"You can take your time to read the scroll," Cecilia said, "but words on parchment are only an outline."
"Executioner's Path is not just a list of movements. It is a philosophy, a rhythm of battle. And you must learn it from the ground up."
Noah gave a small nod. His shadows crowded closer, restless, as if they were just as eager to hear the truth behind this new way of killing.
Cecilia raised one hand, ticking a finger as she began. "Executioner's Path has three steps. Three only. But each one must be mastered until it is instinct, not thought."
"Step one is called Entry." She began to pace, her boots scraping softly across the sand. "This is the beginning of every kill."
"Entry means you close the distance explosively, without hesitation, without warning, and without giving the opponent the space to mount a defense. If they have a weapon, they won't have time to raise it. If they have a spell, they won't be able to finish it. Entry is about erasing time from their options."
