Mira’s POV

The air was sharp with morning chill. I stepped into the training grounds, hoping to sweat out the mess in my chest. The night had left me restless, Kael’s words, his touch, his eyes, still clung to me like a fever.

He met my gaze. “You’re early.”

“You’re earlier.”

We stared at each other across the field of old memories. My fingers curled into fists. “Want to spar?” he asked. “Why not,” I said. “Let’s see if you’ve gotten slow.” He smirked. “You’ll break before I do.” I walked to the rack, picked a practice staff instead of a blade. He raised a brow but said nothing. We circled each other in silence, every step pulling the past closer.

The first strike came from me, low, fast, meant to distract. He blocked it with ease, the wood cracking loudly in the stillness. “You’re holding back,” I said.

“So are you.”

Another clash. Closer this time. “Why are you really here, Kael?” I asked. “To feel something real.” My jaw clenched. “You shouldn’t look for that in someone you abandoned.”

“I didn’t abandon you,” he snapped. “I was forced.”

“You made a choice,” I interrupted. “Don’t rewrite it now because regret finally caught up to you.”

We circled again. The staff spun in my hand. His eyes never left mine. “You’re angry,” he said. “I’m surviving.”

“You still dream about this place.” I stopped mid-strike. “Stay out of my dreams.”

“You still feel the bond.”

“No,” I lied.

“You do.” His voice dropped. “It’s humming between us right now.” My staff struck harder than before. He blocked it, barely. We were close now, close enough to feel each other’s breath. “You think sparring will fix this?” I asked.

“No. But I had to be near you. Even if it hurts.” My grip faltered. From the terrace above, I felt another presence. I didn’t have to look to know it was Cyrus. Watching. He’d always known how to appear quietly, never interrupting, never imposing. But he was here now. And it mattered.

Kael saw my glance. “So, he’s still around.”

“Don’t,” I warned.

“Is it serious?”

“What does it matter to you?”

He stepped back, putting space between us. “Because I still love you.” The words made something crack in my chest. “And I still remember how that love ruined me,” I said. Cyrus descended the steps, boots soft against stone. He crossed the yard and stopped beside me. “You two really think beating each other up is the way back to peace?”

Kael’s jaw worked. “It was better than pretending.” Cyrus looked at me. “You, okay?” I nodded. “Just needed clarity.” Cyrus turned to Kael. “Then maybe don’t blur the lines for her.” Kael’s hands dropped to his sides. “She’s not some fragile thing, Cyrus. She can make her own choices.”

“She already did,” Cyrus said calmly. “You’re just late.” I stepped between them. “Enough.” Neither of them spoke. Tension crackled louder than the earlier blows. ‘’I know what happened and what I did.”

Cyrus crossed his arms. “Knowing doesn’t undo it.”

“I would undo it if I could.”

“But you can’t,” I said. “And that’s the problem.” Kael’s eyes softened. “Then help me move forward.”

Cyrus turned to me. “You don’t owe him healing. You already built yourself back once.” Kael took a step forward. “And I’m not over you.” I looked between them, one who caught me when I fell, one who pushed me in the first place. “Do you love him?” Kael asked, nodding toward Cyrus.

I blinked. “Why are you asking questions you don’t want answered?”

“Because I need to know if I’m too late.” Cyrus didn’t flinch. “She doesn’t owe either of us a decision right now.”

“I’m not asking her to choose,” Kael said. “Feels like you are,” Cyrus replied. I took a deep breath. “Both of you, stop.” They looked at me, rivals in silence. “I came here to train. To feel steady again,” I said. “Not to be the Centre of some emotional tug-of-war.” Kael lowered his eyes. “I just wanted time with you.”

“You had time,” I said. “You gave it away.” Cyrus reached for my hand but didn’t take it. “I’ll give you space.”

“I don’t want space,” I said. “I want truth. From both of you.” Kael spoke first. “I let others decide my future. I thought I could come back and fix it. But it’s not that simple. I know that now.” Cyrus followed. “I stood beside you when it was hard. I don’t need you to choose me, Mira. I just want to see you happy, even if it’s not with me.”

I swallowed hard. “I hate that these hurt.” Kael nodded. “Me too.”

“I trusted you once,” I told him. “And I trusted you,” I told Cyrus. “You both held different pieces of me.” Cyrus’s voice was quiet. “You don’t have to put yourself back together for anyone but you.” I looked out at the grounds. So much history. So much loss. “I’ll spar with you again,” I said to Kael. “But next time, we leave the past out of it.”

His eyes lit faintly. “Deal.” “And I’ll train with you, Cyrus,” I added. “But don’t protect me from my own pain.” Cyrus gave a half-smile. “Fair.”

The three of us stood in silence, not as enemies, not as lovers, but as something else. Wreckage still standing. Kael turned to leave, stopping only once. “You never lost me, Mira. Just so you know.”

Then he walked away. Cyrus stayed beside me. “You, okay?” he asked again. “No,” I said. “But I’m not broken either.”

I felt the steadiness of Cyrus in my heartbeat.