Crimson Prințesă's Arc

Chapter 5 of 10

Maria landed her winged mount inside the training arena. The stone walls glowed orange through tall Gothic windows. Her legion could march now. But a legion meant nothing if she could not stand against a real warrior. Word had reached her days before, and it stung. Hanako Tepes had ice magic. Maria had always believed she alone was Jiro Minamoto's true prodigy. Her sword master had trained her to be unbeatable. Now his own niece claimed the same gift. Jiro waited on the sand, arms folded. His topknot was tied tight, his kimono dark with blue flowers. He was Maria's teacher, the man who once made her strike ten thousand times a night. "Two of my best," he said. "You wanted a test before Dracula's fight day. You will have one." Hanako walked out beside him. Her white veil dragged across the sand, two miles of it trailing behind her crown. She spoke like the matter was already settled. "He taught me first. Blood is loud. Ice is quiet. We will see which lasts." "Ice," Maria said. "You freeze water. I move the water inside you." Her red gown swept as she stepped forward. Her ruby headdress caught the orange light. Hanako drew her katana. Gold and diamond flashed along the sleek blade. Frost crept up the steel. She struck, and the air went cold. A wall of ice raced toward Maria across the sand. Maria did not run. She reached for the blood in Hanako's veins. She felt the heartbeat pull toward her, tugged off its rhythm. "Pulling a river by its throat," she whispered. The ice wall shattered inches from her feet. Hanako's arm locked mid-swing. Her fingers would not close. Jiro watched without a word. Hanako fought the grip. She poured cold into her blade until frost hissed. But Maria held her whole bloodstream now, every vein bent to one throat. She forced Hanako's knee down into the sand. The katana dropped. "Yield," Maria said. Hanako's jaw shook. "I yield." The word came out flat and final. The frost died. Her heartbeat crashed back into its own rhythm. Maria released her. Hanako rose, silent, and gathered her fallen blade. She did not bow. She walked out, veil sweeping the sand behind her. Jiro stepped close. For the first time in years, he looked at Maria with something new. "No one has bent Hanako to the ground," he said. "Not once. You are too strong for the arena now." "Good," Maria said. "No." His voice went hard. "Dracula heard already. He will not put you against soldiers. He wants you against his rivals. The other clans will see what you can do." He turned to leave. "They will come for you before you ever raise your legion. Be ready." Maria looked at her hands. She had won. Now every enemy in Walachia knew exactly how much they should fear her.