The clash resumed in the middle of motion, their bodies already committed, their breathing heavy as the rhythm of the spar shifted from measured exchanges into something far more direct, and then a sharp thud echoed across the ground as Damon's leg drove forward with sudden force, his kick landing clean into Zarhka's gut with a heavy khud that forced the air out of her lungs.
Zarhka bent forward instinctively, her body folding for a split second—
And that was all Damon needed.
His hands moved immediately, gripping both of her horns with firm control as Zarhka struggled against the hold, her muscles tensing as she tried to push back, but Damon stepped in closer, pulling her downward with controlled force before driving his knee upward—
A sharp crack split through the air.
Her body went slack.
Zarhka collapsed backward onto the ground, her form hitting hard as blood began to flow freely from her broken nose, her breathing uneven, chest rising and falling in rough bursts as the impact settled through her.
For a moment—
Silence.
Then—
"Aaaaahh!"
Mira's scream broke through everything as she rushed forward, dropping beside Zarhka without hesitation, her hands trembling as she hovered over her, panic overtaking her completely as tears welled in her eyes.
"I-I… I… w-what do I do…?" she stammered, her voice breaking as she tried to steady herself, and then instinct took over as she placed her hands near Zarhka's injured face, a soft golden glow beginning to form between her palms, faint at first, then growing stronger as it spread outward.
Damon turned his head slightly at the light, his brows furrowing as he watched the scene unfold.
A voice came from behind him.
"Ahh… ya should be a bit gentle with women, boss…"
Damon glanced over his shoulder.
Eric and Vaelith had arrived, both of them watching with mixed reactions, though Eric's carried more nervous humor than concern.
"If I had held back," Damon replied calmly, turning his gaze forward again, "it would have been disrespectful to her… and you do not disrespect those you work with."
Vaelith's ears flicked slightly at that, the words registering deeper than expected, though he said nothing.
Their attention shifted back.
The golden glow intensified for a moment—And then faded.
Zarhka's breathing steadied.
The blood stopped.
Her nose, moments ago clearly broken, had returned to its original form as though nothing had happened.
Zarhka blinked, sitting up slowly before looking at Mira, her expression softening as she spoke with that same heavy accent, though now gentler.
"Ya… ya did dat fer me…? Hah… thanks."
Mira shook her head quickly, her face still flushed as she looked away, unable to meet her eyes.
Vaelith spoke quietly, his tone carrying a hint of disbelief.
"A healing-type resonance… that's extremely rare…"
Damon didn't respond outwardly, but his eyes narrowed slightly as he observed Mira, his thoughts sharpening.
I really lucked out with her…
A healing-type resonance is among the rarest.
Even the academy's doctor did not possess a pure healing type resonance.
This is valuable…
Very valuable…Maybe I can invest a bit more in her..
Zarhka, meanwhile, treated Mira with an entirely different demeanor now, her earlier roughness replaced with a carefulness that bordered on reverence, as though even the idea of Mira getting hurt felt unacceptable.
Damon's gaze lingered for a moment longer before shifting.
Toward Eric and Vaelith.
"Come," he said simply, "it's your turn to spar with me."
Both of them stiffened instantly.
Eric let out an awkward laugh, scratching the back of his head as he stepped slightly away.
"H-heh… boss… we already observed your spar… it's basically the same as sparring death, haha…"
Vaelith nodded once, equally unwilling, though far less expressive about it.
Damon stared at them for a moment then turned.
His gaze settling on Mira.
"Miss Mira," he said, his tone even, "do not go anywhere after this session is over… we will go to the training chamber."
Mira froze completely.
Her face turned red in an instant, her thoughts spiraling out of control as her lips parted slightly.
"T-training chamber…?" she muttered faintly, her voice trembling.
As the training grounds disappeared around her and enclosed space formed, the hum of the training grounds fading into something distant and unreal as Damon stepped closer, his breathing heavier than usual, his upper body exposed as a faint sheen of sweat traced along his skin, catching the dim light as he moved with slow, deliberate steps.
Mira found herself retreating instinctively, her back meeting the cold surface of the wall before she even realized how close he had come, her hands pressing lightly against it as her breath hitched, her eyes wide and uncertain.
"I can't wait anymore… hu…" Damon murmured, his voice low and rough, as he lifted one hand and placed it against the wall just above her head, effectively trapping her in place without even needing to touch her.
"w-weren't we going to wait until d-dinner…" Mira whispered, her voice trembling, her words barely forming as her thoughts tangled over themselves.
Damon didn't answer.
Instead, his other hand rose slowly, his fingers brushing beneath her chin as he tilted her face upward, his gaze fixed on her as he leaned in, closer… and closer… until the space between them almost vanished.
Mira's breath caught as she puckered her lips closing her eyes..
And then—
"Miss Miraaaa—!"
"Miss Miraaa—"
The voice snapped her out of it.
She blinked as reality returned.
Damon and the others had already begun moving away.
Zarhka stood a short distance ahead, turning back to call her again, motioning for her to follow.
Mira stood there for a second longer, her face red..
Then hurried after them.
The remainder of the session passed with a structured rhythm as each group reported their observations to Brakkar, one after another stepping forward to explain what they had understood about their party members, their strengths, their weaknesses, and how they intended to utilize them, while Brakkar listened with sharp attention, occasionally interrupting with blunt corrections or short, heavy remarks that either confirmed their direction or dismantled it entirely, forcing them to think again.
When it was finally over, the tension that had built throughout the session eased slightly as students began to disperse, the intensity of training giving way to a quieter fatigue that settled into their movements.
Damon turned toward his party, his gaze passing over each of them before he spoke in a calm, measured tone.
"You all must be tired today, so we'll have our discussion tomorrow."
Eric's reaction was immediate, his entire posture lifting as if a burden had just been removed.
"Finally!" he said under his breath, already turning as he made his exit without hesitation.
Vaelith lingered for a brief moment, his expression thoughtful as though weighing something internally, before he gave a small nod and walked away as well, leaving only Zarhka and Mira behind.
Zarhka remained still.
Her head lowered slightly.
Her gaze shifting between Damon and Mira before she spoke, her voice carrying that familiar heavy, rolled accent, though now quieter than before.
"Can we talk fer a moment… alone?"
Damon narrowed his eyes slightly, studying her for a brief second before giving a short nod.
He turned to Mira.
"Wait here for a moment… then we'll go to the training chamber."
Mira nodded quickly, her hands clasped together as she watched him leave, her thoughts already beginning to drift in directions she couldn't quite control.
Damon walked alongside Zarhka in silence for a short distance, the sounds of the training ground fading behind them until they came to a stop, the space around them quieter now.
He said nothing.
Zarhka shifted slightly, her fingers fidgeting in an uncharacteristically nervous manner as she avoided his gaze, her usual steadiness replaced with hesitation, and after a brief struggle, she finally spoke.
"T-thank ya… fer not holdin' back against me in our spar…"
Damon raised an eyebrow, his tone flat.
"That's it?"
Zarhka immediately shook her head, her words coming out faster now.
"No! About what Lady Khaira said… i-if ya want… I can mate with ya…"
Damon stared at her, his expression unreadable, his thoughts briefly narrowing.
What is it with these beastwomen…
Before he could respond, Zarhka quickly added, as if sensing his reaction.
"D-don't misunderstand… it's an honor fer us… ta mate with someone stronger than us," she said, her voice steadying slightly as she explained, "I don't know why it's so complicated fer you humans… fer us, strength means protection… an' if ya strong enough ta protect… den we can choose freely…"
She hesitated for just a moment before finishing, her tone quieter.
"So if ya ever need ta… cool down yer heat… ya can find me."
With that, she turned without waiting for a response and began walking away, her steps steady once more as if the earlier hesitation had never existed.
Damon watched her retreating figure for a moment, his expression thoughtful before he exhaled lightly and shook his head.
Then he turned—
And walked back toward where Mira was waiting.
***
A short distance away from the training grounds, where the noise of sparring had already begun to fade, Mira stood with her hands clasped tightly in front of her, her posture small and uncertain as Serena stood just across from her, her expression far more composed yet clearly tense beneath the surface.
"You must not go anywhere with that man," Serena said firmly, her tone leaving little room for argument as her sharp eyes fixed onto Mira.
Mira flinched slightly at the intensity, her voice hesitant as she tried to respond.
"B-but…"
Serena did not let her continue.
"Did you forget what I told you?" she pressed, her voice lowering but growing more insistent, "he does not have good intentions, and you know it… if you go with him into a place like the training chamber where there is no one around, he will surely make his move on you."
Mira's body stiffened instantly, her breath catching as the words struck her imagination, her face beginning to flush again as her thoughts spiraled despite herself.
Serena stepped closer, her gaze unwavering.
"And once you are there," she continued, her tone now edged with warning, "you won't even be able to escape from his grasp."
Mira's fingers tightened against each other, her mind caught between fear, confusion, and something far more dangerous that she didn't dare name.
Then—
A voice cut in.
Calm.
Familiar.
"Who won't be able to escape… young duchess?"
Both of them froze.
Damon stood there.