The rhythm of training settled quickly once I stepped in.
It always did.
25 Points
There was something about structure–about movement, correction, repetition–that made everything else fall into place without effort. No overthinking. No second–guessing. Just action and response.
I walked between the trainees slowly, my gaze moving from one pair to another, catching the small things.
A foot placed too far forward.
A grip too tight.
A strike thrown with more force than control.
“Again,” I said, not raising my voice, but it carried anyway.
They reset.
I stopped beside one of them and reached out, tapping lightly against his shoulder. “Relax this,” I said. ”
You’re locking yourself up before you even move.”
He nodded quickly. “Yes, Luna.”
I stepped away before he could overcorrect, letting him figure it out on his own.
Another pair clashed too fast, their movements messy and uncoordinated.
“You’re not fighting enemies,” I said as I approached them. “You’re training. Slow it down.”
They did.
The sound of wood striking wood softened into something more controlled.
Better.
I exhaled lightly, letting my arms fold loosely as I watched them settle into the pace I wanted.
Someone to my right shifted too wide, nearly losing balance. I stepped in instinctively, catching his forearm and steadying him before he could stumble.
“Don’t throw your weight away,” I said. “Keep it centered.”
“Yes, Luna.”
I let go and stepped back again.
It went on like that for a while.
Small corrections, short instructions.
< Chapter 366
Nothing complicated.
Nothing that required more than focus.
+25 Pows
I moved toward the rack where the training weapons were kept, picking up a short staff and turning it once
in my hand, testing the weight.
“Switch,” I said. “Half of you–weapon drills. The rest stay where you are.”
They moved quickly, splitting without confusion.
Pairs reformed.
The sound changed again–wood striking wood, sharper now, more defined.
I stepped back, watching.
One of them overextended, his swing too wide, leaving his side open. His partner hesitated instead of
taking the opening.
“Take it,” I said. “If you see it, don’t think about it.”
The second one reacted too late.
I shook my head slightly.
“You’re both hesitating,” I added. “That gets you hurt.”
They nodded, resetting.
I turned away from them, my gaze drifting across the rest of the
group.
Everything was steady.
Exactly how it should be.
Then-
Something changed.
My gaze lifted without thinking, drawn to the movement above.
A branch… thick and heavy.
It cracked.
The sound came a second later–sharp, splitting through the air as the wood gave way. I saw the break,
the jagged line running through it, the weight shifting-
And directly beneath it… one of the wolves, Ethan, stood there.
He didn’t see it.
Didn’t feel it.
< Chapter 366
He was focused on his partner, completely unaware.
My chest tightened instantly.
“Move!” I called out, already stepping forward.
But it wasn’t enough–not fast enough.
Because I saw it-
The way it would fall.
It would crush him before he even realized what was happening.
The image hit, clear.
There wasn’t time to think.
I moved.
+25 Po
Closing the distance in a few quick strides, my hand shooting out to grab him before the branch could
come down.
I caught his arm and yanked him hard to the side-
Harder than I needed to… too much force.
His balance broke immediately.
His foot slipped against the ground, his body twisting in a way that didn’t match the movement I had
forced on him.
And then…
His body slammed into the rack of training weapons behind him, wood clattering loudly as several staffs
and practice blades fell with him. The impact knocked the breath out of him instantly, a sharp, pained
sound tearing from his chest as he went down.
Everything stopped.
The others froze mid–movement, the sudden noise cutting through the training ground in a way that didn’t
belong.
No one moved.
No one spoke.
My hand was still extended from where I had grabbed him.
I looked up.
The branch… it was still there.
Unbroken.
< Chapter 366
Not even cracked–no shift, no damage.
Nothing.
I stared at it for a second.
Then back at Ethan on the ground… trying to breathe.
Wincing as he shifted slightly, clearly hurt from the way he had landed.
My grip loosened slowly, my hand dropping back to my side.
The space around me felt… wrong.
The branch was still up. It didn’t break… didn’t move.
Not even slightly.
I stared at it for a second longer than I should have, like if I kept looking, it would suddenly justify what I
had just done.
It didn’t.
Behind me, I heard Ethan struggle for breath.
That was what pulled me back.
I turned.
He was still on the ground, one hand braced awkwardly against the floor as he tried to push himself up. The moment he put weight on it, his expression tightened, and he dropped back with a sharp inhale.
Two of the others moved in immediately.
“Careful,” one of them said, crouching beside him. “Don’t rush it.”
“I’m okay,” he insisted, but it didn’t sound convincing, even to him.
“You don’t sound okay.”
Another stepped in, pushing aside the scattered training weapons so they wouldn’t get in the way. “Give him space.”
They worked around him naturally, like they had done this before–checking, adjusting, helping him sit up just enough without making it worse.
Someone’s gaze flicked toward me.
Then away.
Another followed.
Probably trying to make sense of it.
Because from where they stood, there had been no warning.
< Chapter 366
No danger.
Nothing to react to.
Just me… suddenly stepping in and throwing Ethan to the ground.
I swallowed.
“Help him to the infirmary.”
That got them moving again.
“Yes, Luna.”
Two of them helped him up carefully, one on each side. He winced as he stood, his weight shifting
unevenly, but he didn’t protest this time.
As they adjusted their hold, his eyes lifted-
And met mine. Like he was still trying to figure out what had happened.
Why I had done that to him.
I looked away first.
“Go,” I said, quieter now.
They nodded and started toward the exit, keeping him steady between them.
The rest lingered for a moment.
Not long.
Just enough to look at me again–quick, careful glances they didn’t hold–before returning to their
positions.
Waiting for direction.
Like nothing had happened.
Like they were ready to move on as long as I let them.
I drew in a slow breath.
Then another.
“Continue,” I said.
There was a slight hesitation.
Then-
“Yes, Luna.”
They picked it up again.
< Chapter 366
The rhythm came back, but it wasn’t the same.
It couldn’t be.
Every movement felt just a little more careful.
Every glance just a little quicker.
And I could feel it-
That quiet shift sitting underneath everything.
I turned away from them, taking a few steps back, giving them space.
“That’ll be all for today.”
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LUCK DRAW >
Sara Lili is a daring romance writer who turns icy landscapes into scenes of fiery passion. She loves crafting hot love stories while embracing the chill of Iceland’s breathtaking cold.
