. She hesitated, then let out a soft breath. “You're a silver tongued scoundrel, Thrax. Fine, I’ll take it as a compliment.”
Thrax leaned back, his golden eyes never leaving hers. “Thank you," he laughed, "I know you don't truly know me, but I want to change that. Just remember, Lorelai, our race and dragons are extremely prideful.”
Lorelai rest the back of her head on the bath's edge after sinking down into the water. She was alone in this bath too, she stared into the steam filled sky. For a long moment, the only sound in the room was the soft lapping of water. Thrax didn’t say more, and Lorelai felt a strange tension between them, an unspoken understanding. This wasn’t just a young male flirting. He had almost officially announced his decision to pursue her. This was something she could no longer ignore and had to dive under the surface of her mind to figure out how to continue.
Finally, Thrax broke the silence between them, “I'm going to challenge you for the top spot, ” he said, "until that time comes, however, I want to join you and Aeryn's party. Perhaps you'll let me on your next dive."
Before Lorelai could respond, she heard him step out of the water, and leave the bathhouse. Lorelai exhaled sharply, unsure whether she was relieved or disappointed, either way she knew deep down she didn't hate it. Whatever the case, she knew one thing for certain: their next encounter was going to be even more intense than the last.