The Do-Over System:My Beloved is the Villain! - Chapter 30

Chapter 30: Training Arc 1

Aeliana stood in the training yard, the soft light of dawn filtering through the towering windows of Lucian’s castle. Kael stood across from her, his arms crossed and an eyebrow raised as he watched her unsuccessful attempts to lift a heavy two-handed warhammer from the weapon rack. Her strained grunt echoed in the spacious hall as she finally hoisted it up.

“This,” she said, panting slightly as she rested the massive weapon against the ground, “will help me in a fight. Look how intimidating it is!”

Kael pinched the bridge of his nose, exhaling heavily before responding. “Aeliana, choosing a weapon isn’t about intimidation. It’s about practicality.”

She frowned, tilting her head to the weapon “But it has so much weight, won’t it do more damage?”

Kael walked over to her and tapped the warhammer lightly with his hand. “Yes, it’ll do a lot of damage if you hit your opponent. But do you realize how slow this thing makes you?” He stepped back, gesturing for her to hold it up. “Go ahead, try swinging it at me.”

Aeliana narrowed her eyes, gripping the handle with both hands. She heaved it upward, her movements slow and deliberate. As she swung it toward Kael, he sidestepped effortlessly, watching as the weight of the weapon threw her off balance and nearly sent her toppling over.

“See?” he said, catching the warhammer’s handle before it could drag her to the ground. “Heavy weapons are a liability for someone of your build. You’ll exhaust yourself before you land a single hit.”

Kael smirked, pointing to a nearby rack filled with lighter weapons. “Something that matches your speed and agility. A rapier, maybe, or dual daggers. Even a short sword would be better.”

She looked at the lighter weapons skeptically. “They look… delicate.”

“They’re not delicate,” Kael said firmly.

“Focus.

She picked up a sleek rapier, testing its weight in her hand. It felt surprisingly balanced, almost like an extension of her arm.

An hour passed,

Kael drilled her on the basics of using the rapier—footwork, thrusts, and parries. Aeliana picked up the techniques quickly, her natural grace and agility serving her well.

As she landed a particularly well-timed thrust against a training dummy, Kael gave her a rare smile of approval. “Not bad, Princess. You’ve got potential.”

Aeliana grinned, wiping the sweat from her brow. “See? I can handle this.”

Kael chuckled, handing her a water flask. “But at least you’re not trying to crush people with a warhammer anymore.”

She laughed, taking a sip of water. “Fine, you win. I’ll stick with the rapier. For now.”

Lucian had been watching from the shadows of the training yard, a small smile playing on his lips. “She’s improving faster than I thought,” he murmured to himself, already planning how he would test her progress in their next session together.

Kael stepped into the training circle, his hands resting casually on his hips as he eyed Aeliana. “Alright, Princess,” he said, his voice carrying a teasing edge, “let’s see if you can land a single hit on me.”

Kael smirked, drawing a wooden training sword from his belt. He moved into position with effortless grace, clearly at ease.

Kael dodged her strike with minimal movement, his expression bored. She tried again, this time aiming for his side, but he parried her attack with a flick of his wrist.

“Too slow,” he said, sidestepping her entirely.

Gritting her teeth, Aeliana pushed harder, weaving in feints and thrusts, but Kael countered each move with infuriating ease. After a few more failed attempts, she began to falter, her arms trembling from the weight of the rapier.

Kael stepped back, lowering his sword. “Stop,” he said, raising a hand.

Aeliana halted, panting heavily. “What? Why?”

“Because you’re going to pass out before you even get close to hitting me,” he replied bluntly. That’s why even this rapier feels heavy to you.”

Aeliana frowned, lowering the weapon as instructed. “I thought the whole point was to use what I’m good at. Isn’t magic supposed to be an advantage?”

Kael nodded, but his expression remained serious. “Magic is indeed an advantage, but it’s not a crutch. In close combat, you won’t always have the luxury of relying on spells.”

“You need to build up your endurance and strength, or you’ll never last in a real fight.”

She sighed, clearly frustrated. “Fine. What do you suggest?”

Kael crossed his arms, a faint smile tugging at his lips. “Strength training. Endurance drills. You’re not going to like it, but it’s necessary.”

Aeliana had groaned, running a hand through her hair in a sigh. “This is going to be a long day, isn’t it?”

Kael chuckled, tossing her a water flask. “You have no idea.”

For the next hour, Kael put her through a grueling series of exercises, starting with simple drills to build her stamina and balance. She struggled to keep up, her movements clumsy and awkward compared to his.

“Focus on your footing!” Kael barked as she stumbled during a lunge.

“Don’t try, do. You can’t just magic your way through this, Princess. Hard work and discipline—that’s how you’ll get better.”

He handed Aeliana a towel, his expression softer than before. “You did well for your first real session,” he said.

She took the towel, wiping her face with a scowl. “I feel like I’ve been run over by a carriage.”

“Get used to it. This is only the beginning.”

Unseen from the shadows of the training yard, Lucian watched with a faint smile. Despite her struggles, Aeliana’s determination impressed him. “She’ll get there,” he murmured to himself. “She always does.”

As the afternoon light began to fade into dusk, Lucian retired to his study, the room dimly lit by the faint flicker of enchanted lanterns. His mind was heavy with the weight of the discussion he needed to have. He rolled up his left sleeve, exposing a faint but unmistakable mark on his shoulder—a crescent moon encircled by claw-like etchings. It was the mark of an imprint, binding him to Sylvara, the Luna of the werewolf clan.

Lucian exhaled sharply, rubbing the imprint mark absentmindedly. He hadn’t told Aeliana about this—not yet. He couldn’t bring himself to shatter the fragile peace they’d built. She was already under enough pressure, training with Kael and navigating the tangled web of politics between their people. Dropping this revelation on her now could tip everything into chaos.

But Ulric’s demand had left him no choice.

He picked up a small quill and a sheet of parchment, scribbling out a message addressed to Ulric. The werewolf clan leader had insisted that the imprint bond between Lucian and Sylvara be honored, arguing it was a sacred tradition that strengthened the unity between their clans.

Ulric,

Your insistence on the blood bonding ritual is noted. However, my current circumstances require delicacy. I must consult further with Aeliana before moving forward. I will not dishonor her trust, nor will I risk upsetting the alliance we are building. I suggest a council meeting to discuss alternatives to this matter.

—Lucian

After signing the message, Lucian folded the parchment and tied it securely to the leg of a waiting pigeon. The pigeon cooed softly as he whispered a few enchanted words to ensure the message would reach its intended recipient swiftly. Releasing the pigeon into the night, he leaned back in his chair, staring at the flickering shadows on the ceiling.

His thoughts drifted to Aeliana. He could still see the determined look on her face during her training with Kael, how she pushed herself even when it was clear she was exhausted. He smiled faintly, but the smile faded as his gaze returned to the mark on his shoulder. How could he explain this to her without breaking her heart?

The mark burned faintly, as if reacting to his thoughts. He winced, pressing a hand against it to dull the sensation. It wasn’t pain, exactly, but a constant reminder of the bond he hadn’t chosen yet couldn’t escape.

A three knocks on the door jolted him from his thoughts. “Enter,” he called, his voice steady despite his inner turmoil.

Aeliana stepped inside, her expression soft but curious. “I thought I’d find you here,” she said, closing the door behind her. “You disappeared after training. What’s wrong?”

Lucian forced a smile on his face. He lowering his sleeve to conceal the mark. “Just dealing with some matters of diplomacy,” he said, gesturing for her to sit across from him.

“Is it something I can help with?” Aeliana suggested with the face of innocence and naivety that made him even more guilty of keeping his imprint mark from Svlyara, a secret.

Lucian hesitated. “Not yet,” he said softly. “But soon..” He promised like it was an oath to her that everything will fall into place once more, but time was dwindling.

But for now, he clung to the small comfort of Aeliana’s presence, even as the mark on his shoulder pulsed like a shadow of the storm to come.