CHAPTER 67: NEW TRAINING INSTRUCTOR

The woman standing beside his father was unmistakable, even from a distance. Wild dark hair that caught the morning light like spun midnight, a predatory grace that spoke of deadly skill barely contained, and green eyes that seemed to find amusement in everything they surveyed.

’No,’ Jack thought, his stomach dropping toward his boots. ’Please tell me that’s not who I think it is.’

But even as denial rose in his mind, he could pick out the details that confirmed his worst suspicions. The perfectly fitted black leather armor that highlighted every dangerous curve of her form. The casual way she leaned against a weapon rack as if she owned it. The smile that was all teeth and promised violence.

Sera Nightshade stood beside Duke Alaric Kaiser as if she belonged there, as if her presence in the heart of his family’s domain was the most natural thing in the world.

’What the hell is she doing here?’ Jack’s thoughts raced as he tried to process this development. The homicidal chosen one who had thoroughly humiliated him in hand-to-hand combat was apparently his father’s choice for a training mentor.

As Jack drew closer, he could hear the tail end of their conversation, Sera’s voice carrying easily across the training ground with its distinctive mixture of silk and steel.

"...complete lack of proper foundation, but the raw potential is definitely there. Give me a few months and I’ll have him moving like a proper warrior."

"His magical development has been remarkable," Alaric replied, his voice carrying the measured tones of someone discussing business arrangements. "But you’re correct about his martial deficiencies. The boy has relied too heavily on power and not enough on skill."

Sera’s laugh was like breaking glass, sharp and dangerous and somehow musical. "Oh, Duke Kaiser, you have no idea how much I’m going to enjoy fixing those deficiencies. Your son has such wonderful potential for violence."

Jack felt his blood turn to ice at the casual way she discussed his training as if he were a weapon to be sharpened rather than a person to be taught. The predatory gleam in her eyes when she’d spoken about enjoying his training suggested that her methods would be far from conventional.

But as much as the prospect terrified him, Jack couldn’t deny the logic behind his father’s choice. Sera was undoubtedly one of the most skilled fighters in the kingdom, her abilities proven through years of service as a chosen one. If anyone could teach him the martial skills necessary to complement his magical power, it would be her.

’Just try not to let her kill me in the process,’ Jack thought grimly as he covered the last few yards to where they stood waiting.

Alaric’s face lit up with genuine pleasure as he spotted his approaching son. "Jack! Perfect timing. I’d like you to properly meet someone who’s going to be instrumental in your continued development."

The duke’s voice carried a note of dark amusement that suggested he was fully aware of the history between Jack and Sera, and found the situation more entertaining than concerning.

"Lady Sera has graciously agreed to serve as your martial arts instructor," Alaric continued, his tone suggesting this was a tremendous honor rather than a potential death sentence. "Her expertise in close-quarters combat is legendary throughout the realm."

Jack forced his expression into a mask of polite curiosity, though his pulse hammered against his throat like a trapped bird. "Father, I wasn’t expecting a chosen one to be my mentor."

"Oh, this is far more than a simple visit," Sera interjected, her green eyes sparkling with malicious amusement as they fixed on Jack’s face. She pushed away from the weapon rack with fluid grace, moving toward him with the predatory stride of a hunting cat. "I’m going to be staying for quite some time, dragon slayer. We have so much work to do together."

The way she emphasized ’work’ made Jack’s skin crawl, memories of their previous sparring session flooding back with uncomfortable clarity. The casual ease with which she’d dominated him, the clinical precision of her techniques, the obvious pleasure she’d taken in demonstrating his inadequacies.

And now she would be living here, training him daily, having constant access to push his limits and test his boundaries in ways that promised to be far from pleasant.

But before Jack could formulate a response, the sound of approaching footsteps drew his attention to another figure emerging from the estate’s interior.

Finn walked into the training ground with the careful balance of someone expecting trouble, his one good eye sweeping the area for potential threats.

The former chosen one looked better than he had in years. Prison pallor had been replaced by healthy color, and his frame had begun to fill out with proper nutrition and exercise.

But the wariness remained, the constant vigilance of someone who had learned that danger could come from unexpected directions.

"Ah, Finn," Alaric said with genuine warmth. "Excellent timing. We were just discussing the training arrangements."

Finn’s gaze shifted between Jack and Sera, his scarred face showing no emotion as he processed the situation. "Lady Nightshade," he said with a respectful nod. "I wasn’t aware you’d accepted a teaching position."

"Life is full of surprises," Sera replied with that unsettling grin. "Besides, I find the prospect of molding young talent... invigorating."

The former chosen one’s expression darkened slightly at her tone, but he said nothing. Instead, he turned his attention to Alaric with obvious questions in his eyes.

"Finn, we need to discuss your own situation," Alaric said, gesturing toward a shaded area away from the main training space. "If you would, I have a proposal that might interest you."

The two men moved off to conduct their private conversation, leaving Jack alone with Sera for the first time since the palace gardens. The silence that stretched between them was filled with tension so thick it could be cut with a blade.

"So," Sera said conversationally, circling Jack like a predator sizing up prey, "ready for your first real lesson in combat? I promise it’ll be much more... thorough than our little garden sparring match."

Jack straightened his shoulders, drawing on the confidence he’d gained from his recent victories in the dungeon. "I’m ready for whatever you want to teach me."

"Are you?" Sera’s smile turned sharp as a blade. "We’ll see about that. First things first, though. If I’m going to be your instructor, there are rules that need to be established."

She stopped directly in front of him, close enough that he could smell the leather of her armor and see the tiny scars that marked her hands and forearms. Battle scars, each one telling a story of violence survived and lessons learned.

"Rule number one," Sera said, her voice dropping to barely above a whisper, "while we’re training, you will address me as Master. Not Lady, not Sera, not ’hey you.’ Master. Is that understood?"

Jack felt his jaw clench at the obvious power play, but forced himself to nod. "Understood."

"Good. Rule number two: when I give you an instruction, you follow it immediately and without question. Hesitation in combat gets you killed, and hesitation in training gets you hurt. Badly."

The threat was delivered with such casual authority that Jack found himself nodding again before he could consciously decide whether to comply.

"Rule number three," Sera continued, beginning to pace around him again, "we train until I say we’re finished. Not until you’re tired, not until you think you’ve learned enough, but until I’m satisfied with your progress. Some days that might be an hour. Some days it might be dawn to dusk."

Jack’s pulse quickened at the implications, but he forced his voice to remain steady. "And if I have other obligations? Family duties, business concerns?"

Sera’s laugh was like silver bells in a graveyard. "Oh, darling, those are secondary concerns now. Your father has made it very clear that your combat training takes priority over everything else. Everything."

The emphasis she placed on that final word left no room for misinterpretation. Whatever other activities Jack might have planned, they would have to work around Sera’s training schedule.

Meanwhile, the conversation between Alaric and Finn was growing more animated near the weapon racks. Jack could catch fragments of their discussion despite the distance.

"...grateful for your help in keeping him alive," Alaric was saying, his voice carrying the formal tone he used for important negotiations. "Your knowledge of chosen one politics proved invaluable during the palace situation."

Finn’s response was too quiet to make out, but Jack could see the older man’s posture straightening slightly, as if responding to an offer that interested him.