Each Own Perspective
Eira stirred as pale morning light slipped through the curtains.
She sat up slowly, the silk fabric of her thin negligee sliding against her toned, athletic skin, catching the chill of the room and sending a shiver through her sculpted frame. Her physique was a captivating blend of strength and sensuality, rippling subtly beneath the sheer material, smooth thighs flexing as she swung her legs over the edge of the bed, and a narrow waist that accentuated her curves. Her eyes were still heavy with sleep as she crossed to her vanity, movements guided by routine more than thought, her body moving with effortless grace honed from countless workouts. She lifted the brush and drew it through her hair, once, twice, letting the familiar rhythm settle her breathing, her reflection in the mirror revealing the full allure of her form.
Her thoughts, however, refused to quiet.
‘Kain. For three days after his collapse, the three of them had trained together. They were sparring, adjusting, pushing. Then he suddenly had asked to train alone.’
She remembered the way he had said it. As if he already knew this was something he had to do by himself.
‘It had been a week since then. A full week without seeing him. Sophia hadn’t questioned it. She had only nodded, understanding immediately. Eira had understood too as some answers could not be found through instruction or sparring. Some things had to be dragged out from within. So why did it bother her?’
The brush slowed.
‘Why did the absence feel…loud?’
She frowned at her reflection. Her eyes glimmered with the light coming through the window.
“I haven’t seen him in a week,” she murmured, almost to test the words aloud.
The room didn’t answer as her hand paused mid-stroke.
“…Do I miss him?”
The question startled her. A small, incredulous smile curved her lips as she shook her head.
“No,” she said quietly. “That’s ridiculous.”
‘He had changed and she acknowledged that much. But the distance between them hadn’t vanished. It still lingered, fragile and unresolved, shaped by years that couldn’t be erased by effort alone...and yet’
Her gaze softened.
“The past two weeks had been…fun.”
That realization surprised her more than the question before it.
‘Training had felt lighter, conversations flowed easier and his presence was strangely warm. He listened, laughed...sometimes, and when he did it felt genuine.’
“It felt comfortable.”
The warmth had been subtle, but persistent. And somehow, without her noticing when, it had begun to linger. Eira exhaled softly and set the brush down.
“…Idiot,” she murmured, not sure whether she meant herself or him.
Her reflection did not look angry, just thoughtful.
Whatever Kain was doing now, she hoped quietly, against her better judgment that he was still standing, and for reasons she did not yet understand, she found herself wanting to see him again.
‘Soon.’
----
Sophia sat with her legs crossed on the couch, a porcelain teacup resting lightly between her fingers. The steam curled upward in thin, lazy trails, carrying the familiar floral scent she had come to associate with mornings at Valemont Keep.
Outwardly, she was composed as ever, her back straight, posture impeccable, golden hair neatly arranged. A princess at rest yet her eyes betrayed her. They were distant, unfocused, fixed not on the room around her, but on thoughts she had no desire to entertain.
Sophia took a slow sip of tea, the warmth grounding her only slightly. She had not spoken to him since and had not sought him out as there was no reason to. Their relationship was strained at best, fractured beyond repair at worst. He owed her nothing, and she had made it clear she expected nothing from him.
She had seen him, occasionally.
Jogging through the keep’s outer paths in the early mornings. Passing through the corridors with quiet purpose. Beyond that, he remained secluded with meals delivered to his room, doors closed, presence withdrawn.
And for reasons she did not want to examine too closely. It irritated her. Her fingers tightened imperceptibly around the teacup.
‘Why hasn’t he said anything? Not even a word to say things are going well?’
The thought startled her. Sophia frowned and set the cup down on the table with more force than necessary.
‘What am I thinking? He doesn’t owe me updates...I wanted distance. This is…ideal. Wasn’t it?’
She leaned back against the couch, eyes closing briefly.
‘Then why did it feel like something was unsettled inside her chest like an itch she could not quite reach?’
“This makes no sense,” she murmured softly.
She opened her eyes, staring at the far wall as if it might provide an answer.
‘How does he still have this effect on me?’
The realization unsettled her more than she liked. Sophia rose to her feet, smoothing her coat as she did. She inhaled slowly, fixing her expression back into calm composure.
“I need to clear my head”
‘Sparring always helped. Eira would be training by now.’
With that thought, Sophia turned and left the room, unaware that the faint tension coiled in her chest had less to do with restlessness and far more to do with absence.
----
Eira’s spear cut through the air in a clean arc but the follow-through was half a beat late. Sophia noticed it immediately.
She stood at the edge of the training ground, arms loosely folded, watching as Eira reset her stance and struck again. The movements were precise, practiced and unfocused. The rhythm was off and anyone else might have missed it, but Sophia knew Eira too well.
‘She’s distracted.’
Sophia exhaled softly and turned to one of her guards.
“Have some tea brought here.”
The guard bowed and departed at once.
“Eira,” Sophia called. “Take a break.”
Eira halted mid-motion. She looked over, surprised, then nodded and rested the butt of her spear against the ground. “Alright.”
They moved to the bench near the edge of the grounds. When the tea arrived, it was poured in silence. Steam curled upward between them, warm and faintly fragrant.
Sophia stared into her cup before finally sighing. “Have you… met Kain recently?”
Eira stiffened slightly. She didn’t answer at first. Then she narrowed her eyes slightly, not in anger, but in thought.
“No,” she said. “I have not.”
She glanced sideways at Sophia.
“I assume you have not either.”
Sophia’s lips pressed together. “What reason would I have to speak with him?” Her tone was even, controlled. “Other than those few days of sparring, we don’t really talk.”
She lowered her gaze back to the tea, watching the surface ripple faintly.
“Those days have long since passed.”
Eira did not reply immediately. She wrapped her hands around her cup, feeling the warmth seep into her fingers.
“Yes...they have.”
They sat there in silence again, two women staring into their tea, neither quite willing to say what lingered between them. The private training ground walls echoed with distant sounds of steel and movement, but neither of them returned to practice. Silence stretched between them.
The tea had long since cooled, untouched. Nearly ten minutes passed before Eira finally spoke.
“Sophia…I have a question.”
Sophia lifted her gaze from her cup but said nothing, her expression composed. Eira continued, choosing her words carefully.
“Kain is scheduled to fight Henry in the coming days. What do you plan to do if he loses?”
Sophia set her cup down with deliberate care and leaned forward slightly, elbows resting against her knees. Her tone, when she spoke, was calm.
“I will proceed as usual,” she said. “He will be exiled according to House Valemont’s laws and face the consequences of his actions.”
She paused, eyes sharpening.
“My father has left the verdict for insulting me entirely in my hands. I may execute him on the spot…or beat him within an inch of his life.”
Sophia leaned back against the couch, sinking into the cushions as she crossed her right leg over her left, and turned her gaze away from Eira, voice distant again.
“Whatever I decide, I will do so then. Along with formally annulling the engagement.”
Eira closed her eyes. She did not speak right away and gave herself a moment to accept the weight of what had just been said.
“Even after everything unusual about him…you feel the same?”
Sophia did not turn back nor answer. Eira pressed on.
“I know how much you hate him, Sophia. I don’t blame you. Truly. The feeling was mutual for a long time.” Her voice softened. “But recently…his change has softened my perspective. And I know you’re conflicted too.”
Sophia exhaled slowly and finally looked at her.
“What difference does that make?” she said flatly. “He insulted me, his behavior has been twisted since long before.”
The words were sharp.
“Even if he has changed,” Sophia continued, “actions carry consequences. I intend to uphold them.”
Eira opened her mouth to respond, then stopped before asking quietly,
“…And if he wins?”
Sophia studied her for a long moment before leaning closer.
“Tell me, Eira,” she said, voice even. “After everything we’ve seen, after what he has demonstrated, what chance do you think he has against Henry?”
Eira’s gaze dropped to her teacup. The warmth was gone.
“…No chance,” she said softly. “Kain is talented, far beyond anything I expected. I don’t know why it surfaced now.” She swallowed. “But no matter how hard he trained, a month isn’t enough to close that gap. He’s still unawakened.”
She did not look up.
“He won’t win.”
Sophia nodded once.
“Then there’s no need to ask about my decision if he does,” she said quietly. “As you said, it’s inevitable.”
Silence returned, heavier than before.
