Page 275 of Axis of Fire

I never expected words like that from Airis.

But I decided not to dwell on them.

I didn’t want to scare away the real version of him.

The one who frightened me far more than his cold exterior ever had.

Because good men could break you far more painfully than bad ones ever would.

Finally pulling myself together, I spoke.

“The future deserves your attention far more than the past ever will.”

Anastasia Lang’s POV

Wahlslan.

Gray.

Painfully small.

And suffocating beneath its endless rules.

I hated it.

This was the City of Defense—

The place where weapons used across nearly all twelve worlds were forged.

But to me, it felt like a prison.

I couldn’t stand places where laws and regulations stripped people of the freedom to truly live.

Tarven and I walked through the narrow streets toward the main arena, which occupied a massive portion of the city since most warriors trained there in weapon combat.

Tarven, meanwhile, seemed genuinely excited about all of this.

“For today’s training, I brought several different weapons,” he said, carrying an absurdly heavy bag over one shoulder, a katana strapped to its side.

“We’ll see which one suits you best.”

“You honestly think I’ll bond with any of them?” I arched a brow.

“Turns out you’re even more delusional than I thought.”

“With a teacher like me,” Tarven replied with a smug grin, “it’s impossible not to improve.”

“You should probably tone down your confidence a little.”

“And you should stop being so ridiculously skeptical about Wahlslan.”

I didn't answer.

But my long, theatrical sigh made it perfectly clear what I thought of that.

“The most important thing is finding the right dagger weight,” Tarven instructed later, once we reached the arena crowded with trainees.

“You shouldn’t feel unnecessary weight in your hand.”