Thene, the Priestess of Shadows, moved to the center of the vast, rectangular hall. With a fluid motion, she raised a stalwart black sword in her right hand—a physical manifestation of her Mark of Shadow.
From the corner, Sunny and Gaston stood in silence, waiting for her performance to begin. Above them, the shadows themselves seemed to hold their breath, as if eager to witness what was to come.
Sunny already had his suspicions about what they were about to witness, though he wasn't so sure.
For a long, poignant moment, not a single sound disturbed the air. Thene bowed respectfully to the void—perhaps to the shadows in the abyss above, or perhaps to a veiled God watching through them.
Then... she began to dance.
Brandishing her sturdy blade, she traced intricate patterns across the floor with circles and slashes. She moved with an otherworldly elegance, her muscles stretching and coiling as she flowed from one stance to the next. Every cut through the air held a meaning; every thrust had a way, every slash a path. Each single, deliberate movement was a seamless continuation of the last, transforming the dance into a treacherous battle art—formless and insidious at once.
The shadows silently cheered, enchanted by the display. Sunny felt a similar pull.
It wasn't just Thene's breathtaking beauty, which seemed to glow bathed under the dim, black light. It was the art itself that was mesmerizing.
It was a style of combat so exquisite that one felt like a sinner for looking away, yet overwhelmed for staring too long. Only one word truly did it justice:
Glorious!
'Shadow Dance', Sunny thought, a spark of recognition within his onyx eyes. He watched her every move, his heart racing. 'This is perfect! If I can learn this firsthand...'
A few minutes later, Thene lowered her sword and came to a halt. The shadows of the hall returned to their former, usual rhythm—docile and silent observers watching the world from the depths.
The Priestess turned toward Sunny. She had noticed his unwavering gaze throughout the performance, and the eager grin that had spread across his face hadn't escaped her.
It gave her an idea.
Her lips stretched into a dangerously playful smile. "Enjoyed the show, young shadow? Do you wish to learn it? If so, you should pull your sword out so I can teach you how to handle it properly."
Still mesmerized by the beauty of the battle art and craving to master it, Sunny replied without a second thought: "Really? Yes! Yes, of course I want to! I'll pull it out right—"
Suddenly, the words caught in his throat.
'Hold up! Wait a minute!' His eye twitched, his mouth hanging open mid-sentence as his brain finally caught up with the double entendre.
Thene laughed heartily, delighted to see him blush once again for falling into another of her wicked traps.
Gaston came to his rescue, placing a steady hand on Sunny's shoulder. Sunny turned to meet the Elder's gaze. "What you have just witnessed," Gaston said calmly, giving his shoulder a firm squeeze to refocus him, "is the Shadow Dance. This is the ritual I spoke of earlier. The art you must master within a year."
His voice then turned serious and commanding. "However... to learn the Shadow Dance, Thamriel, you must dedicate your entire being to the blade. The enthusiasm you show now is a good start, but it is not enough. This is an art built brick by brick. You will need a firm mind and unwavering commitment."
Gaston paused, ensuring the boy understood the weight of his words. "Now, you know your duty and your role. Rest, young shadow. I shall dismiss you for now. From tomorrow onwards, your training begins."
He shifted his gaze toward Thene. "Sister Thene, if you would, escort our young shadow to his new quarters." And added with gravity, "Without banter, thanks."
Thene, slipping back into her role as the Priestess of Shadows, gave a final, solemn bow. "As you wish, High Priest."
She took Sunny's hand and led him away toward his new room.
***
Half an hour later, led by Thene, Sunny found himself in a modestly large, square room. A soft double bed dominated the center of the space. To the left stood a plain desk, furnished with an inkwell and sheets of papyrus. A private bathroom, hidden behind a partition, occupied the far right, while a solid wood wardrobe stood against the back wall. The floor was entirely covered in fine, plush wool rugs.
As he entered, Sunny noticed two young women roughly his own age standing at the foot of the bed. They had pale blonde hair and brown eyes, and were dressed in simple white tunics. They were twins.
The moment their eyes met his, they bowed deeply.
"From today, they will be your attendants. Meet Eva and Ava," Thene said, introducing them with a casual wave.
Sunny nodded a greeting. 'And... I've already forgotten which is which.'
"When you wake in the morning, they will see to your washing and dressing. Throughout the day, they will escort you, maintain your quarters, and attend to your needs. They are also capable fighters, should you wish to spar for practice." Thene explained.
Then, like a tempting devil, she leaned down and whispered into his ear. "And... obviously, that also applies to your bedtime chores."
She hadn't lowered her voice nearly enough; Sunny watched as both blonde girls flushed a deep red in an instant.
He gritted his teeth, fighting the urge to blush himself. He refused to give her the satisfaction of another victory. "Thanks, but no thanks." Sunny muttered through clenched teeth.
'What a headache. How am I supposed to handle this woman?'
Not yet satisfied with the blow she had just delivered, Thene chose to stoke the fire.
She waved a dismissive hand. "Oh, don't worry! You needn't feel ashamed of your lack of experience. They don't have any either. Of course... if two are too many for your first "spar", you could always just start with me." She punctuated the suggestion with a slow shrug, purposefully accentuating her chest.
Sunny didn't give her a verbal reply. He just smiled—a tight, forced expression that looked more like a grimace. Inside, his mind was screaming: 'One month to the raid, one month to the raid...' He repeated it like a mantra to vent his mounting irritation.
A vein that ran across his entire forehead throbbed visibly.
Judging by her smirk, the Priestess of Shadows was finally satisfied. The room, which should have been quiet and comfortable, was now thick with awkwardness and vexation.
Thene turned to leave, leaving Sunny alone with his two maidservants in the heavy silence.
But she couldn't resist one last parting shot.
As she pulled the door shut, she peeked back in. "Oh! I almost forgot. Be careful where you deliver your thrusts while training. You know..." She paused, clearly savoring the moment. "Better to avoid a Shadow Surprise."
The door clicked shut. Sunny's jaw practically hit the ground. "Shadow— what?"
'But how the fuck did she come up with something like that even?'
He turned to the girls behind him.
They were both staring at the floor, their faces so red they looked ready to combust, utterly unable to meet his eyes.
Sunny facepalmed and sighed at once.
'Let this long, nasty month begin, then.'
***