A banquet ?

Two weeks had passed since the relentless training sessions with Elira and the equally exhausting reading lessons with Amara. Despite the initial struggle, I had fallen into a routine.

The burning soreness in my muscles had dulled to an ache I could tolerate, and even the sharp sting of Elira's biting words no longer stung as deeply. Instead of dreading each day, I found myself looking forward to the challenge.

To my surprise, I had started losing weight. Not dramatically, but enough that I no longer looked like a stuffed sausage in the black leather training outfit Elira had given me.

There were still parts of me that felt heavy, but for the first time since waking up in this world, I saw the faintest glimmer of my old self. My reflection, though still soft around the edges, no longer made me wince. 

Today, Elira had something special planned body-to-body combat. I had, in a moment of overconfidence, mentioned that her training was starting to feel "easier." I regretted it the second the words left my mouth.

The look she gave me was nothing short of predatory, like a cat toying with its prey. I should have kept quiet.

Elira stood in front of me now, her muscular arms crossed over her chest, her golden eyes gleaming with amusement. "Easy, you say?"

I swallowed hard, regretting every word. "Well, I mean, not easy exactly… Just, uh, less impossible?"

She smirked, stepping into the sparring ring. "Let's see about that."

The moment we began, I knew I was in trouble. Elira moved with the speed and precision of a seasoned warrior, her strikes quick and calculated. I could see her movements, predict where her fist would land, where her leg would sweep, but my body was too slow.

My feet stumbled to catch up, my arms sluggish as I raised them to block her hits. It was like trying to fight a hurricane while wading through water.

Her fist connected with my side, knocking the breath out of me. I doubled over, gasping, but she didn't relent. Before I could recover, she swept my legs out from under me, and I hit the ground hard, the impact rattling through my bones. I groaned, blinking up at her.

"Get up," she said, her voice cold and unwavering.

I forced myself to stand, my legs wobbling beneath me. Every muscle screamed in protest, but I wasn't about to back down. Not yet.

Elira's movements were a blur, and again, I saw her coming, but my body wouldn't cooperate. She slammed into me, her shoulder driving into my chest, and I went flying backward, skidding across the dirt. Pain shot through my spine, and for a moment, I considered staying down.

"Is that it?" Elira taunted, circling me like a wolf. "You said it was getting easy. Show me how easy."

I gritted my teeth, forcing myself to my feet once more. Sweat dripped down my face, stinging my eyes. I could barely keep up, my arms heavy, my legs weak, but I wasn't going to let her break me. Not today.

Again, she lunged at me, and again, I saw it. I raised my arms to block, but her fist broke through my guard, striking my ribs. I grunted, stumbling back, but this time I didn't fall. It wasn't much, but it was something.

Elira tilted her head, a glimmer of something almost like approval in her eyes. But it was gone as quickly as it appeared. "Good," she said, her voice sharp. "You're learning. Slowly."

Before I could react, her foot slammed into my chest, sending me sprawling to the ground once more. I hit the dirt with a thud, gasping for air. Everything hurt. My ribs, my legs, even my pride. Especially my pride. 

Elira leaned over me, her arms crossed, her expression unreadable. "You're getting better," she said, almost begrudgingly. "But you're still too slow. You think you see what's coming, but your body can't keep up. Not yet."

I wanted to snap back at her, to tell her I was trying, that I was giving it everything I had. But the truth was, she was right. My mind might have been catching on, but my body wasn't there yet. Not even close. 

Before I could respond, the sound of hurried footsteps echoed across the courtyard. I turned my head just as my mother appeared at the edge of the training field, her face flushed, her gown swaying with each step.

"Elira! Ren!" she called, waving her hands in the air as if we hadn't already seen her. "There's news!"

Elira stepped back, her expression immediately hardening as my mother approached. I struggled to sit up, every muscle protesting the movement.

My mother reached us, slightly out of breath, her eyes wide with excitement. "Ren, the royal family is hosting a grand banquet in two days. You'll be attending."

My stomach dropped. A banquet? Surrounded by the royal family, and nobles, and… people? I wasn't ready for that. I wasn't even close to ready. I still looked—

"Mother, I can't," I blurted, panic rising in my chest. "I'm not… I'm not ready for something like that."

"Nonsense," she said with a dismissive wave. "You'll be fine. The banquet is to celebrate the crown prince's return from his campaign. It's a grand event, and all the noble families will be there. You have to attend."

I could feel the walls closing in. The idea of being surrounded by all those people, dressed in lavish gowns, scrutinizing every inch of me… I wasn't ready. I wasn't even close to being ready.

"Elira," I said, turning to my teacher in desperation. "Can't I… I don't know, train through it? I'm not really one for banquets."

Elira raised an eyebrow, a smirk playing on her lips. "Unfortunately for you, Ren, you're not just a student here. You're a noble, and nobles attend banquets. Besides," she added, her tone taking on that sadistic edge I'd grown so used to, "consider it part of your training. Endurance of a different kind."

I groaned, dropping my head into my hands. A banquet? I hadn't even met the royal family yet, and now I was supposed to show up, smile, and pretend I knew how to behave like a proper noble?

"I don't even have anything to wear," I said, grasping at straws.

My mother smiled, clearly unfazed. "I've already taken care of that. Your gown will be ready by tomorrow."

Of course it would be. 

I glanced at Elira, hoping for some sort of reprieve, but she just nodded, her expression smug. "You'll be fine. Consider it a test."

A test. Right. I barely survived the physical ones, and now I had to survive social ones too?

"Fine," I muttered, defeated. "I'll go."

My mother clapped her hands together, her face lighting up with joy. "Wonderful! It's going to be a night to remember."

A night to remember. Sure. I could already feel the anxiety building in my chest. What if I embarrassed myself? What if I tripped in front of the princess, or worse, the entire court?

As my mother turned to leave, Elira's sharp voice cut through my spiraling thoughts. "Don't worry, Ren," she said, a rare softness in her tone. "You'll survive. You've survived worse."

Her words weren't exactly comforting, but there was a flicker of something in her eyes approval, maybe, or at least acknowledgment of the progress I'd made.

I stood there, staring after my mother as she disappeared around the corner, the weight of the banquet pressing down on me. The training with Elira had been brutal, but this… this was a whole new kind of challenge.

I wasn't sure I was ready for it.

But I'd face it. Just like I faced everything else.

With a deep breath, I clenched my fists and straightened my back. I didn't have a choice.