The next morning, before the sun was fully up, Kain gently nudged Solene awake.
"Get up," he said. His voice was firm, but not harsh. "We start today."
Solene groaned and blinked as she sat up. Her whole body still hurt, but she knew not to complain.
They walked out of the Commons and kept going until the town was far behind. Kain brought her to a wide, empty field, far from anyone who might see them. Only the tall trees on the edges and the wind through the dry grass were there to witness.
Solene stopped to catch her breath. "Why did we come so far?"
"Because if you burn half the land down, I don't want to explain it to the neighbors," Kain said, folding his arms.
She rolled her eyes but said nothing. Looking at her hands, she asked, "So… where do we start?"
"First, I want to see if you can call on that power you used in the arena," Kain said, stepping back. "Try to summon it."
Solene took a deep breath and closed her eyes. She searched inside herself for the fire she had once felt. The sigil on her back tingled… but nothing happened.
She let out a breath and tried again. Still nothing.
Frustrated, she opened her eyes. "It's not working."
Kain didn't seem surprised. "Power isn't a pet. It doesn't come just because you call it. Try again."
Solene clenched her fists. She thought about the pain, the fear, the fire from before. She tried to bring it back, but nothing came. No heat. No light. Just silence inside.
Her shoulders dropped. "I don't get it."
Kain looked at her closely. "When did it first happen? When did your power come out?"
She hesitated. "When I was trapped. When I thought I was going to die."
Kain nodded slowly. "Fear. Desperation. That's what unlocked it."
She frowned. "So what, I have to almost die every time?"
He gave her a small smirk. "Let's not do that. That's why we train. Power means nothing if you can't control it."
He stepped forward and tossed her a wooden staff. She barely caught it.
"We start with the basics," he said. "Even without your fire, you still have your body. Learn to use it."
Solene gripped the staff. "Okay. What now?"
Kain picked up his own staff and showed her how to hold it. "Like this. Not too tight. You need to stay in control, not be stiff."
She copied his stance but felt awkward. Kain sighed, came behind her, and adjusted her arms.
"Relax," he said. "You fight like someone who's never seen a real fight."
"Because I haven't," she snapped.
Kain chuckled. "Yeah, I can tell."
He stepped back. "Now try to hit me."
Solene hesitated, then swung the staff. Kain dodged easily.
"Too slow."
She tried again. He blocked it without effort.
"Predictable."
She tried a third time. Kain stepped aside and tapped her back with his staff. She stumbled.
"Again."
Solene's jaw tightened. She hit harder, but he blocked and tapped her leg. She staggered again.
"You're not thinking," Kain said. "You're just swinging, hoping something works."
"Sorry I'm not a warrior," she said, breathing hard.
Kain sighed and came closer. "Listen. Strength isn't about hitting the hardest. It's about control. Timing. Knowing when to strike. Even the strongest power is useless if you don't know how to use it."
She gripped the staff tighter and nodded.
Kain gave a small smile. "Again."
They trained. Again and again. Until the sun was setting behind the trees. Until her arms ached and her body begged for rest.
But Solene didn't stop. For the first time, she wasn't running. She was fighting.
Kain spun his staff quickly, and before Solene could react, the tip stopped just an inch from her neck. She froze. If it had been a real fight, she'd be dead.
"Speed," Kain said calmly. "It's not just about moving fast. It's about knowing when to move."
He stepped back. "You think too much. Overthinking will get you killed."
Solene let out a shaky breath, her hands still tight around the staff. "Easy for you to say."
"You'll learn."
Kain walked up to her and gently adjusted her grip again.
"Slow and steady," he said. "This is about control. Balance. Not rushing."
Solene nodded. The staff felt more natural in her hands now.
"Close your eyes," Kain said.
She hesitated, then closed them.
"Now… remember what I did this morning. Not just what you saw,remember how it felt. The way I moved. How I struck."
Solene focused. She pictured the way Kain moved like a dance,his silent steps, the smooth way he spun the staff, how each strike flowed into the next.
"Breathe."
She took a deep breath. Then, gripping the staff, she stepped forward and swung.
Kain watched her strike the air. Her movement was slower, but more controlled. Less guessing, more flow. A small smile touched his lips.
"Not bad," he said, folding his arms. "That was better. You're learning. You're starting to feel it."
Solene lowered the staff, breathing hard, and looked at him. He wasn't teasing, he meant it.
"There's more to fighting than swinging a stick," Kain continued. "Your whole body needs to move together. We'll get to that soon."
Solene groaned. "After a whole day of you beating me?"
Kain chuckled. "You're still on your feet, aren't you?"
She rolled her eyes, but a small smile formed. "You better not kill me."
And so, they kept training. Kain pushed her, fixing her stance, making her repeat moves until her muscles screamed. He hit her lightly, just enough to force her to block or dodge. He made her stay sharp.
By nightfall, Solene was drenched in sweat. Her arms felt like they might fall off. But she was learning.
She was hungry too. Kain had only given her a few pieces of bread that morning, and she didn't dare ask for more. Food was a privilege, and so was having someone willing to help her.
The days went by. Solene got better at holding the staff. Sometimes, she went to the field alone to practice, repeating what she'd learned. Kain often went to the Merchant Quarters to do small jobs so they could afford food for the day.