Forbidden Love

Planning

As I blinked my eyes open,  morning sunlight streamed through the curtains, warming up my room. But as soon as I tried to sit up, a sharp pain shot through me, like I'd been struck by lightning. I groaned, reminded of the bruises and aches from yesterday's grueling training session with Jax.

Flinching, I swung my legs over the side of the bed, weighing the effort it would take to stand up. Despite my body protesting, I was determined to push through the pain. I shuffled to the bathroom, moving carefully, each step reminding me of my battered state.

The heat initially stung my sore skin as I lowered myself into the warm bath. I winced and gritted my teeth, bracing for the discomfort. Slowly, though, the warmth began to ease my muscles, melting away some pain. With my eyes shut, I focused on taking deep breaths, trying to drown out the throbbing throughout my body.

After what felt like forever, I finally managed to pull myself out of the tub. I felt a little better but knew I had a long way to go. Dressing was a careful process, each movement a reminder of how hard I'd pushed myself. The delicious smell of breakfast wafted through the air, pulling me toward the kitchen.

When I walked in, I saw Lira sitting at the table. Her vibrant red hair flowed down her back like a fiery waterfall, the sunlight dancing through it. She looked up and smiled warmly.

"Good morning!" she chirped. "How are you feeling?"

Eagerly, I sat across from her, the chair offering a welcome relief. "I've had better days," I admitted, my voice raspy from exhaustion. "But I was thinking about checking out the dungeon today."

Lira raised an eyebrow, a hint of concern mixed with intrigue in her expression. "The dungeon? That's where all the unsavory creatures are. Sounds either really brave or really foolish."

"Maybe a bit of both," I said, considering the risks and rewards of such an adventure.

Before I could explain further, Jax burst into the room, his energy lighting up the space. "Dungeon, did you say?" His eyes lit up at the mention of it. "Count me in! We can sneak away when the higher-ups aren't watching. Just the three of us; no one else needs to know."

A mix of excitement and worry washed over me at the thought. "But what if we get caught?"

Lira shrugged, a mischievous grin on her face. "Where's the fun in playing it safe?"

After breakfast, we moved into our usual warm-up routine, each stretch sending jolts of pain through my sore body. I was supposed to spar with Jax, but Lira stepped in with a knowing look.

We went to the training yard, where the sun shone brightly, illuminating the space around us. Lira faced me, her long sword glinting in the light, a confident smirk on her lips. Even though she started gently, her movements were quick and unpredictable, like a cat toying with its prey. I took a deep breath, trying to shake off my fatigue.

"Keep your feet light," she instructed, her eyes sparkling with a challenge.

With a nod, we began our duel. I gripped my dagger tightly, ready for whatever she would throw at me. I lunged forward, aiming a quick strike toward her midsection, but she dodged to the side effortlessly. Her footwork was beautiful. Almost instinctively, I adjusted my stance, ready for her counterattack.

She swung her sword in a wide arc, and I barely dodged to the left in time. The blade barely connects to the side of my body. I countered with a slash aimed at her side, but she blocked it with a swift flick of her wrist, the sound of our weapons clashing echoing in the yard.

"Clank! Clank!"

"Good!" she said with a broad smile. "But you'll need to be quicker than that."

We circled each other, moving like a well-rehearsed dance. Her speed pushed me to my limits, and despite the pain, I managed to avoid several of her strikes, feeling a flicker of pride in my resilience.

But Lira didn't slow down. She lunged, her sword aimed at my midsection. I sidestepped, narrowly escaping the blow, but the momentum of her attack sent me stumbling back. Regaining my balance, I struck back with a quick thrust of my dagger.

She deflected it with a quick spin, her sword glinting in the sun as it whirled around her. I was starting to feel overwhelmed, her movements like a whirlwind of steel.

"Focus!" she shouted, her voice sharp and encouraging. "This could be a real fight!"

Her words echoed in my mind, and I tried to get into the rhythm of our combat. But the pain was relentless, each move feeling like a struggle against my own body. I knew I had to endure the pain to stay in the fight.

Lira was a storm—unyielding and fierce. She spun, lunged, and twirled, her sword slicing through the air like an extension of her body. I tried to anticipate her next move, but it was as if she was reading my thoughts. She closed the distance between us, her long sword whirling in a blur as she aimed for my gut.

I stumbled back, trying to keep pace, but I felt my energy draining. Despite my best efforts, the pain intensified, and I struggled to keep up with her relentless pace.

"Counter!" she yelled again, but I was too exhausted to respond. One well-aimed strike caught me off guard, sending waves of pain through me. I fell to my knees, my sword arm trembling from fatigue.

"Are you okay?" Lira asked, her voice shifting to genuine concern as she stepped closer.

I took a deep breath, trying to compose myself. "Yeah, I'll be fine," I replied, managing a weak smile. "I might have pushed myself a bit too hard."

With a mix of amusement and understanding, Lira scooped me up in a princess carry, her strength surprising me as I felt like a little bunny in her arms. "Let's get you back to bed," she said gently, her eyes sparkling with playfulness. "You need some rest."

Once back in my room, I gratefully collapsed onto the bed, my body craving sleep. After a quick shower to wash off the sweat and grime from training, I surrendered to the comforting pull of slumber.

If luck were on our side tomorrow, we'd explore the dungeon's mysteries. But I only wanted a good night's sleep to restore my weary bones and tired spirit.