Later that day...
Cassian was still in the training yard.
Aven stood in front of him, holding the wooden sword again.
"Round four," she announced proudly.
Cassian rubbed his forehead.
"...We already did three."
"And I almost won."
"You almost fell."
Aven lifted the sword again.
"Focus, Captain Guard."
Cassian sighed but raised his sword too.
"Fine. Attack."
Just as Aven was about to swing-
A palace guard hurried into the yard.
"Captain Cassian!"
Cassian lowered his sword.
"Yes?"
"The king has sent a message."
Cassian frowned slightly.
"...Already?"
The guard cleared his throat.
"His Majesty orders that the kitchen maid named Elara is not allowed to participate in guard training."
Aven blinked.
"...What?"
Cassian looked confused.
"Did he say why?"
The guard shook his head.
"No explanation, Captain."
Aven slowly lowered her sword.
Then she crossed her arms.
"That brat."
Cassian chuckled.
"You just got banned from training."
Aven scoffed.
"He's jealous."
Cassian raised an eyebrow.
"...Jealous?"
Aven pointed the wooden sword toward the palace.
"Obviously."
Cassian laughed.
"You think the king is jealous of me?"
Aven shrugged.
"I don't know. Maybe he's scared I'll become a better guard than you."
Cassian smirked.
"That's impossible."
Aven tossed the wooden sword back to him.
"Whatever."
She started walking away.
Cassian called after her.
"So... no more training?"
Aven turned around and walked backwards dramatically.
"Rules are meant to be broken."
Cassian laughed again
.
"...You're going to get me executed."
Meanwhile...
Inside the palace.
Rowan stood near the window.
One of his advisors looked confused.
"Your Majesty... may I ask why you banned the maid from training with the guards?"
Rowan didn't even look at him.
"She's a maid."
"...Yes."
"She should work in the kitchen."
"...Yes."
Another pause.
Then Rowan added quietly-
"And Captain Cassian has more important duties."
The advisor nodded slowly.
"...I see."
Rowan glanced toward the training yard through the window.
"...Unbelievable." Rowan glanced toward the training yard through the window.
Behind him, the advisor shifted awkwardly.
"Your Majesty... should I inform Captain Cassian personally?"
Rowan turned away from the window.
"No."
A pause.
Then he added calmly-
"I already did."
Meanwhile...
In the training yard.
Aven was halfway across the yard when she suddenly stopped.
She turned around slowly.
Cassian was still standing there, spinning the wooden sword lazily in his hand.
"...You're smiling," Aven said suspiciously.
Cassian shrugged.
"You called the king jealous."
"So?"
Cassian smirked.
"So I'm trying to imagine the king being jealous of me."
Aven rolled her eyes.
"Oh please. Your ego is already big enough."
Cassian placed the wooden sword on his shoulder.
"You're the one who started it."
Aven pointed at the palace windows.
"Look at that giant building."
Cassian glanced at it.
"...Yes?"
"Someone inside that building is watching us."
Cassian raised an eyebrow.
"You think the king has time to spy on you?"
Aven crossed her arms.
"He definitely has time to annoy me."
Cassian laughed.
"You're brave."
"Or stupid."
"Probably both."
Aven smirked.
"Anyway, Captain Guard, looks like our training is over."
Cassian tilted his head.
"...Or we could train somewhere the king can't see."
Aven blinked.
Then slowly smiled.
"Oh?"
Cassian leaned closer slightly.
"The old storage yard behind the stables."
Aven grinned.
"Breaking royal orders already?"
Cassian shrugged.
"You said rules are meant to be broken."
Aven pointed at him dramatically.
"Now you're learning."
Cassian chuckled.
"Don't tell anyone."
Aven started walking again.
"Relax."
Then she added over her shoulder-
"I'm excellent at keeping secrets."
Cassian watched her leave.
"...That sentence sounds dangerous."
At the same moment...
Inside the palace.
Rowan was still near the window.
He looked toward the training yard again.
But now-
Aven was gone.
His eyes narrowed slightly.
"...Where did she go?"
The advisor blinked.
"...Who, Your Majesty?"
Rowan straightened his coat quickly.
"...No one."
But something about the quiet yard annoyed him.
More than it should.
Behind the palace stables...
The old storage yard was quiet.
A few wooden crates.
Some barrels.
And a lot of space.
Cassian stood in the middle of the yard with two wooden swords.
"This place should be safe."
Aven grabbed one immediately.
"No guards?"
"No witnesses."
Aven grinned.
"Perfect."
Cassian pointed the sword at her.
"Alright. Round five."
Aven cracked her neck dramatically.
"You're about to lose."
Cassian sighed.
"...You say that every time."
"Because it's true."
"Attack."
Aven charged forward.
Not gracefully.
Not carefully.
Just pure chaos.
Cassian blocked the first swing.
"Slow-"
Aven swung again.
Cassian dodged.
"-down!"
She tried to kick him.
Cassian jumped back.
"Where did you even learn that?!"
"I watched the guards!"
"That explains a lot!"
Aven slipped slightly on the dirt.
She flailed her arms wildly-
And accidentally hit a wooden barrel.
The barrel rolled.
Straight toward Cassian.
"Wait-!"
Cassian jumped aside.
The barrel crashed into a stack of crates.
CRASH.
Both of them froze.
Aven blinked.
"...Oops."
Cassian stared at the mess.
"You just destroyed royal property."
Aven shrugged.
"It looked weak."
Cassian laughed despite himself.
"Alright, again."
Aven charged again.
Cassian blocked-
But this time Aven suddenly ducked.
Cassian lost balance slightly.
Aven tackled him.
Both of them fell into the hay pile beside the stable.
POOF.
Hay flew everywhere.
For a moment neither moved.
Then Cassian groaned.
"...You're not supposed to tackle the instructor."
Aven lifted her head.
"But it worked."
Cassian sighed.
"You're impossible."
Aven pushed herself up-
But her foot got caught in the hay.
She slipped again-
And fell right back onto him.
They both started laughing.
At that exact moment-
A stable boy walked around the corner.
He froze.
Staring at them.
"...Captain?"
Cassian immediately sat up.
Aven rolled off the hay pile.
Both of them covered in hay.
The boy blinked.
"...Are you fighting or farming?"
Aven brushed hay out of her hair.
"Training."
Cassian rubbed his face.
"Very professional training."
The boy slowly walked away.
"...I'm not getting involved."
Aven laughed again.
Cassian looked at the mess around them.
Broken crates.
Rolling barrel.
Hay everywhere.
"...The king is going to kill me."
Aven smirked.
"Worth it."
Cassian chuckled.
"...Maybe."
Meanwhile...
Inside the palace.
Rowan sat at his desk.
A guard entered.
"Your Majesty."
"Yes?"
"There's... a situation behind the stables."
Rowan frowned.
"...What kind of situation?"
The guard hesitated.
"...Captain Cassian and the kitchen maid appear to be destroying the storage yard."
Rowan felt something unpleasant tighten in his chest.
"...They're doing what?"