Owen stepped forward with that same confident grin, stone-gray eyes bright with anticipation.56Please respect copyright.PENANAw3Wj0I3Y1L
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Instructor Calder's expression shifted - something that might have been approval. "Good. To the center, both of you."56Please respect copyright.PENANAnw8TCRcDHf
56Please respect copyright.PENANA5lN4PlUEcW
Cel moved to the indicated spot, boots crunching against packed earth. Owen took position opposite him, rolling his shoulders with the ease of someone who'd done this countless times.56Please respect copyright.PENANAt9esLu0cuI
56Please respect copyright.PENANAbH0tEs9y4U
"Before we begin," Calder's voice carried across the training ground, "understand the rules. Killing is prohibited. Severe injury is prohibited. Authorities are prohibited."56Please respect copyright.PENANALzz9OfdEcj
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He paused, letting that sink in.56Please respect copyright.PENANA1uuZabOq0m
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"The match ends when one fighter yields or is rendered unable to continue. Manifest your artifacts."56Please respect copyright.PENANABpzXMX5LlR
56Please respect copyright.PENANA3aq0m4LBuV
Cel reached for the bond with Silent Moon.56Please respect copyright.PENANAGeWVcmu3dA
56Please respect copyright.PENANAF6EiV9NyTW
Moonlight threaded through the air, weaving itself into solid form. The chokutō materialized in his grip - deep violet blade catching afternoon sun, the nine moon phases etched into its length. Four crescents ignited with white light immediately. 56Please respect copyright.PENANAlBJyC5vCx1
56Please respect copyright.PENANA2zpgThXUsF
Across from him, Owen's artifact appeared in a cascade of stone dust, hardening into solid form.56Please respect copyright.PENANApSRQJ4Okug
56Please respect copyright.PENANAm0Fm754BpR
A massive warhammer. The head alone was larger than Cel's torso, carved from what looked like solid granite. Runes glowed faintly along its surface, pulsing with barely contained power.56Please respect copyright.PENANAPrg56BZXmf
56Please respect copyright.PENANAXxhOGl2fIZ
Owen lifted it one-handed, the weapon's weight apparently nothing to him. He spun it once - casual, showing off - before settling into a ready stance.56Please respect copyright.PENANAvJ4zkShtfA
56Please respect copyright.PENANA5gtmzmfwdW
Cel's chokutō looked like a child's toy in comparison.56Please respect copyright.PENANAXR9vx7Gggz
56Please respect copyright.PENANADISUV51MMo
"Begin!"56Please respect copyright.PENANACgoQaSWb2e
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Owen moved first.56Please respect copyright.PENANA65ekwQq376
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The warhammer came down in a vertical strike that would have pulverized bone. Cel jerked sideways, narrowly evading the blow. The weapon's head crashed into earth where he'd been standing, sending up a spray of dirt.56Please respect copyright.PENANAQASiFbi5vU
56Please respect copyright.PENANAPcWGeKPpjr
Owen didn't pause. The hammer reversed direction immediately, sweeping horizontal at chest height.56Please respect copyright.PENANAozPqIkLuKi
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Cel raised Silent Moon to block—56Please respect copyright.PENANAN9YEtRyhqK
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The impact rang through the training ground. But Cel's arms didn't buckle. His stance held firm, boots planted solidly despite the hammer's massive weight behind the blow.56Please respect copyright.PENANACnTi3myQAo
56Please respect copyright.PENANA2YNZMS7X7E
Owen's eyes widened slightly.56Please respect copyright.PENANAGDpqot7jAk
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Cel didn't capitalize on the moment. His counter-slash came too slow, too obvious. Owen deflected it easily and pressed forward again.56Please respect copyright.PENANAozCspIUuuS
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The warhammer moved with practiced precision. High. Low. Diagonal. Each strike flowing into the next, guided by years of training.56Please respect copyright.PENANATZKlrDXXFz
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Cel's blade intercepted desperately. His footwork was all wrong - too wide, too uncertain. He stumbled over his own feet trying to create distance.56Please respect copyright.PENANABnXQ64Ohb3
56Please respect copyright.PENANAi8H3izYmz7
But when Owen's strikes connected with Silent Moon, Cel's guard never broke. His arms remained steady. His breathing didn't labor despite the relentless assault.56Please respect copyright.PENANAflpXEsJ7Nc
56Please respect copyright.PENANA2IsWsCezm2
The nobles watched with growing interest. The commoners shifted uneasily, afraid of what could happen to them.56Please respect copyright.PENANA5X5MoFgoN2
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Owen feinted left, then brought the hammer down from the right.56Please respect copyright.PENANAthvvAfRCus
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Cel's body moved before his mind caught up - blade rising on pure instinct to intercept the strike head-on.56Please respect copyright.PENANAOeRIClmjLo
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The impact drove his feet half an inch into packed earth. Nothing more.56Please respect copyright.PENANAWvgYfM27eo
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Owen's breathing had grown heavier. Sweat beaded on his forehead.56Please respect copyright.PENANAUQ7uk3j2ak
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Cel looked untouched. Unmoved.56Please respect copyright.PENANAI3G6u3nCfC
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They separated, circling.56Please respect copyright.PENANAfeHmjyoZ9Y
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The realization was obvious now - in raw strength and endurance, Cel held every advantage. His divinely forged body simply operated on a different level. Owen's strikes, powerful as they were, couldn't tire him. Couldn't break his guard through force alone.56Please respect copyright.PENANAXrvcFLy2ta
56Please respect copyright.PENANApggU8Fkkwl
But skill? 56Please respect copyright.PENANAYXM3J2wQwD
56Please respect copyright.PENANAKFDnOlXvYu
Owen attacked again, and Cel's response was textbook terrible. His timing off. His positioning wrong. His blade work clumsy enough that Owen could slip past his guard almost at will.56Please respect copyright.PENANAKDCNCgNhRu
56Please respect copyright.PENANAcIguI6iJ0K
The warhammer's shaft caught Cel across the ribs - not the head, just a glancing blow with the weapon's body. But it was enough.56Please respect copyright.PENANAuUGKY64H9H
56Please respect copyright.PENANAWF74zhzwDk
Cel stumbled, more from poor balance than the impact's force.56Please respect copyright.PENANAQqFdmvLxqs
56Please respect copyright.PENANAmtXOfqMPFv
Owen pressed the advantage. A sweep at the legs that sent Cel down hard.56Please respect copyright.PENANAFi7bFJtaBH
56Please respect copyright.PENANAtD3hkw0kTR
Silent Moon skittered across packed earth.56Please respect copyright.PENANA9EbTrTHtw9
56Please respect copyright.PENANAncylT4xjTm
Owen's hammer stopped inches from Cel's chest. Waiting.56Please respect copyright.PENANAAQgRjAatgM
56Please respect copyright.PENANAqv7IJ0keGy
"Yield?"56Please respect copyright.PENANAeITfNRq7w5
56Please respect copyright.PENANAAOz2zxmDH1
Cel nodded once.56Please respect copyright.PENANAMxefzX0IGX
56Please respect copyright.PENANAJqnvVmUS8h
Instructor Calder's voice rang out. "Match to Owen Peakscale!"56Please respect copyright.PENANAHYAMO4Glcz
56Please respect copyright.PENANAmSkYgIb4j3
A few nobles clapped. Most simply nodded, the outcome expected. The commoners watched quietly, the gap between Owen's skill and their own suddenly, painfully clear.56Please respect copyright.PENANAdZVfCBatwp
56Please respect copyright.PENANAfouAdaZEOt
Owen dismissed his warhammer, the massive weapon crumbling back into stone dust that dissolved into nothing.56Please respect copyright.PENANAwypIe6nvwo
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"That was disappointing."56Please respect copyright.PENANAV8TQ3xP08v
56Please respect copyright.PENANAnN2pT7E1Hk
The words were quiet. Meant only for Cel to hear.56Please respect copyright.PENANAlv3NPRfR1o
56Please respect copyright.PENANAk35E2B3Oik
Cel's eyebrow twitched upward.56Please respect copyright.PENANAVFcRxnLVCQ
56Please respect copyright.PENANATW0Ck97pwB
'What did you expect?'56Please respect copyright.PENANAETQ7HaTvRh
56Please respect copyright.PENANAvWyqbyAFFy
The thought flashed sharp and bitter through Cel's mind. But he said nothing. Just bowed once - proper deference - and moved to retrieve Silent Moon from where it had fallen.56Please respect copyright.PENANAT85GFaPHUE
56Please respect copyright.PENANAGMkJJFDERf
"Lord Owen."56Please respect copyright.PENANALIpCNhFtep
56Please respect copyright.PENANAr4geEtDlgT
Both of them turned.56Please respect copyright.PENANAK9Jck2TDBC
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Sylvaine stood at the edge of the sparring area, light green eyes calm and assessing.56Please respect copyright.PENANA36jVSZ9dDm
56Please respect copyright.PENANAFtYeQlkjZU
"Would you grant me a match?"56Please respect copyright.PENANAPrnwLjg5IQ
56Please respect copyright.PENANAb7M8JIths5
Owen's grin returned immediately. "I would be honored, lady Sylvaine."56Please respect copyright.PENANAgKkFuVbDui
56Please respect copyright.PENANAs2N10TWRVh
They took positions in the center while Cel rejoined the watching students. Lior shifted to make room, his expression troubled.56Please respect copyright.PENANAR9cHaSbabG
56Please respect copyright.PENANAzuOL68WuTT
"Are you alright?" he whispered.56Please respect copyright.PENANA9EGFKQ4VNP
56Please respect copyright.PENANAKNKr8GJMod
"Yes."56Please respect copyright.PENANAK50JAJ4bWt
56Please respect copyright.PENANABxsmWJutEC
The answer was true enough. No injuries. No pain. Just the bitter taste of a fight he'd chosen to lose.56Please respect copyright.PENANATcXkpFbRMw
56Please respect copyright.PENANAmqWup8vRua
Sylvaine and Owen manifested their artifacts simultaneously.56Please respect copyright.PENANA1W4N5CkhnW
56Please respect copyright.PENANATI0ECDPv0c
Leaves swirled around Sylvaine's hand, spinning faster until they solidified into steel. Her weapon materialized as an elegant blade - slender and curved with graceful lines. The steel gleamed silver-white, almost seeming to glow with inner light. 56Please respect copyright.PENANAfH8FJlFJpW
56Please respect copyright.PENANA2L6FTOnu3X
Owen's warhammer appeared again, just as massive as before.56Please respect copyright.PENANAw3IvNZdP5q
56Please respect copyright.PENANAi2kOab1NsQ
"Begin!"56Please respect copyright.PENANAs9jfGsXrnH
56Please respect copyright.PENANA3NEYg6RvTn
Owen charged immediately, hammer rising for a devastating overhead strike.56Please respect copyright.PENANAvP2gWaLZbs
56Please respect copyright.PENANA0QpNCd0MNu
Sylvaine didn't retreat. Didn't try to create distance like Cel had.56Please respect copyright.PENANAopWZqWi0AL
56Please respect copyright.PENANAJseRMF4SxE
She stepped forward.56Please respect copyright.PENANAy180w2Yq17
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Her blade deflected the hammer's head with minimal movement - just enough to redirect its momentum past her shoulder. Before Owen could recover, her weapon traced a line across his chest.56Please respect copyright.PENANAjwtttu9rPU
56Please respect copyright.PENANAa5RGsHvm1G
Not deep. Not injuring. Just touching.56Please respect copyright.PENANABVuHiIx3Ig
56Please respect copyright.PENANAAT5zFlEhNn
Owen stumbled back, grin wide. A thin red line appeared on his uniform where the blade had passed.56Please respect copyright.PENANAOTONzqHUrb
56Please respect copyright.PENANAvzXot2PRoB
Sylvaine pressed forward. Her weapon moved like an extension of her body - fluid, graceful, each strike flowing seamlessly into the next. Where Owen relied on overwhelming power, she wielded precision.56Please respect copyright.PENANALgskC4qRND
56Please respect copyright.PENANA6WjetUQnQg
The hammer came around in a sweeping arc. She ducked beneath it, blade rising to force Owen's guard high, then swept low at his legs.56Please respect copyright.PENANAGjbEs19B1d
56Please respect copyright.PENANAJOnAkDdZRA
He jumped - barely avoiding the strike - and brought the hammer down while airborne.56Please respect copyright.PENANA0ZL5exqxT5
56Please respect copyright.PENANAWUbphdAlUV
Sylvaine rolled sideways. The weapon's head cratered the earth where she'd been standing.56Please respect copyright.PENANAiJVaMcGx36
56Please respect copyright.PENANAiZ9JjDWJPQ
Owen's grin had faded, replaced by focus.56Please respect copyright.PENANARw0vgmsRh0
56Please respect copyright.PENANAyGGMbIN11r
He attacked again - faster now, more aggressive. The hammer became a blur of stone and force, each strike powerful enough to shatter bone.56Please respect copyright.PENANAUVEcpnnZAS
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But none of them landed.56Please respect copyright.PENANAmEZpfJuADj
56Please respect copyright.PENANAqo8mOvuZM7
Sylvaine's blade wove a defensive pattern that turned aside every blow. And between each deflection, her sword found gaps - touching shoulder, ribs, thigh. Never cutting deep. Just proving she could.56Please respect copyright.PENANAGOZ6YB8E5z
56Please respect copyright.PENANA4HdjFfZw2L
Finally, Owen overextended. Put too much force behind a horizontal sweep that left him momentarily off-balance.56Please respect copyright.PENANAswCjwuEgqP
56Please respect copyright.PENANABAUNlBoIIv
Sylvaine's blade caught him across the shins with its flat side.56Please respect copyright.PENANASC3xflbN1C
56Please respect copyright.PENANAK2lW3pqrw5
His legs buckled. He went down on one knee, hammer falling from his grip.56Please respect copyright.PENANAT6Bx1DWiro
56Please respect copyright.PENANAwgtllmw5uQ
Her sword pressed against his throat. Gentle. Undeniable.56Please respect copyright.PENANAfF2PutJNG4
56Please respect copyright.PENANA5543H9dUDD
"Yield?"56Please respect copyright.PENANATBifRMQX3I
56Please respect copyright.PENANAFm4JlWkuXx
Owen stared up at her for a long moment. Then laughed - genuine, delighted.56Please respect copyright.PENANAhLDREqVEHh
56Please respect copyright.PENANAnvLPmsI7U6
"I yield."56Please respect copyright.PENANADpY4KwgHJP
56Please respect copyright.PENANAkG1n1tMrQC
The blade withdrew. Sylvaine stepped back, offering her hand.56Please respect copyright.PENANA7Ltz6XhNbx
56Please respect copyright.PENANARwlzpwoJiT
Owen took it, letting her pull him upright.56Please respect copyright.PENANAOgSZHVyN6e
56Please respect copyright.PENANAcJBhE2Waco
"Match to Lady Sylvaine Grovethorn!" Calder's voice carried approval.56Please respect copyright.PENANAcjYL7X9Igj
56Please respect copyright.PENANAt1QTrjTkmR
Theron appeared at her side immediately, his expression bright with pride. "That was amazing! The way you redirected his hammer. I didn’t know you were that strong!"56Please respect copyright.PENANAIzpPTEll7T
56Please respect copyright.PENANAmlSd4ze6LN
Sylvaine's lips curved slightly. "Thank you."56Please respect copyright.PENANAKZ3W0AkwFG
56Please respect copyright.PENANAXGnkTvnVXi
They moved to the sidelines together, Theron still talking enthusiastically about specific moments from the match.56Please respect copyright.PENANAvfHLqs4Kms
56Please respect copyright.PENANAehp9JiEEjZ
Instructor Calder consulted his roster. "Lior, you're up."56Please respect copyright.PENANAgTHBxbcjGu
56Please respect copyright.PENANA5Ujurddm6C
Lior went pale. He rose on shaking legs, manifesting his artifact - a simple knife that glowed faintly with silver light.56Please respect copyright.PENANApasqiewige
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His opponent, a stocky boy who'd been moderately skilled during training, summoned a short sword.56Please respect copyright.PENANAwLm9nDjmbW
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The fight was... brief.56Please respect copyright.PENANAPftceMo4Pl
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Lior's knife work was technically sound but hesitant. Every strike obvious. Every defense half-hearted.56Please respect copyright.PENANAijwX3E7tOr
56Please respect copyright.PENANArourDeINv1
The other boy pressed forward with confidence born from weeks of watching Lior fumble through combat drills. A feint, a lunge, and Lior's knife went flying.56Please respect copyright.PENANA92p1etLGuY
56Please respect copyright.PENANATBeuba0K9o
"Yield," Lior said immediately, voice barely audible.56Please respect copyright.PENANAGdQH9tTwVh
56Please respect copyright.PENANAtag5xlbzX4
Instructor Calder's expression held disappointment. "Match concluded."56Please respect copyright.PENANAmq8S20Bx2t
56Please respect copyright.PENANAqXyUSKsqOB
More fights followed. Commoners against commoners, testing newly learned skills against each other. Some showed promise. Others revealed how much work remained.56Please respect copyright.PENANAKnNVM2bW63
56Please respect copyright.PENANA1Hs8uKaoYG
The sun sank lower, painting the training ground in orange light.56Please respect copyright.PENANAqjuNtJjOtf
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Finally, Calder raised his hand. "That's enough for today. Rankings will be posted after a month. Dismissed."56Please respect copyright.PENANA4V81gNmUj4
56Please respect copyright.PENANAW03C55lFs7
Students dispersed in clusters, nobles and commoners naturally separating. Conversations rose and fell - analyzing matches, discussing techniques, making plans.56Please respect copyright.PENANAMNrpbSqyZa
56Please respect copyright.PENANA5bxtHRxOaR
Cel and Lior walked to the dining hall together. Lior kept his eyes down, shoulders tight with the weight of his public defeat. Cel said nothing. There was nothing to say.56Please respect copyright.PENANAx6qLK2OHVa
56Please respect copyright.PENANAcaj9NeEz20
The hall was already filling when they entered. Nobles occupied the tables near the windows, their uniforms bright against the fading daylight. Commoners clustered toward the back, voices subdued.56Please respect copyright.PENANAXwvWaFgoW6
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Cel moved to the familiar isolated corner where they usually sat.56Please respect copyright.PENANAtBHMqyansJ
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The servers moved through the dining hall with practiced efficiency, but their pattern was predictable. Nobles first - plates laden with roasted meats, fresh bread still steaming, vegetables glazed with butter and herbs. The food arrived while it was still hot, presented with careful attention.56Please respect copyright.PENANAzsrRwCE0QM
56Please respect copyright.PENANAxzFHKCVzf6
Then the other commoners. Their portions respectable, if less generous. The servers worked quickly through the middle tables, refilling water pitchers and clearing empty dishes.56Please respect copyright.PENANAcgCRq3Hm6g
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Finally, they reached Cel and Lior's corner.56Please respect copyright.PENANAU2eyzoG4T5
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They ate in silence for several minutes. Around them, the dining hall buzzed with energy - students reliving the day's matches, predicting rankings.56Please respect copyright.PENANAIrDwdkTaNh
56Please respect copyright.PENANAHaTleKIGee
Then a voice cut through the noise.56Please respect copyright.PENANATRKL0v67XW
56Please respect copyright.PENANAEhdsl0sg0s
Familiar. Unwelcome.56Please respect copyright.PENANAzWxyxXPPk5
56Please respect copyright.PENANAHE15P8LUoV
"Hey trash."





