Elias
"I have never scented her clearly, so I can't give you a straight answer." Keir's head now tilted the other way. "Interesting. Very interesting. Well, then I guess I will have to wait for you to give me a proper answer once you have done so." Keir looked at me with an assessing gaze. I felt like I was being judged. In fact, I'm pretty sure I am being judged. But the question is, for what?
"I have one thing to say about this matter, then you can lay out your training plan and goals for Nyx." He grabbed my shoulders with both hands and I stiffened with worry that he was going to threaten me to mind my place. "If it is destiny, neither my brothers nor I would mind calling you brother." He patted my face—the sense of approval from him relaxed and confused me at the same time—then turned to observe Nyx's drills.
Did he just tell me that if I'm scent compatible with Lady Nyxara, they would consider me, an orphaned beta, as a potential mate for her?
I had to tuck that possibility away for reflection as Keir cleared his throat to bring me back on task. "Uh, yes, so I was thinking I would train her in Baguazhang as a base, while incorporating joint control, grappling, and throw techniques along the way. I believe I can get her trained enough to be ranked in the top 20 for the physical portion of her winter exams when she goes in to take them in a few months. When it is time for the semester finals, she will have a real shot at ranking in the top five fighters. The briefing said she was shifting from a combat certification to pursue a hybrid certification degree, in essence, combat and law. Will she be able to achieve this in her 4th year?"
Keir nodded, not taking his eyes off Lady Nyxara. "Even after explaining everything to her, she declared this was her second chance and she wanted to challenge herself. She is ambitious now. We don't want to smother her passion. Your preliminary assessment and training plan are sound. Once she is done with her drills and katas, I will spar with her a few times using our paramilitary techniques, then you can begin her personalized training."
I saluted before heading to the side to do my own warm-up drills.
Nyxara
With my earbuds in, I did my drills to the beat of the music. Letting it help me block out whatever Keir and my sparring partner were talking about as they glanced at me. Today's combat training attire had some weight to it, so I had to push my body to get the results expected of me. At some point while I was in the zone, Keir joined me. I wordlessly followed his lead in drills. In my periphery, I noted that the training room had changed to look like we were outside.
I didn't let the change slow me, but I did split my focus to examine how this was done. Ah, there are illusionary sigils in the walls to change the environment. It was a very strong illusion. I felt the sun warming my skin. I scented grass and Keir's scent of charcoal and patchouli. I could taste Elias's vanilla and tonka bean when I inhaled and exhaled as I moved. The sight of smooth, obsidian courtyard tiles that rippled beneath my feet the faster Keir and I sparred.
After sparring for 30 minutes, all of Keir's moves became transparent to me, and I countered him without thought. These katas have become natural to me now. I'm blocking Keir without effort. I was tempted to switch to the moves I learned from Azrail, but I promised not to start using those until phase two when I'm being trained in my fighting style. I wonder if Keir will be shocked when he fights me in my true element.
I don't know how or when Keir noticed I wasn't fully focused on our spar, but I found out soon enough what his response was to my inattentiveness when he suddenly went off script. I raised my foot to mid-kick him when he grabbed my foot, spun me til I was dizzy, then threw me into the sky. I almost bit my tongue to hold my scream in and not panic. I hit the illusion ceiling; it cushioned me, but I couldn't relax because gravity was not to be denied. I plummeted back down at a speed that felt like I was shot from a bow.
Not until I was a few feet from the obsidian tiles did Keir summon wind to cushion my descent. I lay on those tiles on my stomach, trying to calm my racing heart. I felt two people crouching down on either side of me as I tried to unscramble my everything. I'm not even sure if my stomach is still in the same place.
"You okay there, Nyx? Bet you won't be distracted during a spar again, will you?" Okay, definitely Keir. And yep—the other one's Elias. Great, that just makes this even more embarrassing. Not that I was trying to impress Elias or anything. I didn't think I would be thankful my face is discolored from the experience so it could hide my blush from my embarrassment. "Yes, Director Keir Ajei. I will not let myself be distracted like that again." I pushed myself up and focused very hard on the process while trying not to focus on Elias helping me go from horizontal to vertical.
I gave him a nod of thanks, then turned my focus back on my evil brother. "Am I okay? I don't know. I can't even process what I just experienced. A thing happened, and now I'm here." Keir blinked slowly at me. I blinked slowly back. We just stared at each other for a minute or so before Elias broke it by offering me my water bottle.
Keir and I, in sync, turned our heads to look at him. He didn't flinch; he just held out the bottle. I accepted the bottle and drank the elixir of life without breaking my stare at him. Elias continued to be unfazed as he addressed Keir. "Her proficiency in the paramilitary katas appears sufficient. I even suspect,"— he glanced at me curiously—"that she has learned another set to supplement her proficiency." I'll take over from here. Will you stay to observe our first session?"
Keir smiled sunnily with amusement in his eyes. "I approve of Nyx graduating from my direct tutelage and the paramilitary katas. Lux and I have suspected the same but neither her or Azrail have admitted it. She is our 1st Lady so as our princess I guess she gets to be special like that." Keir ruffled my hair with a grin as he spoke to Elias like I wasn't there.
I pushed Keir away with a glare. I waited for Elias to give me instructions on how we will proceed. With a whistle and a grin, Keir walked backwards off the tile courtyard. He pulled a covered lounge chair out of his pocket space along with a side table of snacks and drinks. He looked ready to watch a show. I sent him a rude gesture which just caused him to laugh and give me rude gestures in return.
Elias cleared his throat as the illusionary world shifted again. Morning sun shifted to afternoon. The scent of approaching night filled my nose. A chill wind teased my skin as warm tiles kept my feet from feeling cold.
Elias didn't speak right away. He circled once. Observing me from head to toe. His gaze felt like he could see through my every move and thought. I was beginning to fall into a state of anxious arousal. When he spoke, he caused all run away thoughts to come to a halt.
"Reset," he said at last. Clear and concise. He is clearly not here to be eye candy. I've got to focus or else he too might throw me into the sky.