214
Lucy
After the first dance lesson, David and I found a few moments every day to practice in between classes. I was sure that people had already figured out that we were going to the Crescent Festival together, and I was a little nervous that I'd be attacked or harassed about him, but nothing had happened yet.
David smiled down at me every time and squeezed my hand as he led me around in the empty hallway.
Soon enough, I found myself back in Magical Combat class with Duke. I could honestly say I had gotten better. Moving through the stances with the staff was easier now. I could at least go at a normal pace. It wasn't super impressive compared to everyone else in the class, but it made me feel like I was making progress.
I wondered if my mother had wielded a staff.
As I worked through the steps, my mind kept thinking about the waltz lesson with David. Using the staff felt a little bit like dancing, but I wondered if one day we'd spar together. I couldn't imagine it would be soon.
"Pair up!" Lucian called, breaking me from my thoughts. "We're working on a new combination. No one you've worked with before."
I faced a student I hadn't really spoken to before. He was wiry with a determined look on his face, quiet, and seemed to keep to himself, so when it was time to practice, he didn't hesitate. I tightened my grip on my staff as we moved into the first position.
With a swift movement, we moved into the second. I stumbled a bit from the force of his swing.
"Sorry," he said, wincing. "I... lost my concentration."
I shook my head. "It's okay."
We moved through another position and another before starting again. The rhythm of our staves meeting made me think of dancing again.
"Faster," Lucian called. "One, two, three..."
He grit his teeth just as my arms started to burn with exertion. It seemed like he was having a hard time maintaining the flow of magic, too. We went on and on until my movements started to slow and falter. I couldn't go any faster, but instead of sneering at me, he slowed to match my pace. I couldn't help but feel a pang of frustration.
I thought I was getting better, but it felt like I wasn't getting better fast enough. I pushed myself until my lungs burned and my arms trembled, but I couldn't match his speed, and slowly, we slowed down until I was huffing and puffing and couldn't go on.
"You'll pass out if you push yourself any further."
I looked up at him. His kind smile should have been comforting, but it wasn't.
I felt defeated. I felt like I would never catch up.
"This is my second time taking the class."
My eyes widened as he set his staff down on one end and leaned on it.
"I pushed myself so hard that I was in a coma for the rest of the term and had to retake it from the beginning." He grinned. "Trust me when I say take the breaks you need."
I nodded slowly. "I'll... try."
"You'll catch up," he said. "Just be patient and catch your breath."
I nodded.
"Good progress," Lucian said from the other side of the room. "We're moving on to the next combination."
"Professor," he called, raising his hand. "My partner needs a restriction."
My face heated, and I looked down. Shame burned up my neck. Lucian came over, gliding his hand over the surface of the staff, and I suddenly felt like it wasn't drawing so much out of me.
He shook his head. "You should have said something earlier, Lucy. It's not supposed to require so much from you."
I nodded and lifted it. I still felt a little weak, but it was better. By the end of class, my mind was hazy. I know we took other breaks, but I didn't feel like it. My shirt was soaked. My body ached, but I felt good.
"Good job, everyone," Lucian said.
I shuddered and leaned heavily on my staff, panting and shaking. My vision was going in and out as I tried to catch my breath.
"I told you not to push yourself so hard."
"I'm fine." My eyes stung as I could barely get the words out.
"Here," Duke said, offering me my water bottle. "You've more than earned it, yeah? Trying to win Hardest Working Woman of the Year?"
He flashed me a teasing grin as he wiped the sweat from his brow. "Had some frustration you needed to work out?"
My face heated. I hadn't even thought about it, but the sting of still not getting that kiss and knowing that I wanted it was still at the back of my mind.
"A little."
He nodded over to the wall. We returned our stave and sat against it, drinking and resting. My mind wandered to the upcoming Crescent Moon Festival.
"You look troubled," Duke said. "A penny for your thoughts?"
"I was thinking about the Crescent Festival."
He sighed. "Don't remind me. I have to go home and get tossed around by David and Maggie. Probably Amos, too."
I frowned. "Why?"
"For the Festival." He smirked. "I think they're preparing for a fight... I wonder why?"
He eyed me slyly, and I bit my lip. "You really think there's going to be a fight?"
"I think they think there will be, and that's enough for me."
I nodded. "I was thinking about entering one of the contests."
"Oh? As a Blood Moon rep?"
My face heated. "I hadn't thought about that, but just for fun. I don't expect to win or anything."
"Well, that's the wrong mindset to sign up with," Lucian said. His eyes twinkled with amusement. "Always plan to win even if you're just going in for fun."
I laughed. "I don't even know what kind of contests there are, and I'm barely making it through the training as it is."
He smiled. "You underestimate yourself, but I guess if you'd rather just watch David demolish a few people in half-naked combat, that's a way to spend the Festival."
My mouth went dry. Lucian grinned.
"Though I'm pretty sure you don't have to use the Festival as an excuse to get him even partially naked."
My face heated as Duke burst into laughter.
"I wasn't-- I didn't--"
"Sure," Lucian said. "Though if you're going to compete as a White Moon representative, you should know that we're not really known to compete since there aren't any magical contests."
"Why not?"
He shrugged. "Some people say it's because we only want to compete in what's easy to win for us, but that's not the whole truth. David's mother was known to compete in the archery and melee contest."
"David's mother was from White Moon?"
"Doesn't that make us related?"
Lucian scoffed. "No. You're not even remotely blood-related. No pack is all family. Not even all of our current pack are actually blood-related. You're free to be romanced as you please."
Duke snickered as I scowled at him.
"Well, I don't know how to shoot a bow and arrow."
"I could teach you," he said. "At this point, if someone is going to keep putting it out that you're the Moon Goddess, you may as well piss off her memory."
He chuckled. "If she pops up in any of your dreams, just tackle her and beat the shit out of her."
I blinked. "What?"
"Would that work?" Duke asked.
He nodded. "You see, the first Moon Goddess, Selene, hailed from a coven of witches renowned for their prowess in magical combat, but she was a terrible warrior. In fact, she was something of a coward when it came to physical combat."
I furrowed my brow in curiosity. "Why is she called the Moon Goddess, then?"
Why would anyone practically worship a coward?
Lucian chuckled softly. "Selene had a knack for curses and manipulation. She rarely engaged in battles herself, preferring instead to use her magic to turn the tides of conflict. She was skilled at making others fight on her behalf, often without them even realizing it."
I couldn't help but think about the spear in the museum and Peter's words. Somehow, I wasn't surprised that Selene was that kind of person.
"I don't have any plans to be like that, no matter how good I get with my magic."
He smiled. "I never thought you would. It's not in your blood. Maybe instead of jumping into combat, you should think of something else. Are you fast?"
He eyed me. "You seem like you'd be pretty light on your feet."
I shrugged. "I never tried. Is there a footrace or something?"
He nodded. "There is, but the archery lessons are still on the table. It's a section of the magical combat training anyway."
I nodded. "Sounds like a plan. Maybe by next year, I'll be strong enough to compete in something more involved."
Lucian grinned. "That's the spirit, Lucy. I'm sure David will enjoy watching you running in almost nothing."
My face heated as Duke started to laugh.
"What do you mean by that?"
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