The training ground felt different.
Not because of the wind.
Not because of the ground.
Because of the silence.
It wasn't calm.
It was waiting.
Amir noticed it immediately.
"…something's off," he muttered.
Siran didn't respond.
Tala, standing nearby, had shifted her stance.
Lower.
More alert.
"…you feel it?" Amir asked.
"…yes," Tala said.
"…someone's coming."
The air tightened.
Not pressure—
Focus.
A single step echoed across the ground.
Slow.
Measured.
Deliberate.
Amir turned.
A figure stood at the edge of the training field.
Tall.
Still.
Watching.
No wasted movement.
No unnecessary presence.
Just—
There.
"…Kael," Tala said quietly.
Not as a greeting.
As recognition.
Amir studied him.
There was nothing flashy.
No visible weapon.
No obvious tension.
But—
Something felt wrong.
Like standing too close to the edge of something sharp.
"…he's not like the others," Amir said.
"No," Siran replied.
"…he's what the others aim to be."
That wasn't reassuring.
Kael stepped forward.
One step.
Then another.
Each one—
Exact.
Unwasted.
He stopped a few meters away.
His gaze moved across the ground—
Then to Amir.
Sharp.
Assessing.
"…this him?" Kael asked.
His voice was flat.
Not cold.
Not angry.
Just—
Certain.
"…yes," Siran said.
A pause.
"…he's still here."
That wasn't a compliment.
Kael's eyes narrowed slightly.
"…then he hasn't been tested properly."
Amir raised an eyebrow.
"…I've been doing nothing but tests since I got here."
Kael didn't react.
Didn't even acknowledge the tone.
"…then you've been allowed to fail," he said.
Silence.
Tala's stance shifted again.
Subtle.
But ready.
Amir exhaled slowly.
"…and you don't allow that?"
Kael stepped forward.
Closer now.
"…failure costs too much."
A pause.
"…you should already know that."
That hit.
Harder than expected.
Amir didn't respond.
Didn't deny it.
Couldn't.
Kael's gaze lingered.
Then—
He moved.
No warning.
No signal.
Just—
A step.
And suddenly—
He was in front of Amir.
Amir reacted—
Instinct—
Too slow—
Kael's hand stopped just before his throat.
Not touching.
But close enough.
Amir froze.
His body hadn't even caught up yet.
"…too late," Kael said.
He stepped back.
Like nothing happened.
Amir exhaled sharply.
"…you didn't even—"
"…you hesitated."
"…I reacted."
"…slowly."
Silence.
Tala watched.
Not surprised.
Siran—
Unmoved.
"…again," Kael said.
Amir frowned.
"…that wasn't a—"
Kael moved again.
Faster.
Closer.
Amir adjusted—
Better this time—
But still—
Not enough.
Kael slipped past his guard.
Stopped at his side.
A clean strike—
Held back.
"…dead," Kael said.
Amir clenched his jaw.
"…you're holding back."
"…barely."
That wasn't reassuring.
Amir reset.
Lower stance.
More focused.
"…again."
Kael didn't answer.
He stepped.
Amir moved—
This time—
He didn't wait.
Didn't react.
He acted.
A controlled strike—
Direct.
Precise.
Kael didn't block.
Didn't dodge.
He adjusted—
Minimal.
Amir's strike missed—
Kael's hand touched his chest—
Light.
Exact.
"…dead," he said again.
Amir stepped back.
Breathing heavier now.
"…you're not even trying."
"…I am."
That made it worse.
Silence settled over the ground.
Then—
"…you move well," Kael said.
A pause.
"…for someone who still thinks."
Amir frowned.
"…thinking isn't the problem."
"…hesitation is."
"…same thing."
"…no."
Kael stepped closer.
"…thinking delays action."
"…hesitation stops it."
A pause.
"…you do both."
That stung.
But—
It wasn't wrong.
Amir exhaled slowly.
"…then what do you do?"
Kael didn't hesitate.
"…I act."
Silence.
Simple.
Too simple.
"…and if you're wrong?" Amir asked.
A pause.
Just a fraction—
"…then I correct it."
Tala's gaze sharpened slightly.
Siran remained still.
Amir studied him.
"…you don't care what happens in between."
"…I care about the result."
That was the difference.
Clear.
Sharp.
Dangerous.
The wind stirred faintly.
Distant.
Watching.
"…you'll get people killed like that," Amir said.
Kael's gaze didn't change.
"…people die when you hesitate."
Silence.
Heavy.
Unavoidable.
Neither of them looked away.
Two paths.
Two choices.
Neither backing down.
Siran stepped forward.
"…enough."
The tension didn't break.
It shifted.
From action—
To something deeper.
"…you'll train together," Siran said.
Amir blinked.
"…what?"
Tala frowned slightly.
"…that's a bad idea."
"…it's necessary," Siran replied.
Kael didn't react.
Didn't object.
"…he'll slow me down," Kael said.
Amir smirked slightly.
"…feeling's mutual."
"…then don't."
Silence.
The ground beneath them stayed still.
But the space between them—
Didn't.