The Heart of Vengeance

med chaos. Her heart hammered against her ribcage, the adrenaline coursing through her veins making her limbs feel both weightle

muttered, more to her

with quiet challenge. His silhouette was stark against the pale morning light, his arm

toward him, her eyes

ugging at the corner of his mouth spoke volumes. "Jump. Or are you g

d a fire lit in her c

gestured toward the

merciless. Her instincts screamed at her to step back, to walk away, but another voice, a quieter, fiercer one, u

e asked, her voice steady desp

ee what you're made of. Fear has no place where we're go

is face for a hint of reassurance or even concern. There was

ng her fists tightly. The breeze tugged at

are vulnerability creeping into his voice

elow seeming to taunt her. Every fiber of her being wanted to retreat, to a

eyebrow, his smirk returning, but before he could speak,

eart leapt into her throat, a scream bubbling up but never escaping. For a split second, time seemed to fr

g through her like a blade. She kicked desperately, her limbs flailing as she fought her way

standing at the edge of the cliff, his hands slow and deliberate.

voice carrying over the roar

elf onto the bank, Nico was there, having made his way down with infuriating ease. He offered her

ly do it," he admitted, a hi

?" Alessia shot back, wri

eyes dark and piercing. "Didn

ing in her eyes. "Guess you don

ng like a live wire. Then Nico turned, gesturing for her to follow. "

ite the exhaustion, a small flicker of pride warmed her chest. She'd jumped. She'd survived.

nced over his shoulder, his expression unreadable once ag

e it. She was going to prove him wrong. Every step, every leap, every fall wou

s pressed into the cold, unforgiving dirt, trembling under the strain of her exertion. She refused to cry out, though every muscle in her

ing the weight of expectation. He didn't of

eath coming in sharp bursts. "I'm not done

down," he said, his tone calm but razor-sharp. "You hesitat

her shoulders. "I'm not afraid," she

ned in, his voice dropping to a whisper. "It's in the way you flinch, the wa

r palms. "You don't know me," she snapped, though th

colder. "Fear isn't the enemy. It's a tool," he s

of jagged walls, suspended ropes, and pits of muddy water. It was designed to break even the strongest

her. The first wall rose before her, its jagged surface promising splinters and bruises. She leapt, her fingers gripp

. The rope bridge swayed under her weight as she crossed, the abyss below yawning like a mouth w

co's voice ran

threatening to pull her under. She could feel Nico's eyes on her, judging her. With a deep breath, she plunged in, the

ting. He held out a hand, not to help her up but to stop her.

ling with cold and fury. "I still did

a faint smile. "Barely

down. "I'll get there," she said, the f

his hands. The weapon gleamed under the faint light of the rising moon, its edge sharp enough to

Nico said, hold

ing between him and the weapon. "

he replied. "Or at lea

ip. Her fingers curled around the hilt, and for a moment, she felt unsteady,

grounding. "It's not just a tool," he said, his voice close to

tching on its edge. "What am I supposed to do with

n a slow, deliberate arc. "You learn to use it,"

it, how to anticipate an opponent's strike. The rhythm of the training was punishing, but Alessia refuse

wless strike, her movements fluid and p

grip tightening on

You're afraid of what this weapon means.

rds silenced her. The blade wasn't just a weapon, it was a symbol. Of h

is tone sharp. "It's not. This is about vengeanc

the blade. "I didn't ask for this," sh

asks for it," he said. "But you don't get a choice. You

ly heavier than before. She thought of Lorenzo, of everythi

ve stronger. The hesitation was still there, but it was fad

action evident. "Now," he said, his voice low a