Chapter Twenty-Two

The plan to evade his presence, to feign indifference, rapidly dissolved like the morning mist in the garden sun. His passage became as inevitable as the dawn, a shadow melding into my path at the most unexpected times. Whether it was beneath the twinkling stars, accompanied by a prince's arm, amidst the verdant arcades of the palatial theater, or while strolling through the flourishing gardens, his figure would emerge.

We had assembled seven suitors within the castle's opulent walls: Aidenous, the master of Dawnlight; Theo, a princely heir from Helios; Ezra, the esteemed High Lord of Essos; Damien, son of a distant but notable Emperor; Callum and Rey, twin Princes hailing from our allied realm, Adronda; and the enigmatic Prince Azhrel of Kairos.

I had ceremonial tea with each suitor every day, thirty minutes each, the event exhausting. Afterward, the palace gardens became our shared realm, a canvas for lingering gazes and veiled intentions. At nightfall, we united for the evening repast, followed by harmonious symphonies and the rhythmic whirl of dancers.

Nerida's ire had dissipated like the storm clouds after rain. Following that violent encounter, her apologies had come swiftly, like the sunset's forgiving embrace. Amaya, sharpening her blade in the shadowed corner, reassured me afterward. Her words were both a promise and a veiled threat, offering her steadfast guardianship should the need arise.

I hate to admit it, but I was enjoying the courtship. It was summertime in my favorite city, our lavender and rosemary in full bloom, while lemon and olive orchards proffered their bountiful yields. The food of Astreaus was my favorite in the summer. Ripe tomatoes, freshly made olive oil. And honey, I poured it over everything I could get my hands on, its sweetness courteous of our proud twin suns.

However, my reprieve was brutally curtailed this morning. I had been dragged unceremoniously from the sumptuous courtship into a realm of exertion. Courtship, at its peak, was paused, and I wore the face of a spoiled princess. Confronted with the Kaimari Warrior, I was attired not in gossamer silks but fighting leathers, and my expression held only anger.

Prince Azhrel, swayed by the Kaimari's counsel, had decreed that each of Irina's decoys ought to acquire proficiency in Kairos's martial techniques. Nerida, now an advocate for Azhrel's potential union with Irina, adopted every one of his propositions.

In the sanctum of Astreaus's Dawnlight Temple, I, along with Aelia, Amaya, Saija, and Irina, maintained our pretenses. This place, grand and imposing, radiated soft grays and deep navy hues. The twelve gods were absent, replaced by the insignias of Dawnlight—a reminder of the council's doctrine, stressing the insignificance of self before cosmic order.

Saija, her arms reluctantly crossed, vented her disdain at the situation. "I had an exam to prepare for, you know.”

Amaya was also displeased. “What could we learn from you that wouldn’t be offered at Dawnlight?”

"The Kaimari imparts his wisdom," Master Kyros intervened. "Dawnlight wields a distinct technique; the Kaimari's methods are unlike ours."

"More savage, perhaps?" I retorted, my façade unshaken.

"Let's maintain focus," Ezra intervened from the sidelines, aligning with the Kaimari's teachings.

The heart of the room transformed as the Kaimari emerged, a predatory presence casting a spell over all present. His voice, a resonating purr, draped itself in shadows and allure. "Kaimari Shadows," he began, drawing my lips into a suppressed smile. "We revere self above all, embracing humility and soil. Within you and the earth lies salvation—the sole barricade against life and death."

"While Dawnlight craves honor and glory, our devotion to humility and soil supersedes all," he continued, his words ringing like echoes in a hallowed chamber. My amusement stirred, and Amaya's laughter played beneath her breath beside me.

A sacred hush settled as he unspooled his revelations. "Enemies captured by the Kaimari are not vanquished but sanctified," his voice flowed, invoking solemn rituals of a distant belief. "Religion plays an integral role. Prisoners become vessels for the cosmic balance, their spirits returned to the earth to mend the universe's symmetry.

Saija's skepticism rolled in her eyes. An unspoken quip tickled my lips, but I remained silent.

He unveiled his weapons—the twin obsidian blades—a testament to the Kaimari legacy. For the first time, their cosmic power surged, illuminating the air with a teal-blue radiance. Blades carved from enigmatic technology, adorned with razor edges, surged to life, a spectacle of deadly beauty.

"Behold," Amaya's whisper reached me, tinged with both fascination and disdain. "Barbarism incarnate."

A reprimanding tone sliced through our musings, Sonya, Saija’s potential Dawnlight Master, chastising our lack of focus.

"Unlocking the art of wielding—or countering—the Macuahuitl holds immense power," his words unfurled each syllable a thread of allure woven into the air. "Engage, entangle, then transition—the dance of victory. A smooth blade at the touch of a button, your foe's defenses rendered futile."

His demonstration, a choreography of skill and mastery, unfolded before our eyes. Against the holograph's mechanized resistance, he showcased the weapon's finesse. Blade entwined with a blade, a ballet of steel and light, as the technological adversary succumbed. "Even the most formidable Dawnlight Warriors have met their match," he proclaimed, a hint of confidence lacing his words, an echo of battles won and adversaries tamed.

Sly exchanges danced between Azhrel and Ezra, a shared hatred known only to them.

"Bullshit," Amaya's voice rang out, her movements betraying her skepticism. The cloaked robe fell away, her sun blades gleaming at her back, as she stepped forth with a challenge woven into her every stance. "Try me, Kaimari."

His helmet inclined, a nod that betrayed neither acceptance nor rejection. "Armor yourself," he suggested.

A musical laughter danced from Amaya's lips, as she shrugged off his caution. “I am the best of my class.”

A soft offer emerged, a whispered reminder from Saija. "Healing wands are ready."

Amaya's laughter resonated, a melody of defiance. "Bury them—let the lesson begin."

At my side, Irina tensed, her unease palpable. I offered a whispered assurance, “Amaya will slaughter him." As the challenge ignited, my attention reverted to the two figures poised for conflict.

All present rulers from Helios, Kairos, and Esos leaned from their respective perches, curiosity sparking in their eyes. While Dawnlight leaders, including Master Sonya and Master Kyros, whispered amongst themselves.

"Prepared?" the Kaimari inquired, the air thick with anticipation. Amaya's response was a dance of twin sun blades, an affirmation that echoed like a battle hymn. The Kaimari's nod sealed their pact, their mutual intent mirroring the hidden currents of my destiny.

The dance of violence commenced with Amaya, her strikes skimming past the Kaimari's armor like a whispered threat. With each swing, a storm of tension brewed in the air, the anticipation palpable. His movements, a symphony of grace and precision, were akin to a wraith weaving through the fray, every step dance with danger itself.

Her assault continued, relentless and fierce, a display of her warrior's heart. Yet, Kaimari's response was like poetry in motion, his defense both impassive and ethereal. His blade met hers with a metallic sigh, sparks igniting as steel clashed against steel. A symphony of strength and determination echoed through the courtyard.

A twist, a lunge, and suddenly the battle escalated, both combatants fully immersed in the ebb and flow of combat. The Kaimari's blade ghosted against Amaya's chest, the merest brush leaving its mark. Her retaliation was swift, a calculated strike aimed at a gap in his armor. He deflected her attack with a fluidity that betrayed his mastery, an artistry born of countless battles.

As the sun traced its path across the sky, the arena bore witness to their fierce exchange. He was the quiet tempest, his every move calculated and deadly. She was the wildfire, fierce and untamed, her every blow a testament to her determination.

Then came the moment of transformation. The Kaimari's weapon, previously concealed, burst forth in a blaze of electric blue, its jagged edges gleaming in the sunlight. A silent agreement seemed to pass between them, an understanding that the true test was about to unfold.

With the fluidity of a shadow, he advanced, a predator closing in on its prey. His strikes were precise, a web of steel that closed in around her. Amaya responded with the ferocity that had defined her, her fists a blur of rage and strategy. But for every strike she delivered, the Kaimari's defense was unyielding, a fortress against which her blows shattered.

She fought valiantly, her fists becoming extensions of her will, her every movement an expression of her spirit. Yet, against the Kaimari's implacable might, her resistance was but a flicker in the dark.

In a swift motion, the Kaimari’s blade notched Amaya’s, sending one, then the other, crashing to the ground. “Do you yield?” he asked over her bent form. Amaya's defiance remained unbroken, her determination evident even as her body showed signs of struggle. “Do you yield?’

Amaya's defiance echoed through the training arena as she shook her head, declining to yield. In a gesture of honor, the Kaimari set aside his strange blades. He allowed Amaya to rise to her feet, lifting his fists and encouraging her to continue without weapons.

Amaya was a lone wolf, harboring secrets and hiding her true nature beneath a frosty exterior. Controlled rage coursed through her, a calculated tempest unleashed. Fists moved like a maestro's baton, each strikes a note in a deadly symphony.

But the Kaimari was stronger. His movements spoke of centuries of experience, a dance with death itself. It was as if he toyed with her, playing a cruel game. To me, it was infuriating. He displayed a chilling efficiency, a stark reminder of his lethal strength. The Kaimari's demand for her surrender echoed a relentless echo that refused to fade. And then, it happened; Amaya fell, broken and defeated.

“She yields,” I answered for her, entering the training circle. I looked at the Kaimari with nothing less than hatred. “You win.”

The Kaimari straightened. He had given her a real fight, one of honor, but I only could focus on how angry he made me. “Lessons are over,” I announced, assisting Aelia in removing Amaya’s shirt so we may heal her.

Amaya's voice, however, cut through the moment like a blade. "No," she asserted, asserting her authority as the elder among us. “Let us pair up and learn how to fight this.” My attention turned to Sonya, Amaya's potential Dawnlight Master. The affirmation in her nod spoke volumes, a quiet approval of Amaya's resolve.

And then, the Kaimari's offer disrupted the air. His words bore an unexpected proposition, one that rippled through me like a shockwave. "I will pair with the princess.”

My response was swift, my tone laced with daggers. "Absolutely not," I shot back, my grip firm on Irina's wrist as I led her to the edge of the training mat. I felt a surge of anger and betrayal seeing Aelia, our gentlest soul, move to stand beside the Kaimari, their alliance unsettling.

Irina's words cut through my thoughts, her voice low yet knowing. “Damn princess, want to dial it back a bit?” she taunted as we accepted the foreign weapon from Ezra’s hand. When I didn’t respond, she spoke again, her voice much lower. “It is obvious you know him.”

Tension thrummed in the air as I shifted my stance, facing the Kaimari's iridium-clad figure. With determination etched into every line of my body, I readied myself to engage in the combat sequence he would instruct. "I don't," I insisted, my scowl deepening as I locked eyes with the enigmatic warrior.

Irina's knowing expression only deepened my turmoil. "Sure, princess," Irina's voice was a murmur, her tone a blend of amusement and understanding. "Sure."