The next morning, the armory echoed with the sound of metal being scrubbed.
It was the coldest room in the manor—bare stone floors, walls lined with iron racks heavy with swords, spears, and axes of every shape and age. Dust clung to the unused ones, and the scent of oil, leather, and old steel hung thick in the air.
Cadre knelt on the floor, a rag in one hand and a sword in the other, polishing until the steel caught the light. Her arms already ached, and she was barely halfway done.
She felt ridiculous. This was servant work. A punishment, supposedly—but it just felt like labor. She'd cheated in a fight, and now she was wiping grime off old weapons. What lesson was that supposed to teach?
Maybe she just didn't get it.
The door creaked behind her. She'd have to oil it later.
Sonder stepped in.
"You here to watch me suffer," Cadre muttered, "or just bored?"
Sonder walked towards her slowly. "Just curious."
"I've done sixteen so far," Cadre said, "but at this rate, I'll be stuck here all day."
"How many are there?"
Cadre gestured around the room, "Look around."
"Do you want help?" Sonder offered.
Cadre paused for a moment.
But she shook her head. "Cheating's what got me in here. I don't think bending the rules again is a good idea. Grandfather would probably make me clean the stables next."
Sonder gave a faint smile and leaned against the wall. "Then I'll keep you company."
So Cadre worked. Sonder watched. Time moved slowly.
After a while, as Cadre stood to reach the next blade, she glanced over. "How do you stay so calm when you fight?"
"I don't know," Sonder answered, somewhat untruthfully.
"That's not very helpful."
Sonder considered. "It's like… there's always noise, no matter where you are. You don't have to block it out, but you don't have to listen to it either. When I study, I like having some sound in the background—it helps me focus, even if I'm not really paying attention to it. I don't know why."
"No rage? No adrenaline?" Cadre asked, skeptical.
"I'm not usually angry when I fight or cast magic. There's pressure sometimes," Sonder admitted. "But pressure doesn't help me."
Cadre frowned, wiping the next blade. "You're like ice. Stone cold. Maybe it's because you're not human?"
Sonder stiffened. "What do you mean?"
Cadre looked up quickly, realizing her mistake. "Sorry. I didn't mean—just that... you look almost human, but not exactly. I assumed. Your father's not human either, right? He has very pointed ears."
Sonder relaxed slightly. "I'm part human. The rest is... magic. The thing in my chest. My appearance, maybe even how I think."
Cadre nodded slowly. "That explains the whole unshakable thing."
Cadre finished another blade. Then another. After the third, she wiped her brow with the back of her wrist and asked, "You want to spar again?"
Sonder tilted her head. "Now?"
Cadre shook her head. "After I finish. No tricks this time. No tricks. No cheating. Just me. Doing it right."
Sonder nodded once. "Alright."