Page 46 of Daughter of the Serpent

“Now go,” His hand motioned toward the door, “Your teacher awaits.”

A sudden shiver rolled from the top of her head down her back when the door swung open and eyes of liquid gold collided with hers.

She inhaled a sharp breath, instinctively taking a step back as his exceptionally large body swallowed the doorway.

“I believe you’ve already met.” Godvik announced, a certain admiration in his voice.

Axel’s eyes, like liquid fire, burned in her direction as he nodded.

Her breath hitched.

“As you know, Axel has graciously offered to oversee your training, and in my thanks, I have offered him a place at the temple, for as long as he should want it.”

She turned facing Godvick, a question on the tip of her tongue.

“He will teach you well,” He said reassuringly, a smile lingering on his thin lips. “Now go. I have already had the temple provide your new fighting leathers.”

Speechless, she nodded before turning back towards Axel.

His eyes gleamed.

“Meet me on the training field.”

The sun hung low in the evening sky, casting a golden hue over the training grounds. Sylvie, donned in her new fur - trimmed leathers, stood amidst the breeze, the sea air playing with the soft golden tendrils of her hair. Clutching her freshly acquired short sword from the weapons table, she felt her palms begin to sweat. Her nerves were getting the better of her, and she could feel the sudden rise in her heartbeat as she awaited her new teacher. The sword was an unfamiliar weight in her hands – a stark contrast to her previous existencewhere wielding a fighting blade was as inconceivable as her wearing black fighting leathers.

A strange excitement cut through -at least they weren't white.

The clatter of steel dispersed her thoughts, as she heard the rumble of stomping feet and brawling in the distance. Moving beyond her post, she spotted the group between a cluster of trees. Two men were shirtless and brawling, as four others watched from a distance. Despite the frigid air sweat glistened on the men's chests, a testament to their exertions as sword clashed against sword. Recognition then rippled to her awareness as they got into better view. Unruly reddish - brown hair, the broad and compact frame, the dip of his shoulders -Haldor.

For a moment his eyes caught hers as his sword sailed past his opponent, and they seemed to widen in recognition.

Ashes.

Diverting her attention away she took a step back, but knew it was useless - he had seen her watching.

After another few minutes the clatter of steel came to a sudden cease as the presiding elder gave the order. Hanging up their swords and axes, they concluded their final exercises for the day, and it was time for them to return to the temple for the nightly meal. It was then that she saw Haldor make his way toward her, a smile tugging at his lips.

“I never thought I’d see the day when I’d catch you in fighting leathers,” Haldor’s voice rang out as he eyed her new attire.

His chest, still glistening with sweat from his training, drew her gaze, and a fiery blush spread across her cheeks. The heat of embarrassment mixed with something deeper, something she wasn’t ready to name. Despite growing up together within the temple walls, she was beginning to notice the shift between them. Gone were the days where they climbed apple trees and could trade tales and laughter late into the night. She was a woman of the temple. He was a warrior of the light. And she wondered now if things would be forever changed that they wereof age. Yet Haldor was a known flirt, and she was hardly what the temple would call desirable, yet even such knowledge couldn’t seem to tame the automatic reaction she had when her eyes met his.

Haldor’s smile broadened as he noticed her reaction, his eyes gleaming with amusement. “I’m glad to see you’ve recovered,” he said warmly, stepping closer. “And not down in the dungeons awaiting further trial.”

“So am I,” she replied, her voice steady despite the flush that refused to fade.

“How are you holding up after... everything?” he asked, his voice tinged with concern as his eyes studied her intently. The furrow in his brow deepened as he searched her face. “I was worried about you.”

“I’m okay, truly,” she replied softly, warmth spreading through her chest at his words, her gaze dropping to the ground. She shifted her weight from one foot to the other, trying to keep her eyes from drifting to his exposed, sweat - slicked chest that seemed to shimmer in the light.

“I’m glad to finally catch you alone.” He said quickly, his eyes searching around them, almost ensuring they wouldn’t be overheard. He stepped closer, the space between them shrinking as her heart rate rose.

“What happened, Sylvie?” He asked, his tone low but insistent, his blue eyes flickering with a certain seriousness that hadn’t been there before. “Tell me now, what did those men do to you? What conjoured your magic?”

Sylvie’s fingers tightened around the edge of her leathers, her knuckles whitening. She avoided his gaze, her lips drawing into a thin line. “I... I can’t explain it,” she said finally, her voice strained. “When Baldr came for me, something inside me just...awakened. My magic surged, and at first I wanted his blood, I wanted him to pay, to have justice for all that he put me through. Yet…before I knew it, I wasn’t fighting him - I was healing him. It was like a whole new energy had enveloped me whole and suddenly I could see past the anger, the hate - to everything beyond.”

“But, if it wasn’t your magic, how did the rest of the men die?” He pressed.

“It wasn’t me,” she said quickly, her voice laced with urgency as her eyes met his. “I swear, Haldor. Someone else appeared. From the shadows…” She hesitated, the words forming at the edge of her tongue but refusing to be spoken.