A couple of months have been passed, The snow crunched beneath Celeste’s boots as she moved silently through the forest, her breath coming out in white puffs that disappeared into the frosty air. She tightened her grip on the wooden hilt of her sword, her eyes scanning the trees for any sign of movement.

The snow was thick, draping over the branches like a heavy blanket, muffling every sound except for the occasional gust of icy wind. It was quiet too quiet. The kind of quiet that made every small noise feel like a threat.

Kite moved ahead of her, as silent as the falling snow. His presence was steady, calm, as though he had walked these woods a thousand times before. There was no hesitation in his steps, no uncertainty in his gaze. His sword was at the ready, and Celeste knew they were close.

The dire snow wolf had been tracking them for miles, and now, it was their turn to hunt.

"Remember what I’ve taught you," Kite said quietly, without looking back. His voice was low but clear. "Speed, control, and composure. If you lose any of those, you lose your advantage."

Celeste nodded, her heart pounding in her chest. This wasn’t just another lesson this was her first real test. And she wasn’t going to fail.

She inhaled deeply, feeling the cold air fill her lungs, and focused on the technique Kite had drilled into her for weeks: Flash Step. A single, fluid motion that would allow her to move faster than her opponent could react. In theory, it was simple. In practice, it was anything but impossible.

A low growl echoed through the trees, snapping Celeste’s attention forward. Her heart raced as she caught sight of it the dire snow wolf, a massive beast with fur as white as the snow, and eyes like burning coals. It was larger than any wolf she had seen before, its breath steaming in the cold air.

This was it. Her moment.

The snow fell lightly around them, delicate flakes drifting down through the skeletal trees. The world was silent, muffled by the blanket of white that stretched as far as Celeste’s eyes could see. Every breath she took sent clouds of vapor into the air, her chest tight with anticipation. Somewhere in the distance, a low growl echoed, barely audible, but unmistakable.

They were close.

Kite moved ahead of her, his movements so smooth and effortless that he seemed to glide through the snow. His sword was sheathed, but his body was coiled like a spring, ready to act the moment it was needed. Celeste knew he could end this in seconds if he wanted to, but that wasn’t the point.

This was her test.

The growl came again, this time sharper, and Celeste’s heart pounded in her chest. Her hand tightened around the hilt of her sword, and her eyes scanned the tree line. The forest felt too still, as if even the wind was holding its breath, waiting for something to happen.

"Remember," Kite’s voice was low but steady. "Composure. Control. Speed is nothing without focus."

Celeste nodded, even though he wasn’t looking at her. She inhaled deeply, trying to calm her nerves. Flash Step that was the key. A move so fast that her opponent wouldn’t see it coming. Kite had drilled it into her for weeks, teaching her to remain calm, to move with intention rather than panic. But this wasn’t practice. This was real.

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The dire snow wolf emerged from the shadows of the trees, its massive white form nearly invisible against the snow. Only its eyes, burning bright and hungry, gave it away. It was larger than any wolf Celeste had ever seen, its powerful muscles rippling beneath its fur, its teeth bared in a snarl that sent a chill down her spine.

Celeste’s breath hitched, but she forced herself to stay calm. She wasn’t a child anymore. She was a swordswoman training under one of the best, though she still didn’t know just how deep Kite’s expertise ran. This is what you’ve been preparing for, she reminded herself. You can do this.

The wolf lunged.

It moved faster than she expected, a blur of white fur and gnashing teeth. Celeste barely had time to raise her sword before the wolf was on her, its claws raking through the air. She dodged to the side, but not fast enough pain seared through her arm as its claws grazed her, tearing through the fabric of her sleeve and drawing blood. She hissed but didn’t falter.

"Stay calm," she muttered to herself. "Stay composed."

The wolf circled, growling low in its throat, and Celeste took a step back, adjusting her grip on the sword. Blood dripped from her arm, staining the snow red, but she didn’t let herself focus on the pain. Kite was watching from a distance, his face unreadable, but Celeste knew he was waiting to see how she handled this.

The wolf lunged again, snapping its jaws, and this time Celeste was ready. She sidestepped just in time, her body moving more fluidly than before. She swung her sword in a quick arc, aiming for the wolf’s side, but the beast was too fast. It twisted in midair, avoiding her strike, and came at her from another angle.

Flash Step. She had to use it. She had to end this quickly.

Celeste forced herself to breathe, to focus on everything Kite had taught her. Speed wasn’t enough she needed precision. Control. She couldn’t just react; she had to anticipate.

The wolf lunged a third time, and Celeste’s heart leapt into her throat. It was a blur of teeth and claws, but this time, she was ready. As it closed in, she blinked out of sight.

For a split second, the world around her froze as Celeste executed the Flash Step, her body moving faster than the wolf’s eyes could track. She reappeared just behind the beast, sword raised, but she had overshot the distance by a fraction of an inch. Her strike landed, but not where she intended, slicing along the wolf’s back instead of delivering the killing blow.

The wolf howled in rage and pain, blood spraying across the snow, turning the pristine white into a mess of red. Celeste gasped, her chest heaving, but she stayed calm. Composure. Don’t panic.

The wolf whirled, faster than she expected, and its claws slashed across her side. The pain was instant, hot and sharp, and Celeste stumbled, nearly losing her footing. Blood poured from the wound, staining her tunic, but she forced herself to remain upright.

Two minutes. It had only been two minutes, but it felt like an eternity.

The snow was stained crimson now, the wolf’s blood mixing with her own, and the beast was growing more frantic, more desperate. It circled her again, slower this time, its movements hampered by the wound she had inflicted.

This was her chance.

Celeste gripped her sword tighter, ignoring the pain in her side, and prepared herself. One more Flash Step. This time, I’ll get it right.

The wolf lunged.

Celeste blinked out of sight again, her body moving so fast that the world around her blurred. She reappeared Infront of the wolf, her sword raised high, and this time, her strike was perfect.

The blade flashed through the air, and in one swift, elegant motion, it sliced through the wolf’s neck.

The beast didn’t even have time to react. Its head tumbled to the ground, landing with a soft thud in the snow. The rest of its body collapsed a second later, blood gushing from the wound and pooling around it, turning the snow a deep, unnatural red.

Celeste gasped for air, her body trembling with the effort. She stood there, sword still raised, her breath coming in ragged bursts, as she stared at the wolf’s headless body lying motionless in the snow. Blood dripped from her sword, staining the snow at her feet.

For a moment, there was nothing but silence. The world around her seemed frozen, as if even the forest was holding its breath.

Then, Kite approached, his footsteps soft in the snow. He stopped beside her, his eyes flicking between her and the fallen wolf. His expression was calm, unreadable, but there was something in the way he looked at her something close to approval.

"You’re improving," he said quietly. "But you’re still too slow."

Celeste blinked, her body still shaking from the battle. Too slow? She had just killed a dire snow wolf in a blood-soaked fight that left her on the brink of exhaustion. But she swallowed her frustration, knowing Kite was right. The Flash Step wasn’t perfect yet. Her movements were still imprecise. But she was getting closer.

"Yes, Master," she replied, lowering her sword and exhaling shakily.

Kite nodded, then turned his gaze back to the wolf’s body. "Come. Let’s clean this up before the snow buries it. You’ve done well, but there’s still much to learn."

As Celeste wiped the blood from her sword and followed Kite, her heart still pounding in her chest, she realized that this was only the beginning. The battle had pushed her to her limits, but she had survived. She had applied what Kite taught her composure, control, speed and she had won.

But there was still so much more to master. So much more to prove.