Chapter 11: “A Dog-Eat-Dog Lesson”

Jade closed his leather-bound journal, finishing the entry for Day 29 of Celestia’s training.

He set the pen aside and leaned back in his chair, the wooden frame creaking under his weight. A slow exhale escaped him as he tapped a finger thoughtfully on the journal’s cover. Celestia Von Reingarde, his student for the past month, had come far in a short time, at least in body.

She moved with the confidence and grace befitting her noble upbringing and intense practice. By all physical measures, she was superb for her age and experience.

Yet Jade’s brow furrowed as he stared at the ceiling. ‘Unsuited. She is completely unsuited,’ he mused, not for the first time. In real combat, physical capabilities were only half the battle. Time and again, after they switched to real weapons during practice fights, Celestia would hesitate.

That crucial problem, the unwillingness to thrust her spear into an opponent’s heart without waver, was missing. In the Tower, that hesitation would cost her life. Jade drummed his fingers faster against the journal. ‘If she enters the Tower as she is now,’ he thought grimly, ‘she will die.’

He didn’t want that. Jade sat forward and ran a hand through his hair, recalling the past month. Celestia had earned his respect in many ways. She was ambitious, pushing herself to exhaustion day after day without a single complaint. She followed every order he gave with determined obedience despite the haughty front she often put on as a duke’s daughter.

Jade had seen how she treated the household servants with kindness, even if it came with a harsh action or tone. Celestia actually cared for those beneath her station, a rarity among nobles.

But that same kindness would be her downfall in the Tower’s cruel trials. Enemies in the Tower would not care that Celestia’s heart was good. People would lie, cheat, and kill to survive or get ahead. Jade had witnessed it himself in and outside of the Tower; good people who hesitated ended up dead, betrayed by those they foolishly spared.

Celestia needed to learn this harsh lesson now, in a controlled setting, rather than for the first time in the Tower where the price of failure was irredeemable.

Jade’s tapping finger stopped as he pondered on an idea. After a long moment, he nodded to himself. There was one lesson left to give. A final test to force Celestia to cross the line she so feared. ‘She has the potential to become both a leader and a warrior,’ Jade thought, ‘but only if she survives.’

And survival might mean staining her hands with blood.

With a decision finally made, Jade reached for the small brass bell on the table. He rang it softly. The bell itself barely made a sound in the quiet room, but it was enchanted, some luxury of House Reingarde, so that any ring would be heard by the staff across the estate. Sure enough, not a minute later came a polite knock at the door.

Jade stood and opened the door to reveal one of the estate’s butlers waiting attentively. The man bowed. “What do you require, Sir Jade?” he asked.

Jade glanced past the butler at the moonlit yard beyond; the estate was silent at this late hour. The pale moon hung high; Jade felt a pang of homesickness looking at that moon. How many nights had he gazed at it wishing he were home, beside his wife?

He pushed the feeling aside, duty came first.

Jade gave the butler a curt nod. In a low voice, he issued instructions for the next day. The butler’s expression remained neutral, but his eyes flickered in surprise once. He quickly masked it and nodded in understanding.

“I’ll need help making the arrangements by afternoon,” Jade finished. The butler bowed once more.

“Of course, Sir. I will inform the Duke and request his permission,” the butler said before he turned to leave. Only when the sound of footsteps had faded did Jade close the door.

Alone again, Jade blew out the oil lamp on his desk. The room plunged into dim silver light from the window. He stood for a moment, hands braced on the desk’s edge, and looked out at the moon once more. Quiet engulfed the lodge.

In that silence, Jade dearly hoped the kind-hearted girl would not break under what he was about to demand of her. With a final weary sigh, Jade left the window and retired to bed.

* * * * *

The next morning, Celestia walked the steps toward the training grounds at first light, only to stop short in confusion. The grounds were empty and Jade was nowhere to be seen. She blinked and looked around, as if he might have simply been hidden by the early morning shadows, but the familiar figure of her instructor did not appear. Instead, one of the estate’s butlers stood by, hands neatly clasped. He inclined his head respectfully when he saw her.

“Good morning, Lady Celestia,” the butler greeted. “Sir Jade asked me to relay his instructions for you today.”

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Celestia’s lips parted in surprise. “Where is he??” she asked, a slight furrow forming between her brows. During the past month, Jade had never once missed a dawn session.

“Sir Jade departed earlier into the city,” the butler explained. “He requested me to inform you that you are to complete your morning drills exactly as you did yesterday. He will return for your final training session this afternoon.” The butler offered a polite smile. “He also mentioned that you’ve been doing exceedingly well.”

Celestia nodded slowly. So, Jade had some errand in the city, probably procuring materials for the final session, apparently?

Jade was nothing if not diligent, if he left on the last day of training, it had to be for something important.