Blade institute: the unseen prophecy

14

The next day at the training grounds, the morning sun bathed the Institute in a golden glow, and a light breeze rustled the leaves of the trees surrounding the courtyard. The air was crisp, filled with the familiar sounds of swords clashing, shouts of effort, and the occasional burst of magic as the trainees honed their skills. It was a perfect day for sparring—bright, clear, and buzzing with energy.

Evangeline squared off against Ethan, her friend and sparring partner for the day. His easygoing smile and relaxed posture did little to hide the fierce competitor underneath. Ethan was tall and broad-shouldered, with short, sandy hair and a glint of mischief in his hazel eyes. He twirled his wooden training sword in his hand, giving her a mock bow that made her roll her eyes.

"Ready to get your ass kicked, Evie?" he teased, a grin spreading across his face.

Evangeline smirked, gripping her own sword and settling into a ready stance. "You're welcome to try, Ethan, but we both know how this is going to end."

Their banter was a regular part of their training sessions, a way to lighten the mood before the real fight began. They'd been sparring partners for years, and despite Ethan's strength and skill, Evangeline usually came out on top. But that didn't stop him from trying—and enjoying every second of it.

Ethan lunged first, his sword swinging in a wide arc aimed at her side. Evangeline sidestepped easily, her movements fluid and precise. She countered with a quick thrust toward his chest, but Ethan deflected it with a twist of his wrist, sending her sword skittering off to the side.

"Nice try," Ethan quipped, pressing the attack with a flurry of strikes that forced her to backpedal. "But you'll have to do better than that."

Evangeline grinned, the thrill of the fight coursing through her veins. She parried his blows with ease, their wooden swords clacking together in a rapid rhythm. Ethan was strong, his strikes powerful and deliberate, but Evangeline was faster, her movements a blur as she danced around him.

They circled each other, both of them breathing hard but grinning like idiots. The camaraderie between them was palpable, each strike and counterstrike a testament to their years of friendship and training.

"Is that all you've got?" Evangeline taunted, ducking under a swing aimed at her head and delivering a quick jab to Ethan's ribs.

He grunted, but the smile never left his face. "I'm just getting warmed up," he shot back, feinting to the left before spinning and trying to catch her off guard with a strike from the right.

But Evangeline saw it coming. She blocked his strike with her sword, using the momentum to spin around him, and delivered a sharp tap to the back of his leg. Ethan stumbled, and in that split second, Evangeline took the opening. She swept his feet out from under him, sending him crashing to the ground with a thud.

Ethan lay on his back, blinking up at the sky as he caught his breath. "Damn, Evie," he groaned, rubbing the back of his head. "You didn't have to go that hard."

Evangeline laughed, offering him a hand to help him up. "You said you were just getting warmed up. I was just trying to keep up."

He took her hand, grinning as she pulled him to his feet. "One of these days, I'm going to beat you."

"Sure you will," she said with a smirk, patting him on the back. "Keep dreaming, Ethan."

They walked off the training grounds together, the lighthearted banter continuing as they headed toward the mess hall. But as they approached the entrance, Evangeline's phone buzzed in her pocket, drawing her attention.

She pulled it out, her smile fading as she saw the notification. Another text from her sister, Liv. The familiar dread settled in her stomach as she unlocked her phone and read the message.