The Obsidian Veil

Chapter 10 - Whispers of Truth

       The morning sun filtered through the trees surrounding the training grounds, casting long, dappled shadows on the packed earth. A light breeze stirred the leaves, carrying with it the scent of pine and dew, while distant birdsong filled the air with a subtle melody. Sabia walked briskly, her sword hanging at her side. Her thoughts, however, were elsewhere, still lingering on Iben's departure five days ago. He should be returning tonight. Also, the quiet responsibility of becoming Iria's retainer weighed on her, and the training ground had become her sanctuary. She was determined to sharpen her skills, to be ready for whatever was coming. Lost in her thoughts, she barely noticed Cedric until his familiar voice broke through the solitude.

     "Hey, Sabia!" Cedric's voice rang out with the same ease as always, his bright demeanor evident as he jogged up to her. His step was light, and his face lit up with a boyish grin as he matched her pace. "You headed to the training grounds?"

       Without breaking her stride, Sabia nodded curtly. "Where else would I be going with a sword in hand?" Her tone was cold, with a familiar edge of sarcasm, though she didn't stop to look at him. Cedric, however, seemed unfazed.

       "I suppose that's obvious," he replied with a chuckle. "You always have this aura of determination about you. Inspiring, really."

       Sabia shot him a sideways glance, her expression hard to read. "Flattery doesn't suit you, Cedric. Save it for someone who cares."

       He feigned a wounded expression, his grin widening. "Ouch. I thought we were at least comrades by now."

       "Comrades, sure," Sabia muttered, her lips twitching into a half-smirk. "That doesn't mean I have to suffer your charm."

       "I'll take what I can get," Cedric quipped, clearly enjoying the banter. After a moment, he glanced around. "Speaking of comrades, where's the Princess? She's usually hard to keep still."

       "Well, she discovered something about herself. She loves plants," Sabia replied with a roll of her eyes, though her voice softened slightly when she spoke of Iria. "Especially herbs and medicinal ones. Turns out she even knows some of their names."

       Cedric raised a brow. "Really? That's... unexpected."

       "She's been preparing medicine packets for the journey," Sabia added. "Four of them. She's counting Iben as the fourth."

       At the mention of Iben, Cedric's expression darkened briefly, but he quickly brushed it off. "Of course she is. Always hopeful, isn't she?"

       "More than you know," Sabia replied, her voice pointed but without hostility. They had reached the training grounds, and Sabia moved to grab a practice blade from the rack, her movements efficient.

       Cedric, watching her with amusement, hefted a training sword of his own. 

       "Care for a sparring session? I'm curious to see if Iria's retainer fights as well as she commands."

       Sabia's gaze flickered to him, unimpressed. "Are you sure? I wouldn't want to hurt your pride."

       Laughing, Cedric swung the sword lightly in his hand. "I think I can handle a bruised ego."

       "Then you'd better keep up," she said, stepping into the center of the grounds, her sword raised and ready.

       They squared off, and Sabia struck first, swift and precise. Cedric blocked, but the strength behind her blows had him stepping back almost immediately. She moved with the fluid grace of someone who had spent years honing her craft, each movement calculated. Cedric, grinning through the effort, was forced on the defensive as Sabia's strikes came quicker.