The Devil's Warrior Queen
Chapter 281: Sparring Session

Chapter 281: Sparring Session

"Am I at any risk if I go out?" She asked after snapping herself out of her disturbing thoughts. She was quite I settled after all as she learned of this newfound development, but then again, she reasoned she might be overthinking and the poor man was actually playing his cards right to continue fooling her with their lies.

It made her swell up with anger for a moment but then when she remembered his sincere gaze as he spoke of protecting her and promising to help her regain her memories, her anger dissolved.

"You won’t be, but you might put others in danger when he..." He trailed off, pressing his lips in a thin line as he lost control of what he was spouting out for a second there.

Confusion was etched on Rama’s face "Who is ’he’?"

"Rama, please no more questions." Dalen pleaded as he groaned.

"Fine, only if you promise never to lie to me again. You don’t have to tell me the truth now, but just don’t fill my head with lies." Rama voiced out fiercely.

"I promise."

"So I can leave the castle now, can’t I?" She asked, enthusiasm lighting up her jade eyes as she exclaimed in excitement.

His pupils dilated in dissatisfaction and his lips curled "You want to leave the castle?" His voice resonated with suppressed hurt as he spoke.

"I didn’t mean for good, I still want to go back to the ruins and see if I can find anything useful." She explained, noticing how solemn his demeanor switched to.

Immediately she spoke, his glum countenance rapidly switched into a relaxed one "Oh, right. But still it could be dangerous to go out of the castle, they’re enemies of someone close to you that would want you dead, but I can’t say anymore so just know it’s dangerous."

"I understand, so when can we leave? It won’t take long after all." She said, shoving aside his warning.

"Like I said, when you’re fully trained." He intoned.

"But I am fully trained." She argued.

"Are you?" He asked sarcastically.

"Yes, I am!" She exclaimed confidently.

"How can you prove it? I’ve only trained you but we’ve never had a real sparring session." He pointed out.

Her eyes hardened with zeal "Let’s spar then and if I win, we leave immediately to the ruins." Rama suggested with certainty exuding from her aura.

"Fine then."

"I’ll be waiting for you in the training ground then." She said and before he could say anything else, she rose from her seat and walked away.

He scoffed in amusement before going after her with a fond look gleaming in his silver gaze.

-----

The sun hung low in the sky, casting its golden rays over the training grounds of the Castle. A gentle breeze carried the scent of wildflowers, mingling with the crispness of the impending autumn. At the heart of the courtyard stood the two figures, each poised with swords in hand, ready to engage in a dance of skill and strategy.

Rama, with eyes fierce and sharp possessed an air of grace as she wielded her sword, her black wavy hair cascading over her shoulders like a midnight waterfall. Her jade eyes shone with determination, reflecting the spark of excitement as she faced her opponent. Her lithe frame moved with an effortless elegance, exuding confidence despite the daunting task ahead, knowing how skilled he was, while on the other hand, she was a new trainee making the odds against her quite a hassle but the fact that she was a warrior before she lost her memories comforted her.

Facing her stood the promising swordsman, Lord Dalen, who was known for his prowess and wisdom and to worsen her situation, he was actually the leader in charge of the military position of the kingdom. His white hair streaked with silver danced with the soft breeze. His silver-tinted grey eyes held a depth of experience, observing Ramaa with a mixture of respect and anticipation.

The clash of steel echoed through the courtyard as the spar commenced. Rama lunged forward, her movements swift and precise, aiming for an opening in Lord Dalen’s defenses. Her footwork was nimble, evading his calculated strikes with finesse. Each swing of her blade was deliberate, a testament to the training she had received under the guidance of the castle’s finest instructors.

Dalen countered with seasoned expertise, his strikes a blend of strength and strategy. His swordmanship was a masterclass, deflecting Rama’s advances while analyzing her technique.

He tested her with feints and parries, challenging her skills and adaptability, but without her knowledge, he refrained from putting in too much amount of effort while attacking.

The dance continued, their swords a blur of steel in the fading light. Rama’s determination never wavered, her focus unwavering as she sought an opportunity to turn the tide in her favor. With each exchange, she learned from Dalen’s movements, adjusting her tactics accordingly.

The session commenced with a flurry of movements, a dance of steel as they circled each other, searching for an opening. Rama moved lightly , her footwork agile and deliberate, as she parried and countered with fluidity reminiscent of a seasoned duelist. Her strikes were calculated, and aimed with precision, each one a testament to her honed skill and focused determination.

Dalen, though seemingly more grounded in his stance, matched her moves with a veteran’s expertise. His strikes were forceful, calculated to test her defenses and probe for vulnerabilities. His years of combat experience were evident in the economy of his movements, each swing purposeful and strategic, seeking an opportunity to outmaneuver his opponent, but his withdrawal to put in real effort was unnoticed as she focused solely on defeating him.

The clashing of their swords reverberated through the air, the sound punctuated by the occasional grunt of effort. Their swords sang a symphony of battle, each clash a testament to their unwavering resolve. The dust stirred around them, a testament to the intensity of their sparring, as they danced across the training yard with a grace that belied the brutality of their intent.

As the spar progressed, Rama’s focus remained unwavering. With each strike parried and every feint countered, she began to decipher Dalen’s patterns. Her movements became more calculated, anticipating his strikes with a quickness that belied her years. She exploited his momentary lapses, exploiting small openings he unknowingly revealed.

In a decisive moment, as Dalen launched a powerful overhead strike, Rama swiftly sidestepped, pivoting with the grace of a feline. With a lightning-fast maneuver, she countered with a series of precise strikes aimed at disarming her opponent. Her strikes, a culmination of agility and precision, found their mark, causing lord Dalen’s sword to fly from his grasp, clattering against the ground.

The training yard fell into a momentary hush as the two combatants paused, chests heaving, sweat glistening upon their brows. Lord Dalen, with a nod of acknowledgment, offered a warm smile, acknowledging her victory with a sense of respect and pride. Rama, with a mixture of relief and elation, returned the gesture, her jade eyes sparkling with the thrill of triumph.

A moment of silence enveloped the courtyard, broken only by the sound of their labored breaths. Dalen’s eyes held a twinkle of pride as he nodded in acknowledgment of Rama’s skill.

In that fleeting moment, Rama’s heart swelled with pride and gratitude. She had proven herself, not just as a skilled swordswoman but as a worthy contender in the realm of combat. The victory was more than just a spar; it symbolized her dedication, perseverance, and the realization of her potential.

As the sun dipped below the horizon, casting hues of orange and purple across the sky, Rama’s black wavy hair caught the last glimmer of daylight. Her jade eyes gleamed with a newfound sense of accomplishment, marking this moment as a turning point in her journey as a warrior in the fantastical world she inhabited.

"That was impressive, you’re ready it seems." Dalen praised with a smile tearing faintly through his lips.

Struggling to catch her breath, she sat on a bench while peering her eyes at him from under her thick lashes.

"Do you think I’m stupid?" She blurted out in a hoarse voice as she breathed out raggedly.

He tilted his head in confusion.

"You promised." She said breathlessly, while she paused to suck in a good amount of air.

"What are you talking about, Rama?" He asked in genuine curiosity.

"You promised never to lie again, why did you lie?" She shot at him as she jolted from her seat.

"Lie about what Rama?" He asked as he stood akimbo, but rather than paying attention, she couldn’t help but wonder why he wasn’t as breathless as her, neither was he breaking a sweat.

"About me winning the spar just now, you shouldn’t have held back for me, why did you do it?" She blurted out as she ran her fingers through her sleek hair, leaving him dazed for a moment before he came back to his senses.

"Whether I did or not, you can finally explore and moreover, I did that because obviously, you can’t beat me. It’s impossible, especially since you haven’t regained your memories." Dalen remarked thoughtfully.

"Fine then, when I regain my memories, we’ll have a real spar, deal?" She said with a confident smirk as she extended her hand to him for a shake.

Shaking her hand, he said "Deal!"