Adrian gasped for breath as he hit the ground hard. Medea's unexpected attack had hit him in the chet and knocked the air out of him, sending him skidding across the dew-soaked grass.

His vision swam as he struggled to sit up. "What the hell was that for?" he coughed, glaring at Medea, who was already walking toward him, her expression as calm and unreadable as ever.

"Your enemies will never play nice," she said matter-of-factly in a cold voice. "You can't afford to drop your guard, even for a second. Know that."

She knelt down and collected her sword with composure, its dark blade giving a soft glow in the morning light. With a flick of her wrist, she sheathed it, then turned to face Adrian with a raised eyebrow.

"Now," she said with a slight smirk, "where were we?"

Adrian pushed himself to his feet, his body aching from the blast, but his pride stung even more. He wiped the dirt from his face and met Medea's gaze, determined not to let her shake him. "Fine," he growled, summoning his chains again. "Let's continue."

Medea didn't respond, but there was a glint in her eyes as she settled back into her fighting stance. Without warning, she lunged forward, her speed even faster now, her movements sharper and more aggressive.

This time, Adrian was ready for her as she drew out her sword again, his fiery chains moving in perfect sync with his body as he countered her strikes.

The two of them clashed with renewed intensity, the sound of steel against fire echoing through the clearing. Each strike was calculated, each movement precise. Medea's attacks were as relentless as ever, but Adrian was no longer reacting blindly.

He was learning to anticipate, to feel the rhythm of the fight.

Medea twisted her body mid-air, her sword slicing toward his left side. Adrian turned, dodging the blow and lashing out with his chains in a fluid motion. Medea leaped back, her feet barely touching the ground as she evaded his attack, but Adrian pressed forward, not giving her a moment to regain control.

His chains darted toward her again, aiming to wrap around her arms. Medea blocked with her sword, but Adrian's chains wrapped around the blade, pulling her off balance.

For a split second, she was exposed, her posture faltering.

Seizing the opportunity, Adrian swung his sword in a wide arc, aiming for her midsection. Medea managed to deflect the strike, but the force of the blow sent her stumbling back, her boots skidding against the ground.

Adrian pressed his advantage, his fiery chains snapping toward her legs, trying to sweep her off her feet. But Medea was a seasoned fighter with super fast instinct and reaction time. She recovered quickly.

She spun gracefully, avoiding the chains, and slashed upward with her sword, cutting through one of the fiery links. Adrian grimaced but didn't let up. He was getting closer, forcing her into a corner.

In a desperate move, Medea fired another blast of dark energy, but this time Adrian was prepared. He sidestepped the attack and lunged forward, his chains wrapping around her sword arm like he did before.

With a sharp tug, he yanked the weapon from her grasp and sent it flying into the bushes.

Breathing heavily, he stood over her, grinning. "Looks like I win this round," he said, his voice filled with satisfaction.

But Medea's smirk told him otherwise. She flicked her fingers, and a ball of dark energy formed in her palm. With a swift motion, she fired it straight at Adrian's chest, knocking him off his feet once again.

"Once bitten… twice shy. Never get cocky," Medea said coolly, watching as Adrian groaned and rolled onto his back, staring up at the sky. "It'll get you killed."

Adrian lay there for a moment, catching his breath, before pushing himself up onto his elbows. "You could've given me a heads-up," he muttered, wincing as he sat up.

Medea approached, offering him a hand. "Your enemies won't give you a warning," she said simply.

Adrian took her hand and let her pull him to his feet. His body ached from the repeated impacts, but he couldn't deny that Medea was right. The fight wasn't just about strength—it was about being smart, staying focused, and never underestimating your opponent.

As he dusted himself off, he glanced at Medea, who was now retrieving her sword from the bushes. "You really don't hold back, do you?"

Medea sheathed her blade and looked at him with a faint smile. "You wouldn't learn anything if I did."

Adrian chuckled, shaking his head. "Fair enough. But next time, maybe aim for the legs instead of my chest."

Medea's smile widened slightly. "We'll see. Anyway, you're learning quickly. But remember, it's not just about brute force. It's about control."

Adrian wiped the sweat from his brow and stood up straight, meeting her gaze. "I get it," he said, his voice steady despite his exhaustion. "I'll get better."

Medea gave him a rare, approving nod. "You will. But for now, that's enough."

As they made their way back to the campsite, Adrian couldn't help but feel a newfound sense of determination. The training had pushed him to his limits, but he knew it was necessary. The Shadow Court wouldn't hold back, and neither could he.

When they returned, they found Lilith sitting by the fire, her eyes still heavy with sleep but a mischievous grin already playing on her lips. "You two have been busy," she purred, stretching languidly.

Adrian groaned, rubbing his sore shoulder. "Oh, it was a blast."

Lilith smirked. "Well, if you ever want a different kind of training session, darling, you know where to find me."

Adrian chuckled, shaking his head. "You're impossible."

Lilith winked at him. "That's why you love me, darling."

Medea, ignoring the banter, settled down by the fire and began sharpening her sword. Her eyes, however, flicked up toward Adrian, watching him carefully.

"Whatever you're doing," she said quietly, "you have just one hour. We'll resume our session after breakfast. The Shadow Court will use everything they can to break you."

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