Path of the Unmentioned: The Missing Piece-Chapter 116: The Crown Princess [3]

The moment Anastasia D’Argent stepped onto the training field. The atmosphere changed like someone had flipped a switch.

The students weren’t laughing or talking anymore. Every eye turned to her.

She stood tall in the center of the field, arms folded, her black coat fluttering slightly in the wind.

Her crimson eyes swept over the class slowly, like a predator sizing up a herd.

The usual energy and chatter vanished. Even the loudest. Most carefree students suddenly stood up straighter.

"Instructor Hale is unavailable today," she said, voice smooth but with a sharpness beneath it. "So you’re stuck with me."

Some students actually looked relieved. A few even smiled quietly to themselves.

Instructor Hale’s training was infamous. Endless drills, brutal sparring, and no mercy. Compared to him. Anyone else seemed like a blessing.

But then Anastasia smiled.

It wasn’t the kind of smile that made you feel safe.

It was the kind of smile that made your stomach twist.

Near the edge of the field. Eleanora had been calmly stretching.

At that smile. She froze mid-motion. Her eyes narrowed, and a small shiver ran down her spine.

She knew that look.

It wasn’t a smile of kindness. It was the smile of someone who enjoyed watching people break.

"Let’s start with 200 laps," Anastasia said lightly, as if she were announcing the weather.

"Then we’ll move on to 300 push-ups and 300 sit-ups. Standard warm-up."

The silence that followed was heavy.

Then—

"WHAT?!"

Gasps and shocked murmurs broke out like an explosion.

Even Kyle, who usually kept his cool during class. Felt his eye twitch. He didn’t say anything, but his muscles tensed.

Hale’s training was already extreme. 100 laps, 200 push-ups, 200 sit-ups. This was even worse.

One brave student raised a hand. His voice hesitant. "Uh... Instructor Hale normally only has us do—"

Anastasia didn’t even look at him.

"Add another 100 laps."

Her voice was still calm. The smile never left her face.

The poor student sat down again without a word.

No one else dared to speak.

The training field was massive. Easily four times the size of a football field.

Wide, open space, surrounded by mana-infused barriers to contain rogue spells.

It was designed to be large enough for real combat drills. But that also meant running just twenty lap was already exhausting.

Doing 200 was a nightmare.

Still, no one argued. The students began to move, their footsteps a mix of stomps and shuffles.

Some groaned, others stayed silent. No one wanted to risk adding more to the count.

Kyle kept a steady pace. His breathing was calm, even.

He didn’t waste energy by pushing too hard early on. The images. Blood. Screams. Dead Bodies. Kept flashing in his head. They refused to leave him alone.

A soft voice brought him back.

"Hey."

Kyle turned his head. Eleanora was running beside him. Her expression calm, her pace steady.

Despite everything. Her posture was perfect, her breathing smooth.

"Hey." Kyle replied.

For a while, they said nothing. Just ran in silence. The sound of their footsteps and the distant groans of other students filled the air.

Then she spoke again, quiet and careful.

"How are you?"

Kyle blinked, surprised. He looked at her but saw she wasn’t looking at him. Her eyes were focused forward.

There was something in her voice. Not just concern. It was softer. A little guilty, maybe.

He gave a small smile. "I’m okay. You?"

She hesitated. "I’m... okay, I think."

More silence passed. The kind that didn’t feel uncomfortable, just... heavy.

Kyle’s voice dropped to a whisper. "Thanks."

Eleanora glanced at him. "For what?"

He didn’t say the words out loud. But she knew.

He meant the secret.

She’d kept quiet about what happened on the train. Not the attack, but his secret.

His multiple affinities. Something no one else could know.

She gave a small nod. "You don’t have to thank me."

Before Kyle could reply. A new voice cut in. Playful, mocking.

"Aww, how sweet."

They both turned, and nearly stumbled.

Anastasia was right there beside them. Running at the same pace like it was nothing.

Her ponytail bounced gently behind her, not a single hair out of place. She wasn’t even sweating.

Eleanora’s eyes widened slightly. "Big Sis—"

"Dear Ellie," Anastasia said, tilting her head with a fake smile. "Would you like another 100 laps for chatting during drills?"

Eleanora’s jaw clenched. "...No, Instructor."

Anastasia hummed, clearly enjoying herself. Then her crimson eyes slid toward Kyle.

"And you, pretty boy—"

Kyle almost tripped.

His brain stopped working for a second.

’Did she just...?’

"Cat got your tongue?" she teased. "Or do you want extra laps too?"

Kyle quickly shook his head. "No, ma’am."

"Good," she said with a wink. "Then pick up the pace."

And just like that. She sped ahead, jogging effortlessly past them like they were standing still.

Kyle stared after her for a moment, trying to process everything. Then he looked at Eleanora.

"...What the hell was that?"

Eleanora sighed. Brushing a few strands of hair from her face.

"That’s just how she is," she said quietly. "Get used to it."

Kyle groaned under his breath.

———

[One Eternity Later]

Students were lying everywhere, on their backs, their sides. Some even face down.

Completely worn out. Their uniforms were soaked in sweat, and the only sounds were heavy breathing and quiet groans.

Muscles ached. Arms and legs refused to move.

Even the most athletic among them were struggling to stay conscious.

Cedric. Usually the first one to recover, was sprawled on his back with one arm covering his eyes. His chest rising and falling like he’d just fought a war.

At the center of it all stood Anastasia D’Argent. Fresh as ever.

Not a single drop of sweat touched her flawless skin. Her black hair. Tied neatly in a high ponytail, didn’t even look ruffled.

She casually twirled a wooden practice sword in her hand. The motion smooth and effortless.

She looked more like someone warming up for a morning stroll than someone who had just pushed nearly hundred students to the brink of collapse.

"Alright, good work," she said cheerfully. Her voice far too upbeat for what they’d just endured. "Ten-minute break."

A wave of relief passed through the group.

Some students rolled over and hugged the ground like it was the softest bed they’d ever known.

Others groaned in thanks. Not even having the energy to speak.

But then Anastasia smiled.

And that smile spelled trouble.

"Now," she said, spinning the wooden sword once before pointing it at the group.

"Who wants to fight me?"

Silence.

Every single student suddenly found something interesting to look at on the ground.

No one made eye contact.

Cassian let out a quiet curse under his breath. Luna actually whined.

Cedric didn’t move. His pride was legendary. But even he knew better than to volunteer for this.

Getting up now would be suicide.

Anastasia scanned the group slowly, clearly enjoying the awkward silence.

Her eyes hovered on Cedric, and for a second, he visibly tensed. But she moved on.

Then she stopped.

"Pretty boy."

Kyle froze. Halfway through drinking from his water bottle, spitting his water on the ground.

Luna and Cassian both snorted with laughter. Luna even clapped a hand over her mouth to hide her grin.

"You’re up," Anastasia said, pointing her wooden sword straight at him.

Kyle groaned and wiped his mouth with the back of his hand. He could feel everyone’s eyes on him. Of course she’d pick him.

He pushed himself up. His body ached from the earlier drills, but he didn’t complain.

He walked toward the weapon rack, his steps steady.

Normally, he wouldn’t even look at these practice weapons.

Zalrielle. His spirit. Hated it when he used anything else.

She couldn’t speak. But Kyle could always feel her emotions.

Annoyance. Jealousy. Even pride

Whenever he picked her up or left her behind.

But right now?

Silence.

It was a little unsettling.

But maybe Zalrielle understood that Kyle was still recovering from the attack and didn’t want to bother him.

Maybe, just this once. She chose to stay quiet out of concern.

’Thanks Zal.’ he thought silently.

He picked up a wooden tachi, testing the weight in his hands.

It wasn’t perfect, but it was close enough. The grip was rougher, the balance slightly off. But he adjusted quickly.

Anastasia was waiting in the center of the sparring ring, calm and casual.

She tapped the ground with her foot and smiled.

"Don’t worry," she said. "I won’t attack."

Kyle raised an eyebrow.

"Your goal is simple. Move me from this spot. Just one step is enough. That’s all."

That didn’t sound hard.

But Kyle wasn’t fooled.

He heard the murmurs from the other students.

"That’s it?"

"Just move her?"

"Sounds easy..."

They clearly didn’t get it.

Kyle did.

This wasn’t about strength. It wasn’t even about speed. It was about control. Precision. Skill. And Anastasia had all of it, and then some.

"Oh," she added casually. "And no mana. Pure technique only."

Kyle nodded slowly and exhaled.

No mana? Fine. He could work with that.

He took his stance, feet shoulder-width apart, body angled slightly.

The wooden tachi rested at his side, and his eyes locked onto her.

The moment stretched.

The air around them seemed to still.

Even the exhausted students sat up to watch, sensing the tension.

Anastasia didn’t move.

She just stood there, sword resting against her shoulder.

Watching him with a confident smile that somehow made her look both kind and dangerous at the same time.

Kyle focused.

This was a test.

And he didn’t plan on failing.

———