The wooden training sword splintered into three pieces.
Lucian fell backward and landed hard on the dirt of the abandoned training yard. He lay there, gasping for air.
Raziel stood over him, his breathing was completely even.
"You are not human anymore," Lucian groaned.
He accepted Raziel's extended hand and pulled himself up. "I swung at your blind spot. You didn't even look. You just moved."
"You telegraphed the strike with your shoulder," Raziel said flatly.
Lucian dusted off his pants. "Three weeks until the Ascension Tournament. If you fight like this, you are going to break the other novices in half."
"That is the plan."
Lara was sitting on a stone bench a few yards away.
"Sit," Lara told Raziel.
Raziel obeyed, walked over to the grass in front of her and crossed his legs.
"Close your eyes," Lara instructed. "Find the anchor."
This was the second part of his training.
