Elena''s POV


    "A one-on-onebat?"


    "Did I see it right?"


    "Are they seriously doing it?"


    "Wow!"


    "I never saw anyonesting more than full minutes with Prince Deacon. Can a girl like her handle the god of war?"


    "General Glenda is one thing, but the Prince..."


    Murmurs filled the training area when the,warriors surrounding us noticed Prince Deacon entering thebat tform.


    We felt everyone halting from their training and approached the ring one after another until a crowd formed around us.


    All of them had their opinions voiced out, filled with surprise. But none of them seemed to think that I could win against Prince Deacon, much lessst for three minutes.


    "They have so much belief in you," I pointed out as I nced at the crowd and positioned myself in abat stance like he did..


    Smirking, he responded, "You think you can break that?"


    I replied to his remark with a smirk before I started sending a strike in his direction that he easily avoided.


    My eyes narrowed when he smirked at me, unaffected by my attack.


    After a few punches and kicks from each other that we all easily avoided, we looked at each other, and our smirks vanished as our eyes dimmed with seriousness.


    When our movements started getting severe, gasps were heard from our surroundings. Our movements evidently became faster, stronger, and more advanced.


    We moved as fast as the wind and smooth as the water flow, but we either sessfully avoided each other''s attacks or blocked them.


    After a minute, we decided to make things more challenging and removed our boxing wraps as we elongated our ws. The sound of ws colliding echoes through the training grounds. We circled each other calctively as we moved with swift and precise attacks.


    After a full two minutes, my footwork remained firm, and so did my movements, but I wouldn''t lie that I started feeling a bit tired, all while Prince Deacon still looked effortlessly, epting all my attacks and deflecting them.


    It almost looked like he was merely testing my skills.


    You''re a Custedes warrior, Elena. Be more serious!'' I scolded myself.


    "Is that all you''ve got?" he teasingly asked as he stepped back and looked at me with a raised brow.


    Narrowing my eyes, I focused on his every movement, even his breathing, reading his next move. When he moved his foot forward, I moved with agility and sent a fast and sudden strike on his shoulder.


    Smirking victoriously, I shook my head. "I guess not."


    "Not bad. But don''t get cocky." As soon as he said that, he swiftly grabbed my wrist and pulled me towards me before swiveling me around, which made my back collide with his chest. His arm was pressing my arm on my chest, restricting my movements.


    In a matter of seconds, he pushed me, and I almost fell to the ground, but in mid- air, I shifted my body and grabbed onto his arm, pulling myself back before sending another strike on him.


    Cheers filled the training area as everyone watched in excitement.


    "Wow! It''s already past three minutes!"


    "I can''t believe it!"


    "Even if Luna Elena can''t win, that''s already a great honor


    "She''s really great.''


    Our sparring ended after ten minutes, with me lying on the ground drenched in sweat and breathing heavily while Prince Deacon was standing above me with a smirk on his lips and barely a sweat on his forehead.


    Extending his hand, he said, "You did great."


    Nodding around, he added, "You even exceeded everyone''s expectations."


    "Don''t sweat about it," he added in an attempt tofort me about losing, but it ended up sounding more like a mockery than an actualfort, especially with that smirk stered on his face.


    Sitting up, I narrowed my eyes, pouted my lips, and jokingly pped his hand away as I forced myself to stand up. "As if I wasn''t drenched enough already."


    He let out a smallugh before he patted my head.


    "Hey!" I shouted instinctively when he suddenly messed up my hair.


    He met my re and smiled. "Go clean up."


    "Later!" I replied instead and ran to where Maise and Saige were.


    "I don''t know what was more impressive-your sparring skills or the fact that you made Prince Deacon break a sweat," Saige uttered as soon as I approached them.


    I grabbed the de she was cleaning and helped her. With my eyes following Pre Deacon''s retreating figure, I let out a huge smile and replied, "He needed the exercise."


    "Speaking of exercise, you should''ve seen Bryson trying to keep up in training today. Looked like he was dragging a sack of potatoes behind him." Maise let out a loud, udy-likeugh that took the other''s attention, making Saige p her


    senses.


    "What''s it''s true!"


    Handing back the de on the weapon rack, I sighed and looked far into the forest. "Let''s not get distracted. The Rogues are getting closer. We need to be ready."


    "You''re right. Let''s kick some ass." Maise replied, making me just shake my head with her confidence.


    After talking with them for a while, I ran back to my tent and took a shower to change into morefortable clothes.


    "Next time, I''ll make sure to win against you," I remarked as soon as I entered Prince Deacon''s tent and casually sat before him to grab a piece of fruit on his


    table.


    He raised his head. "Aren''t you cozy?"


    1 shrugged. "Can''t I?"


    We stared at each other for a while, the room filling with silence.


    Was I getting toofortable with him? Did I cross the line? I mean...


    My heart beat in my chest as panic and fear filled me, but then it was instantly reced when a beautiful smile appeared on his lips.


    "Feel at home then," he said, pushing the te closer to me, which brought a huge smile to my face.


    I was about to pop another slice of fruit in my mouth when Tyson suddenly entered the tent. "Prince Deacon, a news from the North arrived!"