Chapter 4

Before noon can set, Tatiana's eyes fluttered open and her eyes settled at the unfamiliar ceiling. How can she forget that she's not in her room anymore and wasn't here to idle around?

Blinking her eyes, Tatiana stared blankly at the roof for a minute before hopping out from her bed with a heavy sigh.

Spanning her limbs, her eyes prowled in every niche of her chosen cabin. It was a typical-sized bedroom with dulled black and white lacquers. It had all that a bedroom should have, a bed, a nightstand, lamps, a desk, a chair, a closet door, and some minor furniture to spruce the monotonous colored space.

But to be honest, regardless of the fact on how he treated them, her heart didn't feel at ease at all. She... she was terrified for the demise that awaits her if she fails and that's the last thing she has in mind.

Tatiana shook her head and tidied up the foolish thoughts that will burden her for sure. After that, she walked to the shower to freshen up a bit.

She squandered half an hour to roll everything before coming downstairs. When she arrived at the dining hall with enough space for more than five-person, Tatiana spotted her brother conversing with Erebor.

She cleared her throat to gain their attention. Fortunately, they did.

"Now that you're here, we can proceed on discussing your training."

Her brother pulled a chair for her and she muttered her thanks with a smile.

"If that so? Then, I will heed every word you'll say."

"Good. I thought you're stubborn just like your father. After all, you are the seeds of his fruit had bear."

There's a sprouting beam in her lips but she suppressed it. It's great listening to someone offending the Almighty General, her father. She never heard her father's name was spoken by the region her father protected till he breaks and die within this land.

It was just sad upon knowing that the outstanding contribution of her father was put in vain because of this... because of her. That's why she's afraid of the failure that might salute her any second.

"She's impulsive, Erebor. She even dares to reject the Alpha even if she knows that she can't do it."

Tatiana grunted. "I was reckless that time, Croft. I wasn't thinking rationally, okay?"

"Alright, young ones. Quit with the bickering. We shall stride forward to your training," his eyes were fixed to her and Tatiana can't alleviate the tension building within her. "Are you ready to face a rough drill?"

"For the sake of keeping my family safe through this, then I will." she retorted with a determination throbbed in her orbs.

Erebor nodded, satisfied with her answer. "Very well. I'm looking forward to it. Prepare yourself after a bowl of a meal. I'm gonna drive you to your limits, Tatiana."

"I understand, Erebor."

Even if the twisted circumstances baffled her, Tatiana still obliged to train with him. And so, her hella drill of working herself out has begun.

"Focus and follow my pace. Each batter should exert a strong force otherwise your hit will be weak. You don't want your enemy to stand firm and have the opportunity to strike, do you?"

Tatiana shook her head immediately. "I'll try my best."

"Try harder and let go of the best. Be great in every gait, Tatiana. Because on the battlefield, only the strongest one will remain upright and firm. Yet, the cowards might live because of the power that is wielded behind the shadows of others, but their honor is false in all its points. Do you want that kind of respect, Tatiana?"

"No, Erebor."

"Then don't just stop because you thought you're already reaching your limits. You haven't, Tatiana. You're still in the peak of the easiest boundary."

She clearly knows that she's a weakling and he's kneading some salts in her wound. It pains her to perceive that but that was the truth. She can't avoid it no matter how deaf her ears were.

But it also makes her realize the meaning of that fact. Erebor was telling her to let go of the fragments of her flaws and take it in. That in order to protect the important people in her life, she needs to be strong for herself first.

Is this... is this his father wants for her? If yes, then she won't fail her father's wish.

Lifting the rod packed with thorns, her palms were dripping with her own blood. She was gritting her teeth while squeezing them, sending an electric pain throughout her body. But still, she deprived herself to swing it back and forth, hoisting it up and yanking it down, producing a sound of air being ripped.

The sound is what Erebor wants to hear. He expects her to do this without minding the injury and the suffering her hands have.

The verge of his lips curved. Tatiana didn't disappoint him.

"You did well," he hurled the stick he utilized to instruct her. "In the battlefield, you can't pick any sword whatever you want. Be it in a branch of wood nor a stone, as long as it can kill your enemy, then grasp it like it was your possession and rule it to wither someone's life."

He paces forward and gazed at the extensive forest in front of them.

"Think your weapon as a fraction of your body. Find the connection and be one of it," Erebor throw a dagger which perplexed Tatiana where it came from. "Use it to protect, to save, and lastly, to kill."

He left after saying that. Erebor abandoned her hanging for an explanation.

Tatiana tilted her head before crouching down and gripping the dagger in her bleeding hands. While inspecting it thoroughly, she caught a name carved on its tip.

"Tatiana..." she whispered. It was her name etched with runes.

This dagger is meant for her.

However, when she got up, she got teary-eyed for the reason that perhaps, this was her father's gift that he couldn't give because he died before he can. And he entrusted this to Erebor to give the dagger to her.

"Father... we miss you. I-I won't fail you, I promise."

In the calm place where only the gust of wind and the chirping of the birds can be perceived, there's an audible pledge that was heard.