Two days had passed since the ocean.
Ina still remembered the weight of water in her lungs. But now, she stood tall-- feet on solid ground, heart steady.
Today was different.
Rehan bought her to the wide , open field behind the palace. The sun was bright, the grass swaying gently. In the centre stood a tall stone, and on that stone.....
A sword.
Not wood.
Not training.
Real. Heavy. Cold. Steel.
Rehan stepped back. "Its time."
Ina approaches slowly, her fingers twitching.
The sword was silver-grey, simple but beautiful. A strange symbol glowed on the hilt-- the same symbol she has seen in her visions.
She reached for it.
The moment her fingers touched the handle --
a pulse of warmth shot through her palm, racing up her arm.
She gasped.
The scar on her shoulder lit up faintly , responding to the blade.
Rehan saw it. He said nothing.
But inside, His heart thudded.
"She' s choosen ," he whispered under his breath. "She really is."
⚔️ The First Clash.
"Attack me," Rehan said, unsheathing his own blade.
Ina blinked. "What?"
"You heard me."
"I just picked this thing up."
Rehan raised an eyebrow . "Then let it teach you."
She tightened her grip up. The sword felt natural, like it belonged in her hand.
She charged.
Their blades clashed-- loud, sharp and violent.
He moved fast , blocking easily. But she wasn't bad. Her strikes were wild , but strong.
She missed, he dodged. She spun , he countered.
But something was waking her up inside.
Her hand moved faster. Her footwork sharpened. It wasn't perfect-- but it was powerful.
Rehan stepped back. "Where did you learn that spin."
"I didn't." She panted. "I just felt it."
He just stared at her. "You are not fighting with your head anymore ."
She smiled. "Then maybe I'm doing it right."
🔥 Unleashed.
Rehan pushed Harder now --- he struck faster, testing her limits.
Ina dodged, her blade lighting up faintly. Every block sent sparks flying. Every movement flowed like instinct.
And then.....
She disarmed him.
His sword hit the ground with a thud.
Ina froze, her blade inches from his chest .
She was panting . Sweating. Shaking.
But she was smiling.
Rehan looked at her in silence. Then nodded slowly .
"Now," He said , "we begin."
The sky had begun to darken, clouds gathering above like secrets waiting to spill.
Ina held the sword tight, her breath steady, her heart wild.
She charged gain-- not just with strength, but with something deeper. Love, Passion, Fire.
Each step toward Rehan wasn't just an attack--it was a dance.
Her blade met with his sharp ring. She moved with fierce grace , a storm in motion.
Rehan, caught off guard, narrowed his eyes.
Something in her strikes had changed.
He wasn't just fighting with a trainee now--- he was fighting with a force.
His jaw tightened.
Without a word , he matched her-- fury in every swing. Their swords clashed harder. He strikes faster. His eyes burning .
He bent low, striking from the side-- but she blocked.
Their swords locked.
Their bodies close.
Their eyes.... Met.
And everything stopped.
💔 The Moment Between.
Rehan's sword trembled in his hand.
He had been so angry, so harsh-- but now, her eyes pulled everything out of him.
His fury vanished.
All that was left was sympathy..... Care... and something else he couldn't name.
Ina was breathing heavily, eyes glassy. A single tear slid down her cheeks as she looked up at him.
They stood frozen in the rain, blades still touching.
The sky roared.
Thunder cracked.
And the rain begin to fall-- soft at first, then wild and warm.
🌧️ The Rain and Silence.
They didn't move.
Raindrops ran down her cheeks, mixing with her tears. Her hair clung to her face, soaked, her lips trembling.
Rehan looked at her like he was seeing her for the first time.
"Ina....," he begin.
But she whispered first , her voice fragile--
"Reh.... Rehan..... Its paining. I.... I can't stand."
Her knees buckled.
Before she fell completely. Rehan caught her.
She colapsed into his arms, soaked and shivering , sword slipping from her hand.
He stood there, still holding her, his chest rising and falling with breath he didn't realize he was holding her.
Then he said quietly ---
"Let's end the training..... until the rain stops."
They didn't speak after that .
They just stood there under the weeping sky.
And in the Strom, something between them quietly began to bloom.
The rain didn't stop.
Hours passed . The world was soaked , and air grew colder
Ina's clothes clung to her skin, and her teeth began to chatter. Rehan noticed, watching from the corner of his eyes as she hugged her knees close.
Without saying a word, he stood and began collecting dry leaves and fallen woods. It took time--- but soon, he built a small, slanted roof,
Between two thick trees. It wasn't much , but it was a shelter .
He gestured silently.
Ina walked under it, dripping and silent.
They both sat on the cold ground, close but, not quite touching . The rain whispered around them.
🌧️ The Quiet Closeness.
The sky was dim. The forest smelled of earth and mist.
Ina leaned a little closer. Her sloulder brushed
Rehan's arm.
Both of them froze.
The touch was small.... But electric .
Neither moved away.
A few minutes passed. Ina's eyes grew heavier. The warmth of Rehan's presence, the rhythm of the rain, the long day of training-- it all pulled her under .
And then , gentle , unknowingly.... She leaned her head into Rehan's shoulder.
Rehan stiffened---- but didn't move.
Her breath was soft. Her hair smelled like rain and wildflowers. She looked peaceful, even in exhaustion.
Thunder rolled far away.
And finally-- rain stopped.
🛏️ A Whisper in the Night.
Rehan exhaled, almost silently , and slowly lifter her into his arms.
She didn't wake .
He carried her to the wodden hut he had built beside the palace training field-- small but safe.
Inside, he laid her down gently on the makeshift bed of moss and cloth. He reached to cover her with the blanket.
But suddenly----
Her fingers wrapped around his finger .
Eyes half-closed , voice heavy with sleep and tears, she whispered ,
"Rehan.... don't go, please.... don't leave me. Please stay....."
A quiet sob escaped her lips.
Rehan's heart cracked open.
He sat down beside her , brushing a damp strand of hair from her cheek.
Then, softly, he held her hand and whispered ---
"Shhh..... Its okay... I'm here. I'm not going anywhere."
She breathed easier.
Her grip on his hand loosened.
Sleep took her again, peaceful now.
Rehan didn't move.
He just sat there beside her, guarding the silence.
And as the stars appeared between the clouds, something unspoken passed between them--- fragile, new , and quietly growing.