Chapter 5: The First Lesson

Mira stood in the dimly lit training hall, arms crossed as she watched Aurelio move with effortless precision. The space, tucked away in the Bellatores’ private estate, was nothing like the lavish halls of the mansion. It was raw, practical—built for conditioning, combat, and control.

She had barely slept the night before, her mind plagued with thoughts of escape, defiance, and the man now standing before her. Aurelio Ricci was an enigma—calm, unreadable, but undeniably dangerous. And today, she would find out exactly what kind of mentor he intended to be.

“Punctual,” Aurelio said as he glanced at the clock. “That’s a good start.”

Mira scoffed. “I don’t have a choice, do I?”

Aurelio smirked, stepping closer. “You always have a choice. The question is—are you strong enough to live with the consequences?”

Something about the way he said it made her uneasy. It wasn’t just a warning—it was a truth he had learned firsthand.

He tossed a small knife onto the mat between them. “Pick it up.”

Mira hesitated, her eyes flickering between him and the weapon. “What for?”

Aurelio’s expression remained neutral. “Because if you’re going to survive in this world, you need to learn how to fight.”

She clenched her jaw. “I don’t need a knife to fight.”

His gaze darkened slightly. “Then prove it.”

Before she could react, he moved—fast, deliberate. In seconds, he was behind her, gripping her wrist and twisting it just enough to show her how easily he could control her movements. She tensed, instinct kicking in as she elbowed him in the ribs, but he barely flinched.

“Good instinct,” he murmured, releasing her. “But instinct alone won’t save you.”

Mira turned to face him fully, breath uneven. She hated the way he unsettled her—how he exposed the gaps in her strength so effortlessly.

Aurelio stepped back, arms crossed. “This isn’t about brute force, Mira. It’s about control. Precision. If you want to be more than just your father’s pawn, you need to stop thinking like a protected princess.”

She narrowed her eyes. “I’m not a princess.”

Aurelio smirked again. “Then prove it.”

Mira stared at the knife on the mat, heart pounding. This wasn’t just about training—it was about survival. About control.

With a slow breath, she reached down and picked up the blade. If this was the game they wanted her to play, she would learn the rules.

But she would play to win.

Aurelio watched her closely, his sharp eyes studying every movement as she adjusted her grip on the knife. He wasn’t just testing her skill—he was testing her will. How far was she willing to go? How much of herself was she prepared to sacrifice to survive in this world? Mira felt the weight of the blade in her hand, its cool metal unfamiliar but not unwelcome. She had spent years trapped in the safety of her family’s legacy, but now, standing in this training hall, she realized something chilling—safety was an illusion.

She tightened her hold and lunged, aiming a calculated strike at Aurelio. He sidestepped effortlessly, his expression unreadable as he deflected her attack. But this time, she didn’t hesitate. She adjusted, using the momentum of his movement to strike again. A flicker of approval crossed his face as he caught her wrist mid-swing. “Not bad,” he murmured, voice low. “But if you hesitate in a real fight, you’re dead.” Mira gritted her teeth, wrenching herself free. She didn’t know if she hated him or respected him—but she did know one thing. She would learn. Not for her father. Not for Aurelio. But for herself.

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