The cool evening air still buzzed from Nero and Khione's spar when Elreth returned. She walked into the training area, her spear resting on her shoulder, her expression not frustrated but focused. She had burned off her agitation on the mountain. Now she saw an opportunity.
She stopped before them, her amber eyes settling on Nero. "Spar with me," she said, her voice calm yet carrying the weight of a royal request. "Just fire. Knight to knight. No lightning."
Nero glanced at Khione, who stood to the side, arms crossed, her face a neutral mask. She gave the barest nod. He looked back at Elreth, seeing the competitive fire banked in her gaze. This wasn't about diplomacy or recruitment. This was about the purity of the clash. He felt his own spirit rise to meet it.
"Alright," he said, a slow smile spreading across his face. "Just fire."
