Lavender on the Sword

Kael and Elira now sat silently inside the Rennar carriage that drove them back to the mansion. While Elira's eyes focused on something—nothing particular—in front of them, Kael's eyes focused on her hand which was still holding his. Kael slowly interlocked their fingers together, which surprised her and made Elira aware that their hands were still holding each other. She turned to his side and tried to yank her hand away, but Kael's grip became stronger.

"Aren't you supposed to calm me down till the end?" he meant to tease her.

But the tiredness in his tone and his worn eyes made it appear more like a plea than a tease.

Yet Elira, being too aware of their close contact, didn't want to continue again. She pulled her hand away from him strongly, leaving Kael's hand in mid air, gripping at nothing. He smirked, yet his eyes seemed sad. The emptiness of her absent touch lingered on his empty palm.

"You look terrible. Shouldn't you take a rest instead? I don't think you would be pleased if people saw the way you look now," she said, focusing her gaze on the outside scenery through the carriage's window.

Kael exhaled slowly, then leaned back. He closed his eyes. She was right. He didn't want more people to witness his vulnerable side like this. Truthfully, he still hated that she had to witness this side of him, yet part of him felt grateful that it was her who stood by his side in this situation. A vivid smile appeared on his face—a light smile that pulled up a tiny bit of the weight in his chest.

"I'm sorry." Elira's soft voice made Kael open his eyes again.

Was she apologizing for making him worry about last night's assassination attempt? Was she apologizing for lying to him about Thane? She wasn't even sure which of these made her say sorry - there was just an overwhelming urge that forced her to do so.

He glanced at her; she wasn't even looking in his direction. Even though she hadn't said it clearly, Kael concluded that she was apologizing in place of her father, who had been involved in his father's death. Kael inhaled quietly and closed his eyes again, searching for a comfortable position to rest his head.

"None of what happened was your mistake, Elira. You're not the one who's supposed to say that to me," Kael said softly, now feeling like he could accept the truth with more calmness.

"Still... I'm sorry," she repeated. Her gaze still avoided him, fixed on the outside world.

Kael didn't answer again.

After that, there was a long silence between them. Elira didn't pursue his response either. She chose to focus on anything that could distract her mind.

She finally glanced at him when she felt Kael snuggle against her shoulder. Her body went rigid. Kael had dozed off, and his head had fallen naturally onto her shoulder - as if she were the safe place he could rely on. Which was strange, since they were supposed to be enemies.

His breath felt warm on her neck. His scent was daunting. Everything inside her shouted: Push him off. This felt wrong—like she was failing Thane, failing her wolf, failing who she really was.

But then... she saw his eyelashes were wet. Had he been crying? The thought stopped her cold. Here was the man who hunted wolves, hurt because of her secrets—now sleeping deeply while leaning on the very hybrid he was supposed to destroy. And she could only let him lean on her comfortably.

The scent of lavender perfume from her body calmed his nerves, pulling him into a dream world. The rattling sound of the carriage wheels reminded him of metal clashing in his memories from years ago.

_FLASHBACK_

Kael Rennar had been well-known even during his early days at the Royal Academy. The descendant of the famous war hero Aldric Rennar, he was expected to follow in his successful footsteps. He dominated every swordsmanship tournament, even defeating senior students far older and more experienced than himself. His victories weren't luck—they came from skill, precision, and power. Since then, his name became legendary at the academy.

"Congratulations Kael, you never fail to amuse everyone," Ilyana's sweet voice praised him as he once again won the annual swordsmanship tournament.

She casually linked their arms together as she always did. They were a pair adored and envied by many students. No one could match their compatibility in both appearance and status. They were like the prince and princess of the royal academy, praised by all.

"My dear friend Kael, always as flawless as ever," said Alvero Malven, joining the pair.

His appearance was like a crow among the beauty of the two. It was clear Alvero desperately tried to act friendly with both the princess and Kael when they weren't close at all. But Alvero always tried to use their fame to raise his own. Kael and Ilyana simply ignored him.

The three were about to leave the tournament field when a slender boy wearing sparing clothes and a closed helmet stepped in their path. He lifted his wooden sword toward Kael, clearly challenging him to a duel.

"Hah! What a shameful fool. You must want to die to challenge Kael, huh?" mocked Alvero.

But the slender boy's gaze remained sharp and unwavering, fixed directly on Kael.

"I don't fight weaklings," said Kael, trying to walk past the boy.

But the boy was quick enough to launch an attack and disarm Kael's wooden sword. Kael was quite taken aback and stood still, locking eyes with his challenger.

"Oh well, he's determined," said Ilyana, caressing Kael's arm.

"Oh Kael, show who's the boss here," added Alvero, pouring oil on the fire.

With that, Kael accepted the challenge. Soon they stood face to face on the training ground.

"Go ahead, try to disarm me now," Kael taunted.

The slender boy attacked, but Kael easily avoided it. With one move, Kael disarmed him. Alvero's mocking laughter filled the air as he called the boy a fool who didn't know his place. Yet the boy picked up his wooden sword and attacked again, only to fail repeatedly until exhausted, he fell to the ground.

Kael approached and extended a hand to help, but the boy slapped it away and stood alone, staggering. He left the training ground while students laughed—Alvero's voice loudest among them.

Such clear humiliation should have made the boy give up immediately, as everyone expected. But he didn't. A month later, he returned to challenge Kael again, only to be easily humiliated once more. Yet each month he returned to spar with Kael. Their matches became regular entertainment for other students. While outwardly the boy seemed foolishly persistent, Kael alone noticed his improving skills.

This determination intrigued Kael. Initially indifferent to his challenger's identity, he now grew curious. But the masked boy never revealed his face. Then one day, spotting him by an empty building corner, Kael decided to follow secretly.

The slender boy sought a hidden building to store his attire, ensuring no one was around before entering an empty storage building. Kael observed from a safe distance. After waiting a long time with no sign of the boy exiting, a young girl with long black hair tiptoed out instead.

Her sudden appearance made Kael frown—this girl couldn't be his persistent challenger, could she? When she disappeared and Kael checked the building, he found only an abandoned helmet and sparing attire stored in a box. The lingering scent of lavender perfume hung in the air.

He reached his conclusion: his challenger wasn't a slender boy, but a young girl—the cold daughter of a prominent duke, known for her stoic expressions. The sister of Alvero Malven.

Elira Malven.