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“You called for me?” The light clicks of heels against the marble flooring brought his attention away from the stained glass in front of him.
The halls of Khaenri’ah’s palace were relatively empty during the day, leaving just him and the woman approaching him from behind. He shifted, turning his head to face her with a gentle smile on his face. Lumine, with her blonde hair and curious golden eyes, shone ever so brilliantly in the blue and yellow lighting of the stained glass windows. She had her hands placed on her hips, an eyebrow raised questioningly at him.
“Ah, yes.” He cleared his throat, “I was wondering if you would be interested in sparring with me.”
That seemed to surprise Lumine, her eyes widening ever so slightly. “You want me to spar with you?”
“That would be correct… The other royal guards are better suited to spar against each other rather than me. You’re the only person I know who actually poses a challenge.” He rubbed the back of his neck, the black armor covering his forearm glinting in the sunlight.
“And what about your fellow Black Serpent Knights? Surely they could handle a sparring match against the ever prestigious Twilight Sword,” Lumine teased, approaching ever so closer to him.
“King Irmin has most sent out on a mission right now. I was ordered to remain here for the time being.” With each step forward Lumine took towards him, he could feel his heart hammer faster against his ribcage.
He took a step back, distancing himself slightly. Lumine crossed her arms against her chest, a sigh escaping her lips. “Alright. Fine, I’ll spar with you. Just like old times.”
“Oh, thank you Lumine-” She cut him off, unfinished.
“However. Don’t think I’ll hold back.” Her voice was stern. His smile towards her grew ever so wider at the tone.
“Of course. I wouldn’t expect anything less.” He turned his back towards her, walking further down the palace hall.
Lumine followed behind, a comfortable silence between them while they made their way towards the Training Grounds. She was slow, taking her time to admire each stained glass window and vase that decorated the halls. He kept his pace even, stopping whenever she did to answer question after question.
“What’s this window depicting?”
“This vase is beautiful, was it commissioned by the royal family?”
“This person looks like you! Are you not telling me something?”
He loved answering her questions. Every word that escaped her lips–with that sweet voice that sounded like heaven to his ears–was a blessing. By the time they made it to the doors that opened to the outside, the sun bright in his face, his head was far up in the clouds.
A wooden sword clattered to the dirt ground in front of him, Lumine looking up at him with a slight pout. He blinked, shaking his head and bringing himself back into focus. He couldn’t space out here, not when they were about to clash swords.
“Are you sure you’re up for a spar? You look distracted.” She scrutinized him, her eyes gliding up and down to look at him from head to toe.
He had to force himself to look away, his cheeks faintly blushing a light pink, “I’ll be fine. I was simply lost in thought, that’s all.”
She narrowed her eyes, seemingly unconvinced, “If you say so. I’ll trust you.”
He bent down to pick up the wooden sword, backing away from her to get into his combat stance. She followed suit, her own sword pointed towards him with a serious look painting her expression.
The light breeze caused her hair and dress to sway alongside it, the petals of the inteyvats he picked personally for her standing out even more now than before. He took a sharp inhale, struggling to pull his mind away from her. He couldn’t focus.
He couldn’t focus. Not with Lumine looking at him like that in front of him.
She was quick, rushing towards him with calculated strikes. He almost didn’t notice her the first time she aimed her sword towards his chest, just barely being able to parry in time.
Wood clashed against wood, the thunks filling the silence from before with life.
Dirt was thrown around the ground while he carefully avoided each attack she tried landing on him, returning with his own careful sword strikes. His style was different, a unique form of the Truthseeker technique taught to every Black Serpent Knight.
Such is expected from the Captain of the Royal Guard.
He managed to land a hit on her waist, only to be returned with a sharp strike to his armored wrist.
What he didn’t anticipate was how he focused intently on her. The light sheen of sweat on her forehead from the overexertion of combat, the way her breaths were harsh yet surprisingly even. The focused glint in her eyes.
And the leg that swept beneath him, knocking his balance off and sending him falling to the dirt ground, his sword disarmed immediately after. The tip of Lumine’s wooden sword was pointed towards his head, her boot placed firmly on his chest to keep him down.
“Checkmate,” She declared, a triumphant grin on her face. “You were wrong. I could tell you were distracted.”
“Guilty as charged.” He sighed, letting out a breathy laugh in response to her tease.
“Seriously, though. Is something wrong? You’re not usually like that, especially not in the middle of a fight.” She pulled her sword away, stepping away to give him room to sit up off of the ground.
“You don’t have to be so worried, Lumine. Something was just on my mind today, that’s all.” He waved a hand dismissively.
“Very specific. Is it another long mission from King Irmin? An assignment?” She ticked off each question, trying to identify the cause of his distraction.
“On the contrary, it has nothing to do with my knightly duties.” He stood up, brushing himself off.
“So you’re not going to tell me?” She pouted , and at that very moment he could feel his heart melt.
“Unfortunately not. That’s my secret to keep.” He watched with amusement as Lumine immediately tensed up, her eyebrows furrowed frustratedly.
“Oh come on!” She shouted.
Perhaps he’d tell her what was on his chest another day.
But for now, a rematch was in order. If only to see her like that again.