Must be kept

Rowland stood in the middle of the castle's training ground, tossing one sword from hand to hand, spinning it, and flexing his exposed arms whenever he thought someone might be watching. He wore a sleeveless shirt and fitted trousers.

He practised each movement with precision. Then he waited.

One hour passed. Then another.

Rowland remained where he was, growing more frustrated with every passing minute. He finally lifted his sword, ready to strike it against a stone pillar, when he heard footsteps approaching.

A slight breeze swept across the training ground, carrying the faint scent of flowers from the nearby gardens. Sybill stood at the entrance, her red cape shifting gently behind her.

She wore a fitted leather outfit beneath it, with armour covering her chest. A golden bandana held back her dark hair, while small gold triangular earrings gleamed at her ears.

She looked like the goddess of war herself had descended to patrol the earth.

Yet Sybill seemed far more interested in the costume than the prince who had been waiting for her.

She turned slightly beneath the sunlight, admiring the way the fitted leather and armour caught the light. Then she lifted one side of her cape and gave it an experimental sweep.

The cape billowed behind her, and Sybill turned again to watch it follow. She gave it another sweep, seemingly fascinated by the movement.

Rowland stared at her.

*She's still making me wait?*

Sybill admired the cape for another moment before finally looking in his direction.

A boy accompanied her, carrying the same doll that had unsettled Rowland during their first meeting. The doll now wore a tiny helmet and a miniature version of Sybill's warrior outfit.

"You are..."

Sybill ignored him. She swept her sword in a wide circle, then traced a perfect infinity symbol through the air.

Her eyes began to glow. Sammy and Silvi had already settled upon a bench in the corner, eagerly anticipating the thrashing of Rowland's life.

Rowland watched her expert swordsmanship in confusion. Wasn't she supposed to use only magic?

His question was answered when Sybill made several displeased faces at the sword, abandoned it on the ground, and drew her wand. Rowland tightened his grip on his sword and charged at her.

Sybill calmly raised one hand. A transparent magical barrier appeared between them.

Rowland swung his sword against it. A sharp crack split across the surface.

Sybill raised one eyebrow slightly, perhaps mildly impressed. Rowland grinned.

He struck it again, widening the fracture until thin cracks spread across the barrier. Several vines erupted from the earth and wrapped themselves around his feet, but he sliced through them cleanly.

He abandoned his sword, seized a nearby bow, and fired an arrow at Sybill. With a flick of her wand, she snapped it in half.

Rowland continued firing. Sybill conjured another barrier, and before long, a pile of broken arrows littered the ground before her.

She wanted to get this over with without harming him—or revealing the full extent of her abilities.

Sybill cast a freezing spell, halting Rowland's movements. Then, with a sharp gust of wind, she sent him flying across the training ground.

He struck the stone pillar. With little strength remaining, Rowland forced himself back onto his feet.

He was not going down that easily. He would crush h—

Two enormous vines, each as thick as an anaconda, seized him and dangled him upside down. Before Rowland could even process what had happened, they began twirling him in circles, faster and faster, until his sword slipped from his hand and clattered against the ground.

"Okay! Okay! I give up. You win!"

The vines finally stopped and lowered him onto the ground. Rowland sat there for a long moment, one hand pressed against his head as the entire training ground seemed to spin around him.

Sammy and Silvi celebrated in complete silence, exchanging triumphant looks from their bench. Sybill approached, staring at him with the same displeased expression as before.

She bent down and gently cupped his cheek.

From this close, Rowland could see the fine sweep of her lashes and the soft contrast of her dark hair against her pale skin. Her features were delicate, her lips full, and for one disorienting moment he forgot entirely how annoyed he was supposed to be.

"Are you the okay?"

Rowland looked up at her, puzzled.

"Not so close, Sibi. Remember, distance must be kept," Silvi's voice whispered through Sybill's enchanted earrings, quiet enough for her alone to hear.

"Must be kept," Sybill repeated in a whisper.

She immediately stepped back and cast a healing spell over him. Warmth spread throughout Rowland's body, leaving him steadier than before.

The spell felt unlike any healing magic he had experienced. It did not merely soothe the injuries from the duel—it erased old pains and lingering aches he had carried for years.

She rose, stared at him for another moment, then turned and walked away, joined by Silvi and her servant.

*"Must be kept," she had said,* Rowland thought. *What must be kept? Me? Was she talking about keeping me?*

Rowland's hand rose to the spot where Sybill had touched his cheek. His heart began beating unbelievably fast.