Vale lay flat on his back, the stone floor pressed cold and unyielding against him.
His eyes were closed.
When he tried to open them, a sharp, unpleasant pulse of pain flared at the back of his head—an ache that made it immediately clear he had struck the ground without even a hint of restraint. His breath caught for a moment as he registered the impact fully.
Then he noticed the weight.
Nym was on top of him.
She wore crimson leather armor, sleek and form-fitting, clearly crafted for agility rather than brute defense. It clung to her figure like it had been molded specifically for her, more suited to a daring duelist or a rogue than a conventional warrior.
Vale finally opened his eyes.
Nym had already shifted, bracing herself on her hands and knees. As she rose, her weight lifted from his chest, and Vale exhaled quietly as the pressure vanished. His lungs expanded again, relief subtle but immediate.
He looked up at her.
She was close, far too close. No more than an arm's length separated them. A smug grin tugged at her lips, her expression radiating self-satisfaction as her gaze locked onto his.
Nym's black-and-yellow hair framed her face loosely, strands brushing against her cheeks as she studied him with open curiosity. Vale met her eyes, briefly, and despite himself, part of him searched instinctively for his reflection within them.
There was none.
The realization came with faint disappointment.
Seconds passed.
Neither of them spoke.
Vale's pale white eyes traced her face without expression, the silence stretching just long enough to become uncomfortable. Finally, he scoffed softly.
He raised one hand and placed it flat against her cheek.
With a firm but unceremonious push, he shoved her aside and sat up.
Nym rolled onto her side with a grunt, blinking as she looked back at him, her smugness replaced with clear displeasure.
"Really?" she asked, incredulous.
Vale settled into a seated position and glanced at her, a thin, sarcastic smile curving his lips. He nodded once.
"Yep. Really."
He rose to his feet without another word and began walking toward the center of the dojo.
Nym remained on the ground for a moment longer, watching him go. Then her expression sharpened.
With practiced precision, she shifted her weight, lifted her legs, and rolled her hips upward. Her arms came up over her head as she kicked the air with explosive force, launching herself backward. For a brief moment she was airborne, then she planted her hands, twisted her body mid-motion, and landed cleanly on her feet.
Effortless. Controlled. Precise.
Vale glanced back, eyes widening slightly at the display.
Then he scoffed and turned away again, continuing forward.
Nym followed.
Together, they stopped before Callum, who wore his usual broad smile, one that suggested he had enjoyed every second of what had just happened.
Vale exhaled slowly and met the older man's gaze.
"Could you not throw her at me next time?" Vale asked, his tone dry, faintly sarcastic.
Callum blinked once, then chuckled.
Before he could respond, Nym leaned in from Vale's side.
"Really?" she said, arching a brow. "I thought you'd enjoy having the face of a beauty like me that close to yours."
Vale turned to her slowly.
For a moment, his eyes widened in surprise.
Then irritation settled in.
He stared at her in silence, clearly preparing a response,
and froze.
Something changed.
A presence surged behind him, vast, heavy, unmistakable. Vale reacted instantly, lunging forward and spinning around as his body dropped into a combat stance. His breathing sharpened, muscles tensing, instincts flaring.
Then he saw who it was.
"Korin?"
The tension bled from him almost immediately. Vale relaxed and let out a quiet chuckle.
Korin stood there, massive and broad, his hands raised awkwardly near his chest as if unsure whether he'd done something wrong. He towered over Vale, nearly two and a half meters tall, his sheer size alone enough to justify the presence Vale had felt.
"Korin, it's good to see you," Vale said, breaking into a genuine grin.
The large man nodded stiffly. "Yes. Same to you."
Vale stepped closer and extended his fist. Korin hesitated for half a second before meeting it with his own, their knuckles tapping together. A sincere smile spread across Korin's face.
Vale did notice something, though.
'That presence…'
'Why hadn't I felt it before?'
The thought lingered briefly, then was dismissed as quickly as it came.
Callum clapped his hands loudly, the sharp sound echoing through the dojo.
"Alright, everyone," he said. "Time for your first lesson."
Vale stepped back into position beside Nym and Korin. His ravens and Ember had fully entered the dojo now, perching along the weapon racks lining the walls, watching with keen, unblinking focus.
Callum studied the three of them for a long moment, his expression thoughtful.
Vale tilted his head slightly, pale eyes flicking from Callum to Nym. When their gazes met, Vale shrugged casually.
Nym's eye twitched.
Callum finally spoke.
"For your first assignment," he said, his smile widening, "land a single hit on me. Any of you."
Vale's eyes narrowed.
"I'm sorry," he said, crossing his arms, "but what exactly do you mean by any of us?"
Callum's smile sharpened into a grin.
"Oh, that's simple," he replied.
He rolled his shoulders once, relaxed and ready.
"You're all facing me, at the same time."
Their eyes widened almost in unison.
Korin was the first to react. He looked from Vale to Nym, then back to Callum, clearly uncertain. Slowly, he raised a thick finger and pointed at his own chest.
"Does that include me?" he asked, his deep voice edged with genuine confusion.
Callum nodded once.
Before Korin could say anything else, Nym cut in, her voice sharp, rushed, yet carried with unmistakable confidence.
"Wait, wait," she said, lifting a hand. "Vale would only hold me back against you. Can't I just face you alone?"
Vale turned toward her, bewilderment flashing across his face. His jaw tightened.
"Hey," he snapped, irritation bleeding through, "I'm the one who beat you, remember?"
Nym met his gaze calmly, far calmer than before. The playful edge in her expression vanished, replaced by something measured, almost calculating.
"Well, yeah," she said evenly. "But my ability doesn't work on you. It _does_ work on Callum."
Vale's eye twitched.
He turned away from her slowly, facing Callum again. As much as he hated to admit it, she wasn't wrong. Nym's ability, battle foresight, was almost purpose-built for one-on-one combat. Against a conventional opponent, it was overwhelming, borderline unfair.
Against Vale?
Useless.
His existence didn't register the way others did. No predictive thread. No readable intent. To her ability, he was effectively a void.
Vale let out a quiet, defeated sigh.
Before the tension could settle, Korin spoke again.
"Sir," he said, his tone firm but respectful, "I must refuse. I want more specialized training before I attempt something like this. Losing control is a risk I won't take."
Vale glanced at him, sympathy flickering across his face.
Korin's concern was well-founded. The last, and only, time Korin had unleashed his ability, it had ended catastrophically. Someone had died.
Callum regarded the towering man for a moment, then smiled kindly and nodded.
"Very well, Korin," he said. "I respect your decision."
Korin bowed his head slightly and stepped back toward the edge of the dojo, placing himself well out of the way.
Callum's attention returned to the remaining two.
"As for you," he said, his grin widening.
Vale felt his nerves spike.
Instinct took over. He shifted his footing, leaning forward, legs spreading slightly for balance. His arms rose into a guarded stance, muscles tightening as he braced himself.
Callum noticed immediately and cast him a brief sideways glance.
"We won't be using weapons for this match," Callum said, pausing just long enough for the words to sink in. "But try to work together, alright?"
Before Vale could respond,
Callum vanished.
Nym barely had time to react. Her stance shifted abruptly, her confidence cracking into visible tension as Callum reappeared directly in front of her, close enough to feel the rush of displaced air.
Vale spun toward them.
Callum was already moving again, his body almost airborne as he crossed the distance toward Nym at a terrifying speed. The floor cracked faintly beneath his step.
Vale's heart pounded.
His mind raced.
'Just how well will her foresight hold up… against someone like him?'