Chapter 762: Annabeth’s Verdict
Chapter 761: Annabeth’s Verdict
13 Days To Go
The training grounds had fallen silent.
The sounds of wolves growling and heavy breathing had faded, replaced by the low murmur of exhausted warriors making their way toward the medical facility. Some limped. Others leaned on their companions for support. A few simply lay where they had fallen, too tired to move, staring up at the pale grey sky as snow drifted down around them.
The scent of blood hung thick in the air. Most of it belonged to the warriors, but some of it belonged to the trainers too, though theirs were just a few scratches. No one had been holding back today.
Annabeth stood near the edge of the grounds, her chest still heaving, her body aching in places she hadn’t known could ache. Her wolf had receded, leaving her standing in human form, her clothes torn and dirtied, her hair plastered to her forehead with sweat.
Beside her stood Ronan.
He looked almost as disheveled as she did, his dark hair mussed, his clothes streaked with dirt and the faintest traces of blood. But there was a lightness in his posture that hadn’t been there before, a relaxed confidence that came from a good fight.
Annabeth sensed the presence before she heard the footsteps.
She turned, her body tensing instinctively, and found Brynhild approaching. The captain of the guards moved with her usual quiet confidence, her silver eyes fixed on nothing, yet somehow aware of everything around her.
Annabeth swallowed nervously.
Brynhild stopped a short distance away, her head tilting slightly as she listened to the sound of Annabeth’s breathing. A faint smile curved at the corner of her lips.
"Why are you nervous?" she asked.
Annabeth’s throat tightened. She had hoped her nervousness wasn’t obvious, but Brynhild had seen right through her. Or rather, she had heard right through her.
"I’m sure you’re here to tell me if I’ll be joining the fight or not," she said. "I’m just... waiting for the verdict."
Brynhild nodded slowly.
"That’s true. But I’m not the one who will give the verdict."
She turned her head slightly, her gaze shifting in Ronan’s direction.
Ronan blinked, caught off guard.
"You’re serious?"
Brynhild’s smile widened slightly.
"I am. After all, you fought with Annabeth one on one. You saw what she was capable of. I want your opinion."
Ronan frowned, glancing between Brynhild and Annabeth.
"I’m not the only one she fought though. She went against Kevin too."
"I know," Brynhild said calmly. "But I still want your opinion."
He hesitated, his brow furrowing.
"Aren’t you scared I’ll be biased or maybe lie?"
Brynhild shook her head slowly.
"Orion may be the one with the gift, but it’s rubbed off on all of us. Besides, I trust you. You’re not going to be biased about something this serious. This isn’t a game after all. Lives are at stake."
Ronan was quiet for a moment, his gaze shifting to Annabeth. She looked nervous. Her hands were clasped tightly in front of her, her shoulders tense, her eyes fixed on him with an intensity that made him want to look away.
He sighed, then turned back to Brynhild.
"Fine."
He paused, choosing his words carefully.
"Annabeth, when compared to most of our warriors, falls short."
Annabeth’s heart sank.
Ronan continued, his voice steady but not unkind.
"While she tried to pull her weight, it’s obvious that she’s not quite there yet. Sometimes her grip on her sword gets clumsy. She hesitates when she should be turning, and she focuses too much on her environment instead of trusting her instincts. She’s thinking too much and not reacting fast enough."
Annabeth’s heart rate quickened. Her chest tightened, and she felt a wave of disappointment wash over her. She had tried her best, but it wasn’t enough.
She could not explain why she felt this sad. Maybe it was because she thought she had done well. Maybe it was because it was Ronan saying it.
Oh, who was she kidding?
She felt sad because it was Ronan saying it. Stating her flaws when she thought she had actually impressed him. She had wanted him to see her as capable for some reason.
But she should have known. She should have known she hadn’t impressed him.
She lowered her gaze then.
He turned to her, then back to Brynhild. His expression shifted slightly, something softening behind his eyes.
"That being said," he continued, "I hate to say this, but Annabeth—with a little brush-up—is actually quite suitable to join us."
Annabeth paused.
She blinked, her head snapping up.
"What did you just say?"
He met her gaze, a small smile tugging at the corner of his lips.
"I said you’re good."
Annabeth stared at him, confusion written across her face.
"But you just said—"
"I said your flaws so you’d know what to work on," Ronan interrupted gently. "Other than that, you’re good. You held your ground against me. And though I’m not the strongest warrior, I’m still capable, and you held against me. You’re rough around the edges, yes, but you can improve."
He paused, his gaze softening.
"And you fought Kevin too. Though you didn’t get close, you tried. That’s enough. That’s what matters."
Annabeth turned to Brynhild, her eyes wide, her heart pounding.
Brynhild was smiling.
"I knew you would be honest, brother," she said.
Ronan sighed, rubbing the back of his neck.
"I don’t want her to join the fight with us though," he admitted. "I’d rather have her in the compound, safe with the others. But I also know we need all the help we can get. And she is capable of helping us."
Brynhild nodded slowly, then turned to Annabeth.
"I’ll still ask others for their opinions first. But I’ll get back to you before the end of the day."
Annabeth bowed her head, a wave of relief washing over her.
"Thank you. I won’t let you down."
Brynhild waved a hand and began walking toward Kevin, her steps quick and purposeful.
Annabeth turned to Ronan then, her heart still racing.
"Thank you," she said softly. "For what you said. For giving me a chance."
"I only spoke the truth. You’re thanking me like I did you a favour when I did not," he told her.
"Still... thank you for being honest."
Ronan stared at her, his gaze intense, and then he leaned down, his voice soft as he spoke.
"Are you okay, sweet girl?"
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