Training With Him

I woke to the sound of knocking, sharp and hasty, pulling me from restless sleep. My eyes fluttered open, and for a moment, I couldn’t remember where I was. The lavish bed, the ornate chandelier, the faint scent of lavender,it all came rushing back.

A second knock followed, louder this time.

“Wake up,” came Knox’s voice from the other side of the door.

Groaning softly, I sat up, pushing the covers off. I adjusted my nightie, standing up.

“Why? What time is it?”

“It’s time to stop pretending this is a vacation,” he said dryly.

I dragged myself out of bed, my body still aching from the tension of the previous night. Opening the door, I found Knox leaning casually against the frame, his arms crossed.

“Do you always wake people up like this?” I muttered, brushing a hand through my messy hair.

He smirked. “You’ll get used to it.”

“Doubt it.”

Before he could reply, the, Elise, stepped in, passing from beside Knox and me.

She barely spared me a glance as she moved past, carrying a small bucket and cloth.

Knox’s eyes followed her briefly before he turned back to me. “Get ready. I’ll explain everything after.”

“Explain what?” I asked, but he was already walking away.

The door clicked shut behind him, leaving me alone with Elise. She began cleaning the room with methodical precision, wiping down the surfaces and fluffing the pillows I hadn’t even touched.

I watched her for a moment, the silence growing heavier with each passing second.

“Elise,” I said hesitantly.

She didn’t look at me, her movements unbroken.

I tried again. “How long have you worked here?”

No response.

“Do you always wake up to clean rooms, or is this a special occasion?”

Still nothing.

I frowned, crossing my arms. “Are you mute?”

This time, she froze. Slowly, she turned to face me, her green eyes sharp and cold. “No.”

Her voice was flat, emotionless, but it sent a chill down my spine.

“Okay,” I said, raising my hands slightly. “I was just asking—”

“You’re the tenth,” she said abruptly, cutting me off.

I blinked. “Excuse me?”

“You’re the tenth,” she repeated, her gaze unwavering. “The tenth girl he’s chosen.”

I stared at her, unsure of what to say.

“And soon enough,” she continued, her tone dropping to something almost sinister, “you’ll be dead like the others. I don't need to create small talk with people wjo are already dead.”

Her words hit like a punch to the stomach, leaving me momentarily speechless.

“Dead?” I finally managed to say. “What are you talking about? I think you are going to far.”

Elise turned away, going back to cleaning as if the conversation hadn’t happened.

I took a step closer. “What do you mean, dead like the others? What happened to them?”

She didn’t answer.

“Tell me,” I insisted, my voice rising.

Elise paused again, her eyes flickering to the writing on the wooden frame of the door. Her lips tightened into a thin line.

“You didn’t do that, did you?” she asked, pointing at the jagged words carved into the frame: Beware the monster at night.

“No,” I said quickly. “I don’t know who did. It was already there.”

She frowned, her fingers brushing over the letters. “Figures. This place is full of warnings no one listens to.”

“Elise,” I said, taking another step toward her. “Please. Tell me what you know.”

She turned to me, her face blank, but her eyes burned with something unspoken. For a moment, I thought she might say more, but then she shook her head.

“I’ve already said too much,” she muttered.

Without another word, she grabbed her bucket and cloth, walking briskly to the door.

“Elise, wait—”

The door slammed shut behind her, leaving me standing there, my heart racing.

---

After a quick shower, I emerged from the bathing chamber feeling more awake but no less rattled. The memory of Elise’s words lingered, heavy in my mind.

Tenth. Dead like the others.

I couldn’t shake the feeling that I’d stepped into something far bigger—and far darker—than I’d imagined.

Knox was waiting for me when I stepped into the sitting area, his arms crossed as he leaned against the bookshelf.

“Finally,” he said, straightening. “Thought I’d have to drag you out myself.”

“What’s this all about?” I asked, wrapping the robe tighter around me.

He raised an eyebrow. “You really don’t know, do you?”

“Know what?”

He sighed, rubbing the back of his neck. “The king has decided you need training.”

“Training?” I echoed, confused.

“Self-defense, survival, basic combat,” Knox clarified. “You’re the Luna, at least in title. That means you need to know how to protect yourself.”

I stared at him, trying to process the information. “And whose idea was this?”

Knox smirked. “Alaric’s, of course.”

“Of course,” I muttered.

“Surprised?” he asked, tilting his head.

“Very,” I admitted.

Knox shrugged. “Don’t be. He may not trust you, but he’s not stupid. If you’re going to be here, you might as well be useful.”

I frowned, unsure if I should feel insulted or relieved. “And you’re the one training me?”

“Lucky you,” Knox said, his tone dripping with sarcasm.

“Why not someone else?”

“Because,” he said, giving me a pointed look, “this is a job for someone who can keep an eye on you while teaching you not to die. Besides, I am the best warrior there is.”

His bluntness made me bristle, but I bit back a retort,.only rolling my eyes.

“Get dressed,” Knox said, turning toward the door. “We start in an hour.”

He didn’t wait for a reply, leaving me alone once again.

I sat down heavily on the edge of the bed, staring at the writing on the doorframe. Beware the monster at night.

Tenth to die.

Whatever lay ahead, I knew one thing for certain: this palace held far more secrets than I’d bargained for.

I was stupid to think it was going to be easy.

In this life, nothing ever comes easy.

****

The training grounds were vast and open, surrounded by tall stone walls that blocked out the rest of the palace.

The morning sun was harsh, casting long shadows over the practice dummies and racks of weapons neatly arranged along the perimeter. I stood awkwardly in the middle of the field, feeling the weight of Knox’s stare.

He leaned casually against a wooden post, arms crossed and a smirk playing on his lips. “Eavesdropping is for losers.”

I blinked, caught off guard. “What?”

Knox’s smirk widened. “Last night. You were outside the hall, weren’t you?”

My heart stuttered, but I forced myself to look unaffected. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“Sure you don’t,” he said, pushing off the post and walking toward me. His boots crunched against the dirt, each step deliberate. “Let me guess. You thought you’d hear something important? Maybe some grand secret about the king?”

I bristled, clenching my fists. “I wasn’t eavesdropping.”

Knox raised an eyebrow, clearly amused. “You’re a terrible liar, you know that?”

“I—”

“Relax,” he cut in, waving a hand dismissively. “It’s not like you’re the first person to try. But let me give you a piece of advice: whatever you think you heard, forget it. It’s better that way.”

His casual tone only made my irritation grow. “You think you know everything, don’t you?”

“I know enough,” Knox replied, stopping a few feet away from me. “Like the fact that you’re about to make a complete fool of yourself out here.”

“What’s that supposed to mean?”

He gestured at the training grounds. “You’ve never done this before, have you? Fought, trained, defended yourself?”

I swallowed hard, unwilling to admit he was right.

Knox chuckled, clearly enjoying my discomfort. “Don’t worry. I’m here to help. Let’s start with the basics—balance.”

“Balance?” I echoed, frowning.

“Yeah, balance. As in not falling on your face every time someone pushes you.”

I glared at him, but he ignored it, pulling a wooden staff from one of the racks. He tossed it to me, and I barely managed to catch it.

“Hold it like this,” he said, demonstrating with another staff. His movements were smooth and precise, the weapon an extension of his arm.

I tried to mimic him, but the staff felt awkward and heavy in my hands.

Knox shook his head, biting back a laugh. “No, no, no. Like this.” He stepped behind me, adjusting my grip and stance. His hands were firm but not rough, guiding me into position.

He was so close, that my face immediately become red.

His hands went to my waist, adjusting me to face the right path.

“There,” he said, stepping back to assess. “Now try not to fall over.”

I scowled at him. “I’m not…going to…fall.”

Gosh I was stuttering like a fool.

He chuckled.

“Prove it,” Knox said, spinning his staff effortlessly as he stepped back to my front.“Come at me.”

“What?”

“Attack me,” he repeated, his smirk returning. “Show me what you’ve got.”

I hesitated, gripping the staff tightly. “I don’t think—”

“Exactly,” Knox interrupted. “Stop thinking and move.”

Taking a deep breath, I lunged forward, swinging the staff toward him.

It was over in seconds.

Knox sidestepped easily, hooking his staff against mine and twisting it out of my hands. Before I could react, he tapped the end of his weapon against my shoulder, forcing me off balance. I stumbled, landing hard on the ground.

“See?” he said, laughing. “Terrible balance.”

I glared up at him, my cheeks burning. “You didn’t give me a chance!”

“Life doesn’t give you chances, princess,” Knox replied, offering me a hand. “Get up and try again.”

Grumbling, I took his hand and let him pull me to my feet.

“Why are you even doing this?” I asked as I picked up my staff. “Training me, I mean.”

Knox shrugged. “It’s part of the process. The king does this with all his potential Lunas.”

I froze, the staff slipping in my grip. “What?”

“You didn’t think you were special, did you?” Knox asked, his tone laced with amusement. “Alaric’s done this before. Plenty of times, actually.”

I stared at him, the words sinking in like a stone. “You’re saying… I’m not the first?”

Knox’s smirk faltered, his expression turning serious. “No. You’re the tenth.”

My stomach churned. Elise’s words from earlier echoed in my mind: You’re the tenth. Soon enough, you’ll be dead like the others.

“What happened to them?” I asked, my voice barely above a whisper.

Knox hesitated, his gaze steady. “They didn’t make it.”

“Why?”

He sighed, resting his staff against his shoulder. “This place… it’s dangerous. The palace, the politics, the king himself. If you’re not strong enough to survive it, you won’t last long.”

I swallowed hard, my hands tightening on the staff. “And you think I’m not strong enough?”

Knox tilted his head, studying me. “I think you’ve got a long way to go.”

“Great,” I muttered, frustration bubbling up.

“Hey,” Knox said, stepping closer. “Listen to me. If you want to survive here, you need to stop worrying about what everyone else thinks. Forget the past, forget the doubts. Focus on getting stronger.”

His words, though harsh, held a strange sort of encouragement.

“Fine,” I said, lifting the staff again. “Let’s go.”

Knox grinned, spinning his own weapon. “That’s the spirit.”

---

The rest of the training was grueling. Knox didn’t hold back, forcing me to repeat the same drills over and over until my arms ached and my legs felt like jelly. He laughed every time I stumbled, but I could tell he was watching closely, noting every mistake and improvement.

By the time we finished, I was covered in sweat, my breaths coming in short gasps.

“You’ve got potential,” Knox admitted as he leaned against the rack of weapons. “Rough, but potential.”

“Thanks, I guess,” I muttered, wiping my forehead.

Knox hummed, glancing toward the entrance of the training grounds. I followed his gaze and froze.

Alaric stood there, his tall frame silhouetted against the sunlight. His piercing blue eyes were fixed on me, his expression unreadable.

“What’s he doing here?” I whispered.

Knox shrugged, a sly grin creeping onto his face. “Watching, obviously. But more importantly…” He turned to me, his gray eyes glinting. “After the training, he wants to see you.”

My heart sank, the exhaustion from the training replaced by a new kind of unease.