Chapter 32: Chapter 32: The Space She Left Behind

Chapter 32: The Space She Left Behind

Liora pov

I woke up to the sound of someone knocking on my door.

Not the usual light knock Elara used when bringing breakfast. This one was faster, urgent, like whoever stood outside didn’t have the patience to wait.

For a moment I stayed where I was, staring at the ceiling while my body protested every movement I tried to make.

Training yesterday had been brutal.

My shoulders burned when I shifted. My thighs ached from falling too many times on hard stone.

Even breathing felt uncomfortable because the muscles around my ribs were still sore.

Mira hadn’t been gentle. But that was exactly why Kael hire her.

I pushed myself up slowly, wincing as stiffness crawled through my body.

"Come in," I called.

The door opened immediately.

Elara stepped inside, but something about her expression made me sit up straighter.

She looked pale.

Her hair wasn’t properly tied like it usually was in the mornings, and in her hand she held a folded letter with a broken seal.

"My lady," she said quietly.

"What’s wrong?" I asked.

She walked closer, holding the letter tightly like it might disappear if she loosened her grip.

"This arrived at dawn," she said. "From the lower territories."

My stomach tightened slightly. "From your family?"

She nodded. "My sister."

The way she said it told me everything before she even continued.

"She’s sick," Elara said. "Worse than they thought. The healer there sent word that I should come immediately."

Silence filled the room.

I pushed the blankets aside and stood, ignoring the dull pain in my legs.

"When do you leave?"

Elara hesitated. "Today."

I didn’t even think about it. "Then you should start packing."

Her eyes widened slightly. "My lady—"

"Your sister needs you," I said gently. "Why are you still standing here?"

She looked conflicted. "I didn’t want to leave you alone, expecially when your sister is around but didn’t come for you."

I almost smiled at that. "Elara, I’m not a child, don’t worry about ivy, I will handle her"

"You’re injured," she argued softly. "You’re training every day. Someone should at least be here to—"

"I’ll manage."

She stared at me like she wanted to argue more, but eventually she sighed.

"It shouldn’t take more than a week," she said quietly. "As soon as she’s stable, I’ll return."

"Take as long as you need," I replied.

Elara stepped forward then and surprised me by wrapping her arms around me in a quick, tight embrace.

It lasted only a second before she pulled back again.

"I’ll leave instructions for the kitchen," she said. "And for the servants."

"That’s not necessary."

"I’ll do it anyway."

I didn’t argue. She gave me one last worried look before turning toward the door.

"I’ll send word when I arrive," she said.

"Travel safely."

The door closed behind her. The room felt strangely quiet afterward.

I stood there for a long moment, staring at the door she had just walked through.

The fortress was already waking outside. I could hear distant voices in the corridor, the muffled sound of boots from guards changing shifts, servants moving somewhere far down the hall and yet my sister isn’t at my door yet.

Everything sounded normal. But the room suddenly felt bigger. Empty in a way it hadn’t before.

I exhaled slowly and rubbed the back of my neck.

"She’ll be back in a week," I muttered to myself.

I could handle a week. Training started soon.

Mira would probably already be waiting.

---

The underground training hall smelled faintly of smoke and cold stone when I arrived.

Mira stood in the center of the sparring circle, exactly where she had been yesterday.

Her arms were crossed over her chest as she watched me walk down the steps.

Her eyes went immediately to the bandage wrapped around my forearm.

"Still bleeding?" she asked.

"No."

"Stitches holding?"

"Yes."

She gave a small nod. "Good."

Then she added, "Today will be worse."

I stepped into the circle. "How much worse?"

Mira smiled. Not kindly.

"Let’s find out."

She moved before I could even finish adjusting my stance.

I barely had time to raise my arms before her strike came fast and low, sweeping my legs out from under me.

I hit the ground hard.

The air rushed out of my lungs as pain exploded across my side.

Before I could recover, she grabbed my arm and pulled me back onto my feet.

"Again."

The next hour blurred into a relentless storm of movement. Dodge. Fall.

Get up. Block. Fail. Fall again.

Mira didn’t let me rest for more than a few seconds each time.

"You’re too slow," she snapped when I failed to avoid another strike.

"I know," I gasped.

"Wolves are faster than this."

"I know. I’m wolfless"

"And you’re a Luna, then move like one."

I tried.

My muscles screamed in protest. Sweat ran down my back. My legs felt heavier with every passing minute.

Then Mira suddenly changed tactics. Her foot swept forward sharply. I didn’t see it coming.

My balance disappeared instantly.

I crashed onto the stone floor with a sharp crack that echoed through the hall.

Pain exploded across my ribs. For a moment I couldn’t breathe.

The world spun as I lay there, staring up at the ceiling while my lungs struggled to draw in air.

My mind filled with different questions

Why would seraphina bring ivy over?

Will ivy stoop so low and betrayed me again?

Mira stood above me. "Get up."

I pushed against the floor, barely managing to sit before pain shot through my chest again.

"Your ribs are hurt," Mira said calmly.

"I can continue."

"You shouldn’t."

"I will."

She studied me for a long moment.

"You’re stubborn."

"Yes""

For a second I thought she might end the session. Instead she stepped back.

"Fine," she said. "But we change the exercise."

I frowned. "What kind?"

"Defense."

Before I could ask anything else, she attacked again.

This time the focus wasn’t on striking.

It was on forcing me to move.

Every movement sent sharp pain through my ribs, but I refused to stop.

Mira circled me like a predator testing prey.

"Too slow," she said again.

"I’m trying."

"Trying isn’t enough."

The pain grew worse. Breathing felt like dragging air through broken glass.

But I kept moving. Then something strange happened.

It started as heat. A faint warmth spreading beneath my skin.

At first I thought it was just exhaustion. But then my senses sharpened.

The torches along the wall suddenly seemed brighter.

The sound of Mira’s boots against the floor echoed louder in my ears.

And when she lunged forward again—

I moved before she did. My body shifted to the side instinctively.

Her strike missed me by inches.

Mira froze. I blinked.

Had I...?

She stepped closer slowly. "What was that?"

"What?"

"You moved before I attacked."

"I dodged."

"No," she said quietly. "You reacted before I moved."

I stared at her, confused.

"I don’t know what you mean."

Her eyes studied me carefully. For a brief second, something like uncertainty crossed her face.

Then she stepped back. "Training is over."

"What?"

"But we just—"

"Over."

Her tone left no room for argument. "Go rest," she said.

I didn’t argue. My ribs hurt too much anyway.

But as I walked back through the corridor, that strange warmth still lingered beneath my skin.

And somewhere deep inside me—

something felt awake.

---

When I returned to my chambers later that afternoon, someone was waiting inside, for a second,I thought maybe ivy is finally here to see me , but I was wrong.

A woman stood near the window. She turned when I entered.

She looked ordinary. Middle-aged. Plain face. Wearing a servant’s dress.

She bowed slightly. "My lady."

I stopped just inside the doorway.

"Who are you?"

"My name is Thea," she said calmly. "I’ve been sent to assist you while Elara is away."

My eyes narrowed slightly. "Sent by who?"

"Lady Seraphina."

That answer alone made suspicion crawl through my mind.

As if hidden ivy in her chamber isn’t enough,she even send me a maid?

"I don’t need an attendant," I said.

Thea’s gaze moved briefly to my bandaged arm. Then to the way I was holding my side.

"With respect, my lady," she said gently, "you’re injured."

I said nothing.

"At least allow me to change the bandages," she continued. "It will only take a moment."

I hesitated. My ribs throbbed painfully.

Changing the bandage myself would be difficult.

Finally I sighed.

"Fine," I muttered.

Thea worked quietly. Efficiently.

When she helped wrap my ribs, her movements were careful and practiced.

"You should see a healer," she said softly.

"No healers."

She didn’t question it. But I noticed her eyes lingering briefly on the old scars across my back.

She didn’t comment.

After finishing the bandage, she stepped back.

"There," she said. "That should help."

"Thank you."

She bowed again before leaving the room.

I watched the door close behind her. Something about her presence felt strange.

Not threatening. Just... careful. Too careful.

I shook the thought away.

Elara would return soon.

Until then, I would tolerate the help. What harm could a servant do?

A knock interrupt my thoughts

" Who is there? "