BeastKeeper

Chapter 1

Aria's breath came in sharp, ragged gasps as she ducked beneath the incoming blade, the edge whistling past her ear by a hair's breadth. The air crackled with tension, the sound of steel against steel echoing in her ears. She barely had time to recover before the next strike came—a brutal overhead swing that forced her to dive and roll across the hard-packed dirt. The world was a blur of sweat, dirt, and steel, her heart pounding in her ears as she scrambled to her feet, sword raised to block the next attack.

Aria gritted her teeth, her muscles burning with the effort of keeping up. Each clash of swords sent a jolt through her arms, the sting of every cut and bruise from their earlier clashes a constant reminder of how relentless Finn could be. But she pushed the pain aside. There was no room for weakness here, no space for hesitation. If she faltered, this would end in a heartbeat—and worse, Sir Gareth would be watching, his critical gaze weighing her every move.

Finn's grin was as fierce as it was triumphant as he pressed the assault, his movements swift and unrelenting. "Come on, Aria, you're better than this!" he taunted, his voice breathless but charged with adrenaline. His hazel eyes, usually so warm and playful, were sharp with focus now, glinting with the thrill of the fight.

Aria didn't respond, her concentration locked on Finn's every move. She knew his style—aggressive, relentless, always pushing her to the edge. But she also knew that he had a tendency to get overconfident, to leave himself open in his eagerness to land the final blow.

She waited for that moment, her mind racing as she parried his strikes, each one driving her closer to the edge of the training yard. Sweat dripped down her forehead, stinging her eyes, but she blinked it away, refusing to let herself falter.

Then, she saw it—a fraction of a second where Finn's balance shifted, his stance leaving his side exposed. Aria seized the opportunity, lunging forward with a swift, precise thrust aimed at his unguarded ribs.

But Finn was faster. He sidestepped her attack with practiced ease, and before she could recover, he was on her, his sword angled low as he swept her legs out from under her. Aria gasped as she hit the ground hard, the impact jarring her bones, the taste of earth filling her mouth.

Finn was already moving, closing the distance between them in an instant. Aria's pulse quickened as she tried to push herself up, but Finn's boot was already planted on her sword hand, pinning her down. His face was inches from hers, his breath warm against her cheek.

For a split second, their eyes met. Finn's grin softened, the usual cockiness fading into something gentler as he looked down at her, his gaze lingering a moment too long on her lips before meeting her eyes again. The playful mask he wore slipped, just for a heartbeat, revealing something deeper—something he quickly buried beneath a confident smirk.

Aria felt a blush creep up her neck, her thoughts scattering. She tried to focus, to regain her composure, but Finn's proximity was overwhelming, his teasing grin sending her mind spinning.

Before she could react, Finn leaned in closer, his expression mischievous but with an edge of something more. "Distracted, Aria?" he teased, his breath brushing against her skin, sending a shiver down her spine. And in that moment of hesitation, he made his final move.

With a quick, practiced motion, he disarmed her, sending her sword clattering across the dirt. Aria's heart sank as she realized she had lost—distracted by Finn's nearness, she had let her guard down at the worst possible moment.

"Hey, that wasn't fair," she huffed, her voice laced with a mix of frustration and embarrassment, as she took Finn's hand to help her up.

Sir Gareth's voice boomed across the courtyard. Glaring at Aria for her comment, "Nothing is fair when it comes to life or death,. A single mistake can cost you dearly in a real battle." His gaze swept over the training rings, lingering on Aria and Finn. "You're dismissed for the day. Tomorrow, we'll focus on defensive maneuvers. Dismissed!"