Chapter 33 – Strength
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MARCIA’S PERSPECTIVE
The arena had been cleared before the sun even rose.
Soldiers crowded the hills, the stone balconies, the sparring terraces above. Even the guards who usually ignored fights like this were watching. Most of them leaned on the railings with arms crossed, cold breath curling in front of their faces.
They weren’t here to cheer.
They were here to see me fall.
I stood in the middle of the ring with the cold sinking into my boots. The fog hadn’t lifted from the edges of the camp yet, and my breath came out white every time I exhaled. My sword was strapped at my waist, but my hands hung loose by my sides.
Eunice stood across from me.
Her arms were folded, chin high, black uniform catching the wind like she was proud of what was coming. Her mouth was curled in something close to a smirk. She didn’t look tense. She didn’t look angry. Just… ready. Too ready.
The noise from the crowd was soft but constant. I didn’t need to
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Chapter 33 Strength.
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hear every word to know what they were saying.
“She’s out of her league.”
“Finally someone’s calling her bluff.”
“Dravic won’t be able to save her this time.”
My jaw clenched.
Let them talk. Let them place their bets. Let them pretend they knew how this would end.
I was here to finish this once and for all. There were bigger, more important things to focus on after.
Just before the match could start, someone pushed through the edge of the circle.
Kael.
He came right up to the edge, just a few paces from where I stood.
“Marcia,” he said quietly.
I didn’t look at him.
“Call it off,” he said. “There’s no point. She’s not going to hold
back.”
Chapter 33 – Strength.
“Neither am I,” I answered without turning.
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He took a breath, frustrated. “You don’t have to do this. You’ve already proven yourself. You’re general. You have Dravic’s trust. You don’t need to let her drag you into this.”
I turned toward him, my voice low. “Funny,” I said. “You didn’t say any of that when she tried to tear me down in front of everyone. You let her.”
His face tensed.
“You only care now because deep down, you’re starting to wonder if I might actually win.”
“That’s… that’s not what this is.”
“You picked her, Kael. You chose her. You stood there while she threw dirt on my name and never said a word. And now, after everything, you want to play protector?” I let out a chuckle. “Don’t pretend this is about concern. You didn’t care back then, and you don’t care now.”
He didn’t answer. Just stepped back a little.
The crowd quieted for a second, like they were waiting to see what would happen next.
That’s when Eunice cut in.
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She turned slightly, loud enough for everyone to hear. “Still playing the victim, are we? Poor Marcia, always misunderstood. Always the underdog.” She gave a short, bitter laugh. “Let’s see what your speeches do for you when I knock you to the ground.”
More laughter from the crowd. The cruel kind. The kind that meant they’d already decided how this would go.
My hand twitched near my sword.
The anger was already there. Burning under my skin, since the moment I found out why I really lost my mother.
It crawled up my spine, down my arms, into my fingertips.
Magic stirred.
I could feel it building, pressing at the edges of my ribs, ready to be let loose. Heat rose to the corners of my vision.
I could break her so easily, rip her apart if I wanted. I wouldn’t even need to move.
A clench of my fist, and her heart would burst within her chest. Her blood would boil, escape as vapour through her nose. Her breath would trap within my fingers, and she’d beg for me to let
- go.
I could silence the whispers in one strike.
Chapter 33–Strength
“Marcia.”
Dravic’s voice came from beside me. Low and steady.
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He didn’t touch me. Didn’t raise his voice. But I could feel his power rising, steady and cold. His presence pressed down upon me like a winter storm.
“Don’t,” he said. “You’re losing control.”
I took a breath, sharp and fast.
The rage didn’t vanish. But it backed off, like something scared off by a stronger predator.
“She deserves it,” I muttered. “She deserves worse than anything I could do to her.”
“Maybe,” he said. “But not here. Not now. This isn’t about her.”
I didn’t look at him, my teeth gritting so hard it would hurt later.
“You’ll win, Marcia,” he added. “But you won’t need blood to prove it.”
My chest rose and fell too fast. My fists had clenched without me realising. I forced them open.
Dravic reached towards my sword, not to draw it, just to rest a
Chapter 33 – Strength
few fingers on the hilt.
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“Switch it,” he said. “Pick something non–lethal. You don’t need
to kill her. Just end the fight.”
I turned to him, eyes narrowed.
“You want me to hold back?” I snapped.
“I want you to show them you’re above her.”
“They had a problem when I didn’t draw blood.”
“So you will. But without a blade. That screams strength.”
I didn’t answer.
Behind us, the crowd was still whispering, still laughing.
But not for long.
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