Land of the Fallen

Elowen woke up to the chirping of birds outside her window. The summer heat was already making its presence felt, so she dressed accordingly in light linen pants and a shirt. It was a rare moment when she rose before her maids were ready to assist her, but she didn't mind. Her agenda for the day was set—she would handpick three guards from the knights-in-training to accompany her back to the academy.

As she left her chambers, she encountered a servant in the hallway. "Bring a chair to the training grounds," she instructed curtly, not pausing for an answer.

***

By the time Elowen arrived at the training grounds, drills were already underway. Rows of trainees moved in unison, sweat glistening on their brows as they executed precise movements under the watchful eyes of their instructors. She took her seat, the chair arriving just moments after her, and began her silent assessment.

One recruit struggled to maintain his stance during sword drills, his footing slipping on nearly every pivot.

"Unacceptable," Elowen muttered, marking his name off her mental list.

Another trainee's movements were slow, his strikes lacking precision or power.

"Lacking discipline," she noted coldly.

She continued her evaluation. A young man with a poorly kept uniform caught her attention. His form wasn't terrible, but his lack of presentation was enough to disqualify him.

One by one, she winnowed down the candidates. Each flaw, however minor, was enough to seal a trainee's fate.

Elowen's elimination process was methodical, and she didn't hesitate to discard anyone who fell below her standards. As the hour wore on, she eliminated nearly half of the recruits, reducing the field significantly. Unbeknownst to her, Kael was among the group still standing. His appearance had changed so drastically that she didn't recognize him. He had grown taller, his frame more muscular, and his stance radiated quiet confidence. Most importantly, he performed the drills flawlessly, blending into the background rather than drawing attention to himself.

When the drills concluded, Thorne, the commander of the trainees, noticed Elowen's presence and approached her. Bowing respectfully, he greeted her, "Lady Elowen, to what do we owe this honor?"

Elowen's tone was calm but commanding. "I've come to recruit three guards who will accompany me to the academy. I've already dismissed those unworthy. Have the remaining candidates step forward." She said as she pointed at those who were disqualified.

Thorne relayed the instructions, and soon, a group of twenty trainees stood in a line before her. The remaining knights and trainees, including Kael, watched from the sidelines, whispering among themselves about the rare presence of the duke's daughter.

Kael's thoughts, however, were far from admiration. "It's her," he realized as he thought he recognized Elowen.

But as he studied her more closely, he noticed the differences. This wasn't the girl he had met in the library. Though they looked similar, this one was shorter, her frame more petite. Her eyes were a piercing blue, not brown. And though he tried to suppress the thought, as someone who had personally investigated he couldn't help but note that her chest and figure was less developed.

Kael asked a friend and found out that she was Elowen. For a moment, his body tensed, his instincts screaming at him to flee, he exhaled, steadying himself. "Elowen," he muttered under his breath. She was the cause of his past humiliation, the one who had pushed him to the brink of despair. Yet, as he stood there, he felt no hatred—only a quiet resolve. "If she tries it again, there'll be no forgiveness," he thought.

***

One by one, the candidates stepped forward to present themselves.

A young man with shaggy hair and a nervous smile shuffled forward, he stammered through his introduction, his hands fidgeting nervously. "My lady, I—I promise to serve you with unwavering loyalty and—uh—protect you with my life…" His voice faltered as he tripped over his words, earning a dismissive wave from Elowen.

"Next," she said, her disinterest palpable.

Another recruit, trying too hard to impress, launched into an overly dramatic speech. "Lady Elowen, I am the blade in your hand, the shield before your enemies! My devotion—"

"Enough," she interrupted, rolling her eyes.

A third candidate attempted to show off his sword skills but ended up fumbling his weapon, sending it clattering to the ground. The silence that followed was deafening, broken only by a suppressed snicker from one of the other trainees.

Elowen sighed, unimpressed. "Next."

Then came Harlem Benton. With golden hair and blue eyes, he exuded an aura of refinement that set him apart. As the fourth son of Earl Benton, he lacked inheritance prospects, but his polished demeanor and hard work had earned him a place among the elite trainees.

"My lady," he began with a confident bow, "I am Harlem Benton, fourth son of Earl Benton. Though my status is minor, I have trained tirelessly to prove my worth. it would be my honor to serve as your guard. My loyalty is unwavering, and my skills have been honed to perfection in the pursuit of excellence. Allow me to serve you, and I will not disappoint."

She regarded him thoughtfully. Harlem's noble lineage was of little importance to her, but his poise and dedication were undeniable.

"You're in," she said, gesturing for him to step aside.

With two slots left, the remaining candidates grew increasingly desperate. One by one, they tried to impress her, each with varying degrees of success.

The next recruit she selected was Collins, a shield knight whose steadfast demeanor and defensive prowess made him an obvious choice.

Finally, it was Kael's turn. He stepped forward, his head slightly bowed in respect.

"Elowen," he greeted calmly.

She froze, staring at him in disbelief. "Kael? Is that… you?"

"Yes, my lady," he replied, his voice steady but devoid of the servility she once knew.

She studied him, trying to reconcile this confident young man with the timid servant she once knew.

Elowen's shock quickly faded, replaced by a calculating expression. While his transformation was undeniable, she dismissed the notion that he could truly change. To her, Kael was still beneath her—a useful pawn at best. With that in mind, A smirk played on her lips as she made her decision. "You'll do," she said dismissively.

***

As the day ended, Kael made his way back to his quarters. The training had been grueling, and his muscles ached with fatigue. Lost in thought, he turned a corner and collided with someone.

"My apologies," Kael said immediately, steadying the other person.

The man, unremarkable in appearance, looked startled. "N-no harm done, sir," he stammered.

Kael smiled politely. "Be more careful next time."

As he walked away, he couldn't shake the feeling that something was off about the encounter.

Kael nodded and continued on, his mind preoccupied. Once in his quarters, he sank onto his bed, only to be interrupted by a notification from Miara.

[Warning: Foreign energy detected entering the host body.]

Kael froze. "Explain."

[Energy signature detected during physical contact approximately seven minutes ago. Potential for tracking or information gathering.]

His thoughts raced as he recalled the encounter in the hallway. "And you're just telling me this now?"

[Apologies. Analysis required confirmation. The energy is now isolated and under investigation.]

Kael exhaled sharply. "Next time, alert me immediately."

[Understood. Protocol updated.]

***

Meanwhile, in Elowen's chambers, the same unremarkable man knelt before her.

"Well?" she demanded.

"My lady," he began, "Kael shows no signs of mana or extraordinary potential. His physical improvement is consistent with rigorous training. Behaviorally, he seems more confident, but there's nothing unusual."

Elowen's lips curved into a small smile. "Good. He's still beneath me. But if he steps out of line…" She let the threat hang in the air.

The man bowed and left, leaving Elowen alone with her thoughts.

"Kael," she murmured, staring into her reflection. "You've changed, but not enough to matter."

As the night deepened, both Kael and Elowen lay awake, each pondering their next move. Though their paths had crossed once more, the threads of their destinies were only beginning to intertwine.