After seg food for the goblin—who devoured her meal with gleeful abandon—and ensuring Rava was also fed, the group began making their way back to Vivienne’s quarters. The halls of the stronghold were dimly lit, with flickering torches casting long shadows oone walls. The faint hum of distant versations and the occasional ctter of armor echoed through the corridors, a stant reminder of the impending battles on the horizon.

  As they rounded a er, Vivienne, caught up in her own thoughts and half-listening to Kivvy’s excited chatter about potential gadgets she could build, nearly collided with a massive figure. The man towered above her, nearly matg Rava i, though his broader shoulders and heavier frame gave him a more imposing presence. His skin was a deep, weathered gray, marked with faint scars that told stories of battles long fought. His arms were coloured in grey fur ending in dulled cws. His sharp eyes immediately honed in on her with the precision of a predator.

  Vivieepped back, her usual sharp retort catg ihroat. “Well, someone’s beeing their vegetables,” she muttered under her breath.

  Rava, however, greeted the man with a nod of respect, her voice steady. “Eldest Brother. I thought you were preparing to establish the front lines.”

  The man’s gaze shifted to Rava, his expression softening slightly though still stern. “I was,” he replied, his voice deep and resonant. “I’ve just returned from overseeing the initial deployment. The troops are ready, but the situation is... votile.” He g Viviehen at Kivvy, his brow furrowing. “And who are these?”

  “I’m Kivvy!” the goblin piped up, a quick wave and an awkward grin. “Definitely not a threat, if that’s what you’re w.”

  Vivienne rolled her eyes, crossing her arms. “And I’m Vivienne. Nightmare, shapeshifter, eater of fear, occasional problem solver. Pleased to meet you.”

  The man’s eyes lingered on Vivienne for a moment longer, his expression hard to read. “The Nightmare,” he said, almost to himself. “I’ve heard whispers about you. Narek has pined about you extensively. I expected someone... taller.”

  Vivienne bristled, her tail flig sharply as she crossed her arms. “Oh, I’m sorry. Let me just grow a few feet to match your t majesty. Oh wait—I do that. Perhaps something with extra heads? Hydra, maybe?”

  “Vivienne,” Rava interjected, her tone carrying an edge of warning. “Not indoors. I’d rather not expin to Narek why you turhe corridor into rubble. Again.”

  Vivienne offered a mock pout but relented. “Fine, fine. Spoilsport.”

  Rava shifted her gaze to the man. “This is my eldest brother, Kavren.”

  Vivienne dipped into an exaggerated bow, her smile sharp. “Charmed, Kavren.”

  Kavren nodded curtly, his sharp-toothed grin tugging at the ers of his lips. “So, my sister has taken a liking to you,” he said, his voice a deep rumble. “Iing. I think I’d like to fight you.”

  Vivienne’s grin widened. “Oh, I might indulge you. Are we thinking a friendly spar, or something a little more... dramatic?”

  “What’s the difference?” Kavren asked, his booming ugh eg down the hall.

  Rava cleared her throat, stepping slightly between them. “Maybe aime. We have other priorities right now.”

  Vivieilted her head, a glint of mischief in her bck eyes. “Do we? Because I’m fairly certain we’re free this evening.”

  “Ha! You haven’t ged a bit, Rava,” Kavren said, shaking his head. “A friendly spar—it won’t take long. You spare the time, ’t you?”

  Vivienne seized the moment, stepping close to Rava and pressing herself against the lekine’s side. She tilted her head upward, her lips curving into a ile as her tail curled around Rava’s ankle. “Oh, Rava,” she purred, her voice dripping with pyful allure. “Please? Just a little spar. It’ll be fun. Besides, I’ve been dying to see what kind of man your brother is.”

  Rava sighed, her ears flig slightly as a faint, frustrated groan escaped her lips. “Vivienne…”

  Vivieted her eyeshes, leaning in a little closer. “e on, Rava. You’re not afraid I’ll embarrass him, are you?”

  Kavren barked a ugh, his gaze boung betweewo women. “She’s persistent. I like her.” He folded his arms, the grin on his face growing sharper. “What do you say, Rava? Let her py.”

  Rava pihe bridge of her nose, muttering something under her breath. “Fine,” she said at st, shooting Vivienne a warning gnce. “But only if you promise not to destroy anything.”

  Vivienne cpped her hands together, practically boung on her heels. “You have my word. Well, most of it.” She turned back to Kavren, her grin widening like a predator catg the st of prey. “Shall we?”

  Kavren cracked his knuckles, the sharp gleam of his teeth catg in the dim light. “Let’s see if the Nightmare lives up to the whispers.”

  The group made their way to the training grounds, a sprawling courtyard that y bathed in the pale glow of twin moons. The area had long been abandoned for the night, its stone floors dusted with the remnants of earlier scuffles. Kavren strode to the edges of the yard, his massive frame cutting a stark silhouette against the night. He reached out to the dormant nterns lining the courtyard and pressed a hand to one of them. A surge of aether flowed from him, igniting the ntern in a soft, golden glow. One by one, he lit the others, casting the spa warm, flickering light.

  Vivieched Kavren finish lighting the nterns, her arms crossed as she tilted her head to study him. “Ah, a dawn caster. That’s a problem for me,” she said with a faux sigh, her tone carrying the weight of exaggerated disappoi. Still, her smirk gave her away entirely, a pyful edge in her voice betraying her anticipatioail flicked behihe zy motion belying her readiness.

  Kavren made his way to the ter of a sparring circle etched into the courtyard’s stohe light from the nterns casting long shadows that danced across the ground. His movements were slow but deliberate, each step carrying the weight of practiced fidence. He turned, flexing his shoulders as he g Vivieh a sharp grin.

  Kivvy, meanwhile, had stationed herself far off to the side, arms clutg her pack tightly. “I’m not about to bee colteral for whatever nightmare shenanigans this is,” she muttered, carefully stepping further into the shadows.

  Vivienne and Kavren took their pces oher side of the ring, the tensioween them palpable. Rava stepped forward to stand in the middle, her arms crossed and her eyes flig betweewo batants.

  “Rules are simple,” Rava decred, her voice firm and carrying easily in the quiet night air. “First blood wins. Five rounds. And one more thing—no killing your oppo.” She narrowed her eyes at both of them, her tone sharpening. “If you break that rule, I’ll thrash the viyself.”

  Vivieilted her head, a mock-puzzled expression spreading across her face. “But what if we both try to kill each other? Does that mean you’ll thrash us both?” Her smirk widened, and her voice dropped to a teasing purr. “I might not mind.”

  Kavren snorted, shaking his head. “Careful what you wish for, Nightmare. My sister’s thrashings are legendary.”

  Rava’s expression didn’t waver. “Try me and find out, Viv.”

  The tension broke with Vivienne’s ugh, a soft, melodic sound that carried a sinister uone. “Fine, fine. First blood it is. I’ll py nice. Mostly.”

  Kavren crouched slightly, his body nguage shifting into readiness. “Ready whenever you are.”

  Rava stepped back, leaving the ter of the ring clear. Her gaze lingered on Vivienne. “Don’t get cocky.”

  “Me? Cocky? Never,” Vivienne replied with monoce. She cracked her knuckles, then shifted her weight into a stahat seemed casual but held a coiled energy, ready t. Her eyes glinted, her grin feral.

  “Well then,” Rava said as she moved to the edge of the ring. “Begin.”

  The instant Rava’s voice rang out, Kavren moved.

  Vivienne blinked, and in that split sed, he was already upon her. A blur of muscle and speed, he closed the gap between them with a swifthat defied his bulky frame. His fist shot forward, a straight jab aimed squarely at her chest.

  She twisted instinctively, her reflexes sharp enough to avoid the brunt of the blow, but not fast enough to avoid it entirely. Kavren’s knuckles grazed her shoulder, the force of the strike enough to spin her slightly off bance.

  Before she could fully recover, he pivoted on his heel and delivered a low, sweeping kick that knocked her feet out from under her. The stoh her seemed to blur as she fell, and before she hit the ground, Kavren’s bde—when had he drawn it?—flicked across her arm with surgical precision.

  A thin red line appeared on her forearm, a single bead of ichor welling up and trig down her ashen skin.

  Rava’s voice broke through the haze. “First blood: Kavren.”

  Vivienne y on the ground for a moment, staring at the cut in disbelief. She blinked ohen twice, before her tail shed sharply against the stone in frustration. “Well, steel and smoke,” she muttered, propping herself up on one elbow.

  Kavren stepped back, her a hand as his grin widened. “That was... underwhelming, Nightmare. I expected more.”

  Vivienne ignored his hand, rising to her feet in one fluid motion. “Oh, don’t get too fortable, big guy. That was me pying niow?” She tilted her head, her grin sharpening to match the gleam in her bck eyes. “Now I’m ied.”

  Rava crossed her arms, her expressioral but her eyes betraying the slightest hint of amusement. “I told you not to uimate him. Don’t let it happen again, Viv.”

  “Caught ft-footed?” Viviened, brushing a speck of dust off her dress. “No, no. I was testing him. You know, gathering data. And now I’ve got it.”

  Kivvy, watg from the sidelines, snorted. “Yeah, sure. That’s exactly what happened.”

  Vivienne shot her a look, but it was ced with humor. “Careful, Kivvy. I’ll make you my sparring partner.”

  The goblin raised her hands in mock surrender. “Nope! I like living, thanks.”

  Kavren chuckled, his stance already shifting bato readiness. “You’ve got four more rounds, Nightmare. Show me what you’ve got. Unless, of course, you’re afraid of losing again.”

  Vivienne’s grin widened, her aura shifting as a faint ripple of darkness coiled around her. “Oh, I’m far from done. Let’s see how you handle round two.”

  Rava’s voice cut through the air once more. “Begin.”

  This time, Vivienne was the first to move.

  Vivienne surged forward, a blur of motion as her cws extended, glinting faintly iern light. Her grin was feral, her focus razor-sharp as she darted toward Kavren, weaving uably. The pyful demeanor from earlier had been repced with a predatory iy.

  Kavren smirked, standing his ground. As she closed in, he shifted subtly, his feet sliding into a solid stance. When she shed out with a cwed swipe aimed for his shoulder, he sidestepped at the st possible moment, catg her wrist mid-swing with an iron grip.

  “Fast,” Kavren admitted, his tone almost approving. “But you’re still too obvious.”

  Vivienne’s grin didn’t waver. Instead, her tail shot forward, aiming for his ribs. The ued move forced him to release her wrist, awisted to avoid the strike, narrowly missing a sharp jab from her cws.

  “Not bad,” she said, her voice almost a purr. “But I’m just warming up.”

  She spun on her heel, using the momentum to unother strike, this one aimed at his legs. Kavren hopped back, but she followed through with a feint toward his left side, only to pivot sharply and aim a kick at his chest.

  The kick ected, and though he absorbed the blow with a grunt, it forced him a step back. “Better,” Kavren growled, his griurning. “But you’ll need more than that.”

  Vivienne darted back, giving herself space to recalibrate. She was quick, uable, and clearly enjoying the sparring match despite the earlier embarrassment. Kavren’s strength and precision were formidable, but she wasn’t deterred.

  Kivvy, watg from the sidelines, muttered under her breath, “Steel and ders, they’re gonna break the whole courtyard.”

  Rava didn’t respond, her focus entirely on the duel. Her arms were crossed, and though her expression remained calm, there was a glint of something in her eyes—pride, perhaps, or amusement.

  Vivienne shifted her weight, her cws retrag slightly as she raised her hands. “Alright, big guy. Let’s see how you hahis.”

  The air around her grew heavy, a faint ripple of aether emanating from her form. Shadows seemed to stretnaturally, coiling like serpents at her feet.

  Kavren raised a brow. “Finally getting serious?”

  She winked. “Maybe. Try not to cry.”

  She unched herself at him again, this time moving faster, her strikes ing from ued angles. Her movements were a mix of agility and calcuted chaos, desigo test his limits.

  Kavre her strikes with equal ferocity, blog and tering with precision. Their sparring had escated into a whirlwind of cws, fists, and dodges, the air crag with tension.

  This time, Vivienne wasn’t caught ft-footed. Every exge pushed them both closer to the edge, her willing to give an inch.

  From the sidelines, Kivvy let out a low whistle. “This might actually be fun to watch.”

  Rava smirked faintly, murmuring to herself, “About time she showed what she’s made of.”

  Kivvy's eyes flicked from the duel to Rava, her disbelief evident. “Seriously? You’ve fought beside her but haven’t seen her go full-on terror mode? She’s a whirlwind of cws ah. I’ve seen her rip through things twice her size without breaking a sweat!”

  Rava’s gaze never left the sparring match, her lips pressing into a thin line. “We’ve had battles together, yes,” she admitted, her tohoughtful. “But the way you describe it, she’s been... bolder. Reckless, even.” She sighed, her brows furrowing slightly. “I suppose I have missed out.”

  Kivvy snorted. “Missed out? More like dodged a heart attack. Watg her fight’s like witnessing a natural disaster—terrifying, yet you ’t look away.”

  Rava’s smirk returhough it carried a hint of pride. “She does have a fir for the dramatic. Still, there’s a differeween tearing through nameless foes and holding her own against someone like Kavren.”

  Kivvy tilted her head, her ears twitg with curiosity. “You think she’ll win?”

  “Winning isn’t the point here,” Rava said with a shrug. “It’s about proving she belongs.”

  Meanwhile, in the sparring circle, Vivienne’s grin only widened. Kavren was skilled, undeniably so, but she thrived in chaos, and her movements reflected that. Her strikes came from uable angles, f him to adjust stantly.

  Kavren, for his part, looked amused as much as he was focused. “You fight like a wild thing,” he said, his voice steady despite the strain in his muscles. “No form, no discipline. Just raw instinct.”

  “A,” Vivienne tered, darting in with a feint before swiping at his ribs, “I’m still keeping you on your toes, aren’t I?”

  He grinned, stepping back just in time. “Fair point. But instinly gets you so far.”

  Vivieail shed behind her, her body coiling as she prepared for arike. “Careful, big guy. Uimating me might be your first mistake.”

  The two cshed again, their movements a blur. Each time Kavren seemed to gain the upper hand, Viviewisted out of reach or tered with a strike of her own. The air between them was electric, charged with tension aermination.

  From the sidelines, Kivvy muttered, “Steel and ders, she’s actually holding her own against him.”

  “Of course she is,” Rava replied, her tone calm but firm. “She’s more than she seems. But let’s see how long she keep it up.”

  Vivienne, hearing the ent, shot Rava a wink mid-dodge. “I heard that! I’ll have you know, I’m full of surprises.”

  “Show me,” Kavren growled, lunging with a sudden burst of speed.

  Before Vivienne could fully react, his fist grazed her shoulder, drawing the first blood of the round. She stumbled back, her expression shifting from exhiration to surprise.

  “Sed round to me,” Kavren decred with a toothy grin, his voice filled with triumphant satisfa. His eyes gleamed with the thrill of the fight as he took a step back, watg Vivienne carefully.

  Vivieraighteoug the shallow cut on her shoulder with an almost casual air. Her eyes, however, told a different story—a burning iy that made the air around her vibrate with energy. “Alright, big guy,” she purred, her voice smooth and dangerous. “Let’s make this iing.”

  Without warning, her form began to shift, expanding in size as her muscles thied and her limbs stretched. The air around her seemed to pulse as she grew, the meals she had ed over the past few days adding to her mass. In an instant, five additional heads sprouted from her neck, eae hissing and snapping like venomous serpents. Her arms ahied dramatically, transf her into a hulking, terrifying creature on all fours. Her body was now an imposing, monstrous mass of muscle and raw power.

  Each of her new heads hissed in unison, their eyes narrowing with primal huhe sight was both awe-inspiring and terrifying, an apex predator in its prime. She loomed over Kavren now, her monstrous form nearly eclipsing the moonlight that bathed the training grounds.

  Kavren’s face lit up with aed, almost childlike grin as he gazed up at her, the thrill of the fight spurring him onward. “Well now, this is more like it!” He roared, eager to see just how far this battle would go.

  Vivienne’s many eyes flicked toward him, her grin widening into something far more feral. “Gd you think so,” she said, her voice a mix of amusement and barely-tained violence. Her massive form shifted slightly, every muscle coiled and ready to strike.

  “Begin!” Rava anded, her voice ringing clear as she took a step back to watch the phase of the fight unfold.

  Without hesitation, Vivienne lunged forward, her numerous heads snapping at Kavren with unnatural speed. Her enormous limbs thundered against the ground as she closed the distaween them. Each head moved with a mind of its own, striking from multiple angles, while her body remained a blur of savage motion.

  Kavren grinned, clearly enjoying the challenge, and raised his fists, ready to meet her monstrous onsught. “Let’s see if you keep this up, Nightmare!” he roared, his voice deep and full of fervor as he charged toward her.

  SupernovaSymphony