Chapter 267: Seren Joins
The next morning, Darion was in the courtyard practicing alone.
The sun was just beginning to rise, casting long shadows across the stone floor.
The workers were still asleep in their tents, and the castle was quiet. He had the manual open on the low stone wall, the sword in his hand, and he was working through the sequences on his own.
He had been at it for about twenty minutes when he heard footsteps behind him. He turned, half-expecting Garren, and found Seren standing at the edge of the courtyard.
She was dressed in her usual practical clothes, her bow slung across her back. Maybe she was up for an early morning hunt?
She watched him from the edge, her arms crossed, her expression curious. She didn’t interrupt. She just observed, taking in the scene.
"Morning," Darion said, lowering the sword.
"Morning," she replied, stepping closer. "What are you doing?"
Darion glanced at the manual, then back at her. "Training," he said. "Ghan and his men discovered a hidden room with a sword and a book. The book is a training manual. It teaches you how to use the sword."
Seren raised an eyebrow. "A training manual? For that sword?" She walked closer, her eyes scanning the manual on the wall. "Can I see it?"
Darion nodded, handing her the book. Seren took it, flipping through the pages.
Her eyes moved across the diagrams, the sketches, the careful instructions. She studied them quietly, her expression thoughtful. "This is detailed," she said. "Very detailed. Whoever wrote this knew what they were doing."
Darion watched her as she continued to flip through the pages. "We don’t know who drew it or kept it there. That’s a mystery. I’ve been trying to learn the moves."
Seren looked up from the manual, her eyes meeting his. "And? How’s it going?"
Darion shrugged. "Slowly. I can do some of the basic sequences, but I’m still struggling with the more complex ones. Garren’s been helping me."
Seren nodded, her attention returning to the book. She studied one of the diagrams for a long moment, her brow furrowing slightly. "Your footing is off," she said. "Here, in this sequence. You’re placing too much weight on your front foot. It’s throwing off your balance."
Darion blinked and smiled. "How did you know that?"
Seren returned the smile. "I’ve had some sword training myself. Not a lot, but enough to recognize when something’s wrong." She closed the book and handed it back to him. "Show me the sequence you’re working on."
Darion hesitated, then nodded. He moved through the sequence, his body following the motions as best he could. This was a completely new sequence by the way, different from the ones he had mastered. He could feel the awkwardness, the hesitation in his movements. When he finished, Seren was frowning slightly.
"You’re rushing," she said. "The sequence is about flow, not speed. You’re trying to force it, and it’s throwing off your timing."
She stepped closer, her hand gently pressing against his shoulder to adjust his stance. "Your back needs to be straighter. And your grip is too tight. You’re holding the sword like you’re afraid it’s going to fall out of your hand. Loosen up."
Darion adjusted his stance, following her instructions. The change was immediate. He could feel the difference, the way his body settled into the position more naturally. He moved through the sequence again, this time slower. The sword began to feel lighter in his hands.
"Better," Seren said. "Now try it with the sword."
Darion raised the sword, his grip still firm but not rigid. He moved through the sequence, his body flowing with the motion. This time, the golden light rippled from the blade, stronger than before. It wasn’t as bright as when Garren had guided him, but it was there, real and undeniable.
Seren stepped back, her eyes widening slightly. "That was real," she said. "The light. I could see it."
Darion nodded, a small smile forming on his face. "It’s real. It’s magic. The sword channels energy through the movements."
Seren stared at the sword, then back at him. "I want to learn," she said. "I mean, I want to teach you. Some of the moves. I had some sword training in my youth, though I never became a dedicated fighter. But I know enough to help."
Darion looked at her, surprised. "You’d do that?"
Seren shrugged. "It’s better than watching the construction all day." She smiled, a hint of playfulness in her eyes. "And who knows? Maybe I can learn something too."
Darion nodded slowly. "Alright. You’re hired."
---
They continued the session, with Seren guiding Darion through the sequences. She was patient, precise, correcting his mistakes with a steady hand.
Darion found himself improving faster than he had with Garren alone. Seren’s teaching style was different, more intuitive, less structured. She didn’t tell him what to do as much as she showed him, letting him feel the correct way to move.
Garren arrived some time later, his footsteps echoing on the stone. He paused at the edge of the courtyard, his eyes scanning the scene. Seren was standing close to Darion, adjusting his grip on the sword. Darion was moving through a sequence, his body more fluid than before.
"What’s going on here?" Garren asked.
Seren straightened, turning to face him. "I’m teaching him," she said. "He needed help."
Garren raised an eyebrow. "I thought i was his teacher."
"He needed more help," Seren said, smiling sweetly.
Garren was quiet for a moment, his expression unreadable. Then a small smile tugged at the corner of his mouth. "I see," he said.
Darion smiled. "She’s quite a good teacher."
Garren nodded slowly. "Fine. We’ll make it a group. You and me. Together."
---
From that day on, the three of them formed a small training group. Every morning, before the sun fully rose, they gathered in the courtyard.
Garren and Seren took turns teaching Darion, correcting his form, guiding him through the sequences. The sessions became routine, a rhythm that anchored his days.
And Darion felt himself improving. The moves became more natural, his body more attuned to the sword. The golden light grew brighter, more consistent. He was learning, growing, becoming something more than he had been.