Serene’s POV

Zeph fetched four wooden swords. Kilamin took two and we took one each.

"So, you think you can beat us?" I inquired with a smile.

"It’s going to be a walk in the park," he teased us.

"We will see," Zeph replied with determination.

We took our stances and began to duel. Uppercut, lower cut, diagonal strikes and horizontal strikes, Kilamin blocked and dodged all of our attacks and advances.

Both his hands moved with such proficiency and speed that it was impossible at times to see his sword. It slashed through the air and missed my face by inches. I aimed for his torso while Zeph went for his neck, but he cancelled both our attacks pushing us backward with such force that we staggered and almost lost our control.

He smirked at us and rotated both his swords in his hands. We were almost panting.

"Tired already?" He teased us.

"No way," Zeph called out and attacked him again. I followed the pursuit but it was impossible to launch attacks at him. But we were having fun and he guided us on what we needed to do.

I gave up after half an hour but Zeph wanted to learn more. So I sat down on the grass and watched the two boys battle it out. Kilamin gave him some really important tips and I could see Zeph was hanging onto his every word. They continued for an hour or so before Kilamin called it off.

Zeph dawdled towards me and fell on the grass beside me. A satisfied smile rested on his curvy lips. "That was one of the best sword sessions I ever had. I have to commend his swordsmanship, he is next level." Zeph couldn’t help but praise him.

"No denying that, he is our General after all." I smiled at him and glanced in Kilamin’s direction. He was still practicing, alone.

The rest of the day passed with us idly chit-chatting and roaming around. The night was peaceful, I had fewer nightmares and was able to get some decent sleep.

The next day onwards our regular classes commenced and all of us got busy with our schedules and assignments. I had extra training sessions with Kilamin which exhausted me by the end of the day.

During one of these sessions, Kilamin was putting me under rigorous training. We were doing aerial combat and he was throwing everything at me. I was feeling overwhelmed and suddenly I felt this surge of energy course through me.

Before I knew or control it, the energy blasted through me like a ripple and spread in all directions, Kilamin got caught in the blast wave and began to spiral down. He had lost consciousness, I knew I wouldn’t be able to reach him in time so I just covered him with my shield. Hoping he wouldn’t receive any more severe damage than he already had. I had no clue what just happened.

He fell with a loud thud, my shield disappeared as he hit the ground. I quickly descended and ran toward him, breathless. My heart was pumping so fast. What had I done?

"Kilamin," I shouted and slumped beside him, taking him in my arms, I touched his face. He was unconscious, and his mouth and nose were bleeding. I was on the verge of crying seeing him like that.

"Help," I shouted, my desperation showing. We were practicing alone in the training ground and I was hoping someone would hear me. Sarim and Lavaria Sensei must have been on the nearby ground because they came running, hearing my voice.

"Serene, are you ok? What happened?" They looked at me in horror and then their eyes landed on Kilamin.

"I....don’t k..now, everything ha...pened so fast. We were practi...cing and then there was this bla...st of energy I felt and he got caught in it." Tears were falling freely from my eyes as I spoke between sobs.

Lavaria Sensei instantly took Kilamin from my arms and rushed off, while Sarim Sensei tried to console me. "It’s alright, Serene. I am sure Mariela will fix him in no time. He just got unconscious. Was this the first time sometime like that has happened?"

"Yes," I couldn’t control my emotions. I wanted to follow him, so I got up and went after him. Sarim Sensei was on my heels.

"Serene, calm down. It wasn’t your fault." But nothing he said was making me feel better. It was my fault, I had hurt him. My mind had gone blank and all I could think was what if something happens to him?

We reached the Infirmary but Sarim Sensei stopped me at the door and went in alone. I began to pace outside, waiting for any news. Every second felt like an eternity to me. Zeph came running after ten minutes. I threw myself at him and he engulfed me in his arms.

"Shhh, it will be ok." He gently stroked my hair, trying to calm me down. "Seniors were having their combat class on the ground, and they heard you. Zilver told me, so I rushed here." That explained how Lavaria and Sarim Sensei arrived there so quickly.

"A strange surge of power resonated from my body and it hit him. What if something happens to him?" My heart felt so heavy and all my mean words to him came to haunt me in that instant.

"He is stronger than that, he will pull through. Don’t worry so much." Zeph kissed my head, he was trying to relax me but my heart was too turmoiled.

We waited impatiently for any news. Soon Ralph and Ayrden joined us too as they heard the news. They consoled me and asked me to stay strong.

After an hour, Lavaria Sensei came out. He appeared a bit shaken. I rushed to his side and asked: "How is he?"

"He is still unconscious but is out of danger. He will pull through, Serene. Don’t worry." But his face was not depicting the truth behind the words he was saying. Something was terribly wrong, I could feel it in my bones.