Challenge in the Nest
Schwing—!!!
Another arrow whistled through the air.
“Eek?!”
Tonya dropped flat to the ground, dodging the incoming projectile in a panic. The motion looked for all the world like he was bowing to Adel.
Did that really come from over there?
No way, coincidence, right?
The commotion drew every trainee's gaze in the training yard. But what shocked them wasn't Adel—it was the distance between him and the pair. From the nest entrance to where the two stood was a good long stretch.
“Oops. My bad again. Man, these practice bows are just... crap, huh?”
Tonya and Sian looked up to find Adel standing there, plucking the empty bowstring with a grin.
“You...”
“Me?”
“S-Sorry, Lord Adel.”
Tonya bowed his head in haste. Sian looked equally displeased but followed suit.
“Kidding. Once you're in the nest, age and rank don't matter—you're all just trainees. No need for formalities. Besides, you're older than me, aren't you?”
Adel eyed him coolly.
“That slip-up earlier was obvious, so you'll let it slide, right?”
“...Of course.”
“I said drop the formal talk. Wanna die?”
“P-Pardon? Uh, no, I mean...”
Tonya blinked in confusion, cold sweat trickling down his forehead as he tried to figure out the rhythm.
“They say nest training is brutal... but it doesn't seem that way. Chatting loud enough to hear from way over here during sword drills?”
“P-Pardon? No, uh... well...”
Tonya mumbled to himself, still lost on how to respond.
“Going easy on the captains' kids? Hey, maybe they'll carry you around like a palanquin instead of running laps?”
The two exchanged awkward glances, unsure how to reply.
“I get you're curious who'll be next chief, but blabbing it openly? The other candidates might get offended.”
Adel leaned down toward Tonya, who had his head bowed.
“That's what you think? That I've got no shot? Debating which brother's better—you seem to know your stuff. Care to share your wisdom?”
“Th-That's...”
“Enough.”
Adel turned at the sharp, clear voice from behind him.
“Even as Hien's son, you can't ride a palanquin during training—or corner trainees for chit-chat.”
It was her. Despite her young age and sun-darkened bronze skin, the solid muscles rippling across her frame marked her as no ordinary girl—clearly stronger than the pair before.
“Though I'm all for using those two as benches. It'd free up space in the yard.”
“And as Hien's son, my courtesy ends here. Lucky for you, I'm your age—casual's fine, right?”
“Whatever.”
She stepped right up to Adel.
“Smart move missing that second shot on purpose. Hit him, and he'd probably cry.”
“Hm, you've got sharp eyes.”
“Damn right. Not like some people.”
She shrugged.
“Good thing it's free time. An instructor would've chewed you out, even as Hien's eighth.”
That kid...
Adel nearly greeted her warmly before catching himself and lowering his raised hand.
“Myurn's a stickler. But getting on his good side pays off. Strict, but fair—not hung up on status.”
She extended her hand to Adel.
“Myurn judges purely on talent. Met him?”
“At the entrance. Heard Muel's his daughter too.”
Adel glanced at her outstretched hand.
“Yeah? Well, I'm daughter of the Black Crows.”
Was she emphasizing she was different from those two? Or just confident in her skills like Muel?
She put a subtle edge on her words.
Fair enough. Daughter of Nazan—she's got reason to be proud.
Adel didn't rate Nazan highly out of mere gratitude for the man's affection in his past life. Excluding Hien, when it came to pure skill in the Ulan tribe, Nazan was top-tier.
Muel's a fine hunter too, same rank, but for straight-up hunting? Nazan's better.
But Adel's idea of hunting went beyond beasts and monsters.
There were many kinds of hunts. The Ulan had various hunting bands, but the Black Crows were special—they hunted humans.
That was key to Ulan's dominance in the desert.
Past life, I was too weak to learn much from Nazan.
Adel knew he'd need Nazan's techniques ahead. More foes would be human than monster on his path.
“You're right—they're hogging yard space uselessly. Still, captains' sons. Bad manners saying it to their faces.”
“Haha, and you're so polite?”
“My bad.”
Kasla gave Adel a look like he'd lost his mind, but he held up his empty bow.
“You think I was rude too, Heila? Rating captains' kids without the brothers here?”
“No, sir.”
He turned to the woman standing silently behind him. Her expression didn't flicker.
“Then punishing them as the little brother isn't wrong, right?”
“...Pardon?”
“Thinking of thrashing that Sian first.”
“Th-That's...”
But her face showed a flicker of unease at the second part.
As expected.
Adel smirked inwardly. He'd pegged who planted her as his attendant.
Checked on the way here. How many captains' kids are in the nest right now.
Four total. No need to ask which houses backed Merka or Syrin.
And Syrin's side was just Tonya's clan.
Heila might not be from Tonya's house—could be other Syrin supporters among the captains. But one example would do.
And with a Syrin loyal like Tonya here? Perfect chance to send a message.
“Misunderstanding. N-No, really!”
“We'll see once we spar.”
“Eek...!!”
Tonya's face went ashen as he waved his hands frantically.
“Hold on.”
Suddenly, someone stepped beside the flustered Tonya.
“Enough. Fighting like this is no good. This is the nest—trainees only, no ranks. No one's qualified to punish another.”
Tonya looked up at the man like a savior, eyes shining.
It was Nest overseer Myurn.
“Comparing brothers like objects—you want me to stand by, Myurn?”
“Here, brothers and clans don't matter. Only skill. Their fault was chatting during drills—the instructors will handle it. You're a trainee too.”
“...Understood.”
Adel clicked his tongue in disappointment but nodded.
Tonya inwardly cheered, sighing in relief.
“What about training, then?”
“...Hm?”
“Can a trainee challenge another to spar?”
“Principle says no—seniors challenging juniors. Seniors have more training.”
Myurn eyed Tonya.
“But juniors challenging seniors? That's nest rules.”
Tonya's face drained of color.
“The first to learn being caught by the latecomer means lacking talent. Knowing your gaps helps.”
“Is me challenging Tonya against rules?”
“In the nest, age and status mean nothing. By tenure, he's two levels your senior.”
“I see.”
“He arrived at thirteen. Your challenge fits rules.”
“Thank you.”
Adel nodded.
“Instructors can be sly. You just handed him a legal way around.”
A boy sidled up beside Kasla, watching. He was tall for his age—head above the rest.
“Myurn didn't like it either. The Great Bow Nest is sacred—for making hunters, not captains' politics.”
“As fellow captain's kid, you cool with that?”
“Fellow? Don't lump us. Clears yard space—music to my ears.”
The boy chuckled awkwardly and nodded at Kasla's retort.
“Good.”
With Myurn's okay, Adel grabbed a wooden sword from the nearby rack. He frowned—it lacked a real edge.
“Well then...”
Still, no edge meant he could whale on the guy freely. Small comfort.
“Challenge accepted?”
The words hit like a death sentence.