The next morning, the dining room was unusually lively. Younger Caelum and Seryna exchanged amused glances while Adara tried to hide a yawn behind her hand.
"Looks like the 'little elf' survived her first night of training... and my brother's company," Caelum remarked with a cynical, playful smile. "Tell me, Adara, are your muscles awake enough to keep you from tripping over your own shadow today?"
Seryna giggled, spearing a piece of fruit with a knife.
"I hope so. Yesterday was like punching a cotton ball."
Karan, who was silently sipping his tea, simply looked up. He didn't say a word, but his gaze turned icy, a silent warning that made Caelum clear his throat and Seryna straighten up in her seat. The General stood up, placed a hand on Adara's shoulder, and declared in a voice that brooked no argument:
"Adara, today, tear her to pieces. I will be your backup and watch your every move closely."
The entire family gathered in the training courtyard. Even the Supreme Immortal watched from the upper balcony, arms crossed.
Adara entered the arena with a different stance. She no longer sought elegance; she sought Seryna's center of gravity. When the duel began, Adara surprised everyone. She applied Karan's advice: she stopped looking into her sister-in-law's eyes and began anticipating the movement of her shoulders.
In a fluid motion, Adara dodged a thrust, spun around, and landed a sharp blow with her staff on Seryna's ribs, followed by a sweep that sent the young Immortal crashing to the ground. The courtyard fell silent. Adara was delivering a technical beating.
However, as Adara moved forward to finish the duel, Seryna smiled maliciously. Instead of getting up, she threw a handful of volcanic sand into Adara's eyes and used the pommel of her dagger to strike the elf's knee. Adara fell, disoriented.
"Rule number one, sister-in-law," Seryna said, panting as she stood up. "Never assume the duel is over until your opponent stops breathing."
Despite the defeat, the atmosphere shifted. Lady Valerice stepped into the arena and helped Adara wipe her face.
"You learn quickly," the matriarch said with genuine respect. "You've learned in one day what takes many soldiers a year."
Caelum approached, this time without cynicism.
"Your mistake was showing mercy at the end. Tomorrow you won't have that luxury. Vespera Obsidian will be your opponent."
The name made the air run cold. Karan joined the group.
"Vespera was my betrothed five centuries ago," Karan explained in a flat voice. "She abandoned me when I fell in the Badlands campaign, believing a wounded general was useless to her ambitions for power. She is cruel and uses poison in her words and her steel."
The entire family began to surround Adara, offering her tactical advice in an unprecedented display of unity:
Caelum: "She always attacks on the left flank when she's frustrated." Provoke her.
Seryna: "Use her vanity. She thinks you're a foolish elf; let her get overconfident, then strike her where it hurts most."
Valerice: "Don't listen to what she says about Karan. Her tongue is her true weapon."
Adara nodded, feeling the warmth of her new family. Tomorrow she would fight not only for her place in House Valoria, but for the honor of the man who loved her against the woman who had rejected him when he needed her most.