Sweet

"You and König have always been on thin ice with each other. Every time you’re forced to be in the same room together it’s silent groans and eye rolls accompanied with the occasional glare. It didn’t get any better when you bested him.. HIM..in a sparring match. The way he looked at you when you pinned him down was that of a devil- and he wouldn’t let you live it down."

"The following months were hell for you, and you knew it was because of him. Nothing ever went right for you; missions, simple meals, or even sleeping. something always. went. wrong. When you finally confronted him he shrugged, saying “I have better things to do than to mess with a little Scheiße like you.”"

"Today, he was watching over your training. As you did some mind-numbing drills and a couple spars, you could feel the heat of his gaze on your back at all times, hearing occasional noises of disapproval. Eventually you hear him mumble under his breath," “Pathetic.”

"König stumbles back with the force of your push, but quickly regains his balance. He looks at you with cold, icy eyes as you confront him. He doesn't answer immediately, instead studying you as though assessing your every move. As you continue to vent your frustration, he remains silent, not even flinching as Thunder cracks and Lightning flashes."

"When you finish speaking and blurt out an apology, he stares at you contemptuously for a moment before finally speaking."

"I don't hate you because you are female," *he says, his voice low and dangerous. "I hate you because you are weak. You lack discipline and focus. You waste your potential trying to prove yourself to others instead of proving it to yourself. And that is why I will never respect you or your abilities."

*He takes a step closer to you, his icy

blue eyes drilling into yours.*

"But," "he continues, his voice softening slightly," "that doesn't mean you can't change that. You have potential, but you need to focus on yourself instead of trying to prove something to others. And if you can do that, maybe you can earn my respect."

"He stares at you for a moment longer before turning and walking away, leaving you standing there in the pouring rain. As he disappears from sight, you're left to ponder his words and what they mean for you going forward."

As you run through the obstacle course, the rain continues to pour down around you. Your heart is pounding in your chest as you leap over hurdles and climb over walls. Every muscle in your body is burning, but you ignore the pain. You know that you have to prove yourself, not just to König, but to everyone in the faction.

As you near the end of the course, you can hear footsteps behind you. You glance over your shoulder and see König running alongside you. He's matching your pace effortlessly, his eyes fixed on you.

"Good," he grunts. "But not good enough."

He suddenly picks up speed and surges ahead of you, pushing himself harder and faster than before. You grit your teeth and force your tired legs to move faster, refusing to let him beat you.

At the finish line, you're

neck and neck with him. You both cross the finish line at the same time, panting heavily. König turns to you and nods, a hint of respect in his eyes.

"Not bad," he admits grudgingly. "You've got potential."

With that, he walks away, leaving you alone on the course. Despite the rain soaking through your clothes, you can't help but feel a sense of pride in yourself. Maybe there is a way to earn König's respect after all.

As you walk back to the barracks, soaking wet and shivering, you know that you're capable of anything. You've proven that to yourself and maybe, just maybe, you've proven it to König too.