Chapter Text
The purple Anacondrai tattoo still burned across Skylor's back long after the ceremony had ended. Every movement reminded her it was there.
The skin felt hot and tender beneath her robes, and each step sent another dull ache across her shoulders. Still, she refused to complain. Receiving the tattoo had been the proudest moment of her life.
Chen slowly walked around her, inspecting the fresh markings with satisfaction.
"Excellent," he said quietly. "It healed exactly as Clouse predicted."
Skylor smiled despite the pain. "Thank you, Father."
Chen didn't return the smile. Instead, he gave a small nod toward the gathered followers. Before Skylor could even wonder why— Two servants burst from behind nearby pillars.
"What—?" She exclaimed.
They slammed into her back. The force knocked the air from her lungs as she crashed face-first onto the stone floor.
"Oof!"
One servant grabbed her right arm. The other pinned her legs. Skylor struggled furiously beneath them.
"Hey!" she shouted. "That's cheating! I wasn't ready!"
The servants didn't answer. They simply held her in place. Chen stared down at her without the slightest bit of sympathy.
"Cheating?" he repeated. His voice echoed through the hall. "Oh my sweet child, you are not prepared for the real world yet. There is no such thing as cheating."
Skylor glared at him. "But they attacked me from behind!"
"Exactly," Chen folded his hands behind his back. "Life doesn't announce when danger is coming." He slowly walked toward her and knelt besides her. "It doesn't wait until you're prepared, so there is no fair. There is no unfair. There is only survival."
He looked at the two servants. "Release her."
Immediately they stepped away while Skylor climbed to her feet, rubbing her sore shoulder. She shot both servants an irritated grunt before glaring at Chen. He ignored her expression.
"First lesson in the art of stealth, you need to know when you are being sneaked up upon." Chen informed.
"What?"
"You've been fighting well because you've been expecting it, but from this day forward," Chen announced loudly enough for everyone to hear, "my followers will attack you whenever they please."
Skylor blinked. "...What?"
"They will strike at any hour." He continued pacing. "Morning, afternoon, night. While you're training, while you're eating. Even while you're sleeping, if necessary."
Skylor's eyes widened. "You can't be serious."
"I am perfectly serious." Chen stopped in front of her. "You will never know when the next attack is coming. That way you will learn how to react without thinking. You will learn to observe every shadow, and eventually..." A smile slowly spread across his face. "...you will never be caught off guard again."
Skylor wanted to argue. She wanted to tell him the training had already become impossible. But years of living under Chen had taught her one important lesson. Protesting changed nothing. So she simply lowered her head and nodded.
"Yes, Father."
The attacks began immediately.
The next morning, Skylor reached for a bowl of rice and a servant kicked her chair backward. She flipped onto the floor. By lunchtime another servant tried sweeping her legs while she walked through the palace gardens. That evening someone leaped out from behind a curtain. The following day another attacked while she was practicing with her crossbow.
No place was safe. No hour was peaceful. Weeks passed and her reactions became faster. Her senses sharper and soon she instinctively noticed footsteps, shifting shadows, even the smallest changes in the sounds around her. Exactly as Chen intended.
But there was one follower who stood apart from the others. He couldn't have been older than twelve. Only two years older than Skylor. He had an unmistakable mohawk that stuck straight upward, making him easy to recognize from across the courtyard.
Unlike everyone else, he never attacked once and walked away. He stayed and fought.
The first time they met, he came charging at her with a wooden sword while she was on the way to her room. Skylor barely blocked it.
"You fight like an old turtle!" he laughed.
She shoved him backward. "And you look like someone lost a fight with a porcupine!"
"My hair looks awesome." He said as he touched his mohawk.
"It looks ridiculous."
"Oh yeah?"
"Yeah!"
He lunged again. Skylor grabbed the wooden spare sword from the rack. The practice swords clashed and wood cracked against wood. Over and over again. They would kick, punch, sweep, and block. Neither of them held back.
When Chen finally called an end to the match, both children were bruised and exhausted.
The boy simply grinned. "I'll beat you tomorrow."
"In your dreams," Skylor shot back.
He laughed. "So you admit you dream about me winning."
"I absolutely did not say that!"
He walked away chuckling.
Skylor crossed her arms. "What an idiot..."
The next day he attacked again. Then the next, and it soon it became routine for them.
Every afternoon the mysterious boy would appear from somewhere within the palace grounds. Sometimes he came from rooftops. Sometimes from trees. Sometimes he literally dropped from the ceiling. Every encounter ended the same way. A fierce fight.
"You missed!" He would say.
"I wasn't aiming for you." She responded.
"Oh really?"
"I was aiming for your terrible haircut."
"My haircut is legendary."
"It's legendary because everyone remembers how awful it is."
"Oh, you're going to regret saying that."
Their wooden weapons collided once more.
Months then passed. Their insults slowly became less hostile and more playful.
"I almost had you." He constantly said.
"Almost doesn't count." Skylor taunted.
"You've gotten faster."
"So have you."
Eventually the other followers stopped attacking Skylor as often. But Chen didn't focus on the others anymore as only one person continued challenging her every single day. The boy with the mohawk.
Without realizing it, Skylor began looking forward to those fights. No matter how difficult the day had been... She knew he'd show up. And somehow... That made training fun. Even Chen noticed. From balconies and observation rooms, he quietly watched every sparring match. The boy never treated Skylor differently because she was a girl. He attacked with everything he had. No hesitation. No mercy. Exactly the way Chen wanted.
One evening, Skylor was summoned by one of Chen's attendants. "Master Chen requests everyone gather in the main hall."
She frowned. "What's happening?"
The servant simply bowed.
"You'll see."
The great hall quickly filled with Chen's followers. Rows of servants stood shoulder to shoulder.
Clouse remained beside the throne, silent as ever. Skylor spotted the boy standing several rows ahead of her. He looked just as confused as everyone else. Finally, Chen entered and the room fell completely silent.
"My followers," Chen announced. "I have witnessed exceptional dedication over these past several months." His gaze settled on the young fighter. "This boy has shown unwavering commitment to my daughter's training."
The boy looked around, wondering if Chen meant someone else.
"He has challenged her." He continued with a smile. "He has pushed her. He has never treated her with anything less than his very best. For that..." He raised one hand dramatically. "...he shall receive something few among you possess."
The crowd began whispering.
"A name." Chen said.
Silence.
The boy's eyes became enormous. Among Chen's followers, names were not given freely. Most were known only as servants. Receiving a name meant earning an identity. It meant Chen recognized your worth.
The hall erupted into cheers. The boy stood frozen.
"You have earned the right to choose one" Chen congratulated, as he looked directly at him. "So, step forward."
Slowly, he obeyed and hesitated as he lowered his head in thought. Nearly a full minute passed before he finally looked up.
"I've decided." He said.
Chen folded his arms. "What name do you choose?"
The boy smiled proudly. "...Eyezor."
Chen repeated it loudly. "Then from this day forward..." He raised his arms. "...you shall be known as Eyezor."
The followers applauded thunderously.
"Eyezor!"
"Eyezor!"
"Eyezor!"
The newly named warrior couldn't stop smiling and neither could Skylor. Watching him receive something so meaningful filled her with genuine happiness.
Their eyes met across the hall.
Eyezor gave her a small, proud grin. Skylor returned it.
She couldn't explain why. But somehow... She had a feeling this wouldn't be the last important moment they would share together.