The golden glow of the setting sun painted the courtyard in soft light as their practice continued.
Movements that had once been awkward were now smoother—hesitant steps turning into something close to grace. Everyone was improving.
Except for Khael.
Not because he was bad. No, he was actually doing fine. But it was impossible to focus when he could feel Eldrin staring.
It wasn't even a normal look. It was that deep, unreadable gaze that made Khael wonder if he'd unknowingly broken some ancient warrior code by breathing near Lyrielle.
I haven't done anything! Khael wanted to protest.
Yet every time he glanced in Eldrin's direction, the older warrior's expression remained perfectly neutral—except for the subtle narrowing of his eyes every time Khael so much as stepped too close.
It was so distracting.
Not that Lyrielle seemed to notice. She was focused, eyes lowered, concentrating on their movements. Her hand rested lightly in his, her steps still careful but no longer stiff.
Trying to act normal, Khael decided to break the silence.
"You're getting better at this," he said, keeping his voice casual.
Lyrielle's eyes flickered up at him before quickly looking away. "…I am merely adjusting."
Khael grinned. "Adjusting to having fun?"
Her steps faltered slightly, but she quickly recovered. "That is… not what I meant."
"Uh-huh. Sure."
She pursed her lips, clearly unsure how to respond. Khael found her flustered silence oddly entertaining.
A few moments passed before she mumbled, barely above a whisper, "…Your movements are not terrible."
Khael blinked. "Wait. Was that—"
"It was nothing," Lyrielle interrupted quickly.
Khael's grin widened. "It was totally a compliment."
She looked away, her grip tightening just slightly before letting go. "You're distracting."
Khael gasped. "Me? Distracting?"
Before she could answer, a throat cleared loudly.
They both turned to find Eldrin watching them.
His expression was unreadable, but the weight of his stare made it clear, he had heard everything.
Khael immediately straightened his posture, taking a step back from Lyrielle as if that would somehow lessen whatever crime Eldrin thought he had committed.
Lyrielle, suddenly tense, smoothed out her dress and avoided eye contact entirely.
Eldrin said nothing.
He didn't need to.
Then, finally, he muttered, "Some things require patience."
And with that, he turned and walked away.
Khael let out a slow breath. "I think he hates me."
Lyrielle shook her head quickly. "He doesn't."
Khael raised an eyebrow. "Then why do I feel like I've personally offended his ancestors?"
Lyrielle hesitated. "…He is just cautious."
"That's a really nice way of saying he wants to kill me."
She gave him a look, as if she wasn't sure whether to scold him or agree.
Khael sighed. "Anyway, I think we actually did okay today."
Lyrielle hesitated again. Then, in a voice so soft he almost didn't hear it, she mumbled, "…It was not unpleasant."
Khael stared. "…Did you just say you liked practicing with me?"
Lyrielle's face turned pink. "No. That's not—I meant—"
"Wow," Khael said dramatically. "We've come so far."
Lyrielle huffed, looking anywhere but at him. "I take it back."
Khael only laughed, unaware of the warmth creeping into his own cheeks.
Neither of them realized what was actually happening—how, without meaning to, something had shifted between them.
All they knew was that for the first time, the dance no longer felt like an obligation.
It felt… strangely natural.
Tomorrow, they would reach the Forgotten Marshes.
The morning mist hung low over the ground as the group approached the edge of the Forgotten Marshes.
The air was damp, carrying the scent of earth and something ancient—something untouched by time.
Selene stood at the front, her expression unreadable as she gazed into the mist-covered land ahead.
Axel was beside her, his usual calm unwavering, but his hand rested lightly on the hilt of his weapon.
Khael, however, was less composed. He stared into the marsh with a visible frown.
"So… we're really going in there?"
Tyra smirked, adjusting her grip on her broadsword. "Getting cold feet, fireboy?"
Khael scowled. "No. Just making sure everyone realizes this place looks like the perfect setting for something bad to happen."
Lyrielle shot him a glance. "Superstition does not dictate fate."
Khael muttered under his breath. "Yeah, well, fate's got a bad sense of humor."
Eldrin ignored their exchange, stepping forward. "The marshes are unpredictable.
Stay close and do not wander." His sharp eyes flickered briefly to Khael, as if making a point.
Khael sighed. "Yeah, yeah. Stick together, don't get lost, don't do anything stupid—"
Selene turned to them. "This place holds remnants of the past. If there is something waiting for us, we must be ready."
A silence settled over the group.
Then, with a single step, Selene led them into the mist.
The world changed the moment they crossed the threshold.
The air grew thicker, heavy with whispers that weren't quite voices. The ground beneath them was uneven, slick with moisture, and strange lights flickered between the trees—too dim to be fire, too fluid to be natural.
Khael shuddered. "Okay. This place is definitely cursed."
Tyra snorted. "Just keep moving."
They pressed forward, every step carrying them deeper into the unknown.
And somewhere in the distance, something watched.
As they ventured deeper into the Forgotten Marshes, the mist thickened, curling around their legs like unseen hands.
The twisted trees loomed overhead, their gnarled branches resembling skeletal fingers reaching for the sky.
Water sloshed beneath their boots, the murky depths occasionally rippling with unseen movement.
Khael's grip on his belt tightened. "I swear if something grabs my ankle, I will set this whole swamp on fire."
Lyrielle glanced at him, concern flickering in her soft blue eyes. "That would be unwise."
Khael scoffed. "Well, neither is walking into a place that looks like it wants to eat us."
Before Lyrielle could respond, a sharp snap echoed through the marsh. Everyone froze. The air grew unnaturally still.
Axel's hand hovered over his weapon. "...Did anyone else hear that?"
Tyra rolled her shoulders. "Yep. And I'm guessing it wasn't just a really aggressive frog."
Khael shifted closer to Lyrielle without realizing it. "If it's a really big frog, I call not fighting it."
Then, without warning, the water erupted.
A massive, serpentine creature launched itself from the swamp, its glistening scales catching the dim light.
Its maw opened wide, revealing rows of jagged teeth as it let out an ear-splitting screech.
Khael yelped, stumbling back. "I KNEW IT!"
Eldrin was already moving, stepping forward with unnatural calm. "Stay together."
Selene and Axel reacted instantly. Selene raised her hands, a faint glow surrounding her fingertips as she prepared a spell, while Axel unsheathed his blade with swift precision.
The creature lunged.
Tyra met it head-on, swinging her broadsword with enough force to send a wave of water spraying in all directions.
The blade connected with the beast's thick hide, but instead of cutting through, it bounced off with a dull clang.
Tyra blinked. "...Huh. That's unfortunate."
The creature hissed and retaliated, its tail whipping through the air.
Khael grabbed Lyrielle's wrist and yanked her out of the way just as the tail crashed into the spot where she had been standing. She stumbled into him, gripping his arm tightly as she steadied herself.
"Careful!" Khael said, heart pounding.
Lyrielle looked up at him, startled. "I—"
But there was no time to finish. The serpent twisted, setting its glowing eyes on them.
"Oh no," Khael muttered. "I hate when they look at me."
Without thinking, he raised a hand, fire flaring to life in his palm. He hurled a small flame toward the beast's face. It struck, momentarily blinding it, and the creature shrieked in fury.
Axel seized the opening. He darted forward, slashing at the beast's exposed underbelly.
This time, the blade bit deep.
Selene, standing at a distance, extended her hand. A streak of silver-blue energy shot forth, crackling as it wrapped around the serpent's body like chains.
The creature thrashed, but the magic held firm.
Eldrin approached, his movements calculated. "Tyra, now."
Tyra grinned. "Gladly."
With one powerful swing, she brought her sword down on the restrained serpent's neck.
The impact sent a deep reverberation through the air. The creature let out one last, gurgling cry before collapsing into the murky depths.
Silence.
Then, Khael exhaled. "Okay. Now can we leave?"
Selene dusted herself off. "Not yet."
Khael groaned. "Of course not."
Tyra clapped him on the back. "Cheer up, fireboy. That was just the warm-up."
Khael looked at her, horrified. "...Excuse me?"
Axel smirked. "She's right. We still have a performance to prepare for."
Lyrielle tugged at her sleeves, eyes flickering to Khael before quickly looking away. "We should continue before more creatures are drawn here."
With that, they pressed on, deeper into the marsh, unaware of what awaited them.
The group continued through the Forgotten Marshes, the eerie fog clinging to their clothes as if the swamp itself wanted to keep them.
Tyra, walking slightly ahead, muttered, "If I have to fight one more slimy creature before this performance, I'm going to start charging."
Khael, still shaking off the adrenaline from the last encounter, sighed. "What's the rate? Because I think I owe you for that snake-thing."
Tyra smirked. "For you? Triple."
Khael groaned. "Figures."
Lady Sylwen, ever the composed mentor, adjusted the folds of her elegant robe.
"Enough complaining, Khael. If you put as much effort into your footwork as you do your commentary, perhaps you wouldn't keep stepping on Lyrielle's toes."
Khael turned red. "I—I was trying! That's just—her feet are small! And—" He stopped when he saw Lyrielle covering her mouth, shoulders shaking in silent laughter.
Eldrin, who had been quiet for most of the trip, sighed. "Focus. We must arrive on time. Distractions will only delay us."
Khael crossed his arms. "We're literally walking through a monster-infested swamp. If anything's distracting, it's that."
Axel, walking beside Selene, glanced around.
"He has a point. Something feels… off."
Selene nodded in agreement. "The air is heavier than before."
Lady Sylwen lifted a hand slightly, her gaze sharp. "Be on your guard."
The words had barely left her mouth when the ground trembled.
Then, with a deafening roar, the swamp erupted in chaos.
A monstrous figure lunged from the fog—a massive, armored creature with jagged, moss-covered scales. Its glowing red eyes locked onto them with terrifying precision.
Tyra instantly drew her sword, stepping in front of the group. "You've got to be kidding me."
The creature snarled, lowering its head like a bull preparing to charge.
Axel was already moving, sword drawn, as he shouted, "Stay together!"
Khael grabbed Lyrielle's wrist instinctively, pulling her back. "I really hate this swamp."
Before anyone could react, the beast lunged forward with shocking speed.
Selene raised her hands, casting a barrier just in time to deflect the creature's attack. The force sent a powerful shockwave rippling through the swamp, nearly knocking Khael and Lyrielle off balance.
Eldrin's voice rang clear. "Strike the underbelly! Its armor is thick everywhere else."
Tyra didn't need to be told twice. With a quick motion, she dashed forward, blade flashing. She struck at the exposed flesh beneath the creature's ribs, but the beast howled in rage rather than pain, swiping a claw at her.
Axel leapt forward, parrying its strike mid-air with a burst of holy energy. "It's stronger than it looks."
Khael gritted his teeth. "Fine, let's see if it likes fire!" He thrust out his hand, flames erupting toward the creature's face. It shrieked, momentarily blinded by the heat.
Lyrielle hesitated, clutching her staff. "I—I can try to bind its legs!"
Before Khael could stop her, Lyrielle stepped forward, blue energy weaving through her fingers.
The moment she unleashed it, shimmering vines shot from the swamp's surface, wrapping around the beast's legs.
For a brief moment, it worked.
Then, with a furious snarl, the creature ripped through the bindings, sending shockwaves through the ground. Lyrielle stumbled back, eyes wide.
Khael cursed. "Oh, come on! That was perfect!"
Lady Sylwen's voice was calm yet firm.
"Strike together. Now."
Selene, Axel, and Tyra moved in unison. Tyra swung at its exposed underbelly, Axel's blade glowed as he slashed its side, and Selene's energy surged forward like a storm.
The creature let out one final, guttural growl before collapsing into the swamp, the murky water swallowing its form.
Silence settled once more.
Then Khael flopped onto the nearest dry patch of land. "That's it. I'm done with this place."
Lyrielle hesitated before offering a hand to help him up. "You—um, you fought well."
Khael blinked, then grinned. "Yeah? You too. Your vines were great. Next time, I bet it won't break free at all."
Lyrielle turned pink, nodding quickly before looking away.
Eldrin cleared his throat. "If we are finally done, let's move. The performance awaits."
Tyra sheathed her sword. "If another swamp monster appears, I'm making Khael fight it alone."
Khael groaned. "That's bullying."
Axel smirked. "No, that's incentive."
Selene chuckled, adjusting her cloak. "Let's not tempt fate. Come on, we need to hurry."
And so, after yet another exhausting battle, they finally continued onward.
Their destination was close, and the performance of a lifetime awaited them.
To be continued…