<h4>Chapter 617: More Than A Casual Flirt</h4>


    Even when broken, she talks like she is building herself back up, piece by piece. No trace of fear, just fire.


    Herughter rang lightly as she added, "So do not underestimate me just because I’m sitting down. My brain’s busy working overtime."


    Arthur almost smiled. Almost. Instead, he folded his arms, concealing the warmth stirring in his chest. "I see... so you already know more than I thought."


    But inside, his thoughts betrayed him: She makes me want to believe in her. Every time she speaks like that, I forget the impossibility of it all.


    "Smart girl," Arthur said, this time without a trace of hesitation. The praise slipped out naturally, and though his tone was calm, it carried the weight of sincerity. "Here is our training routine for today."


    Nnenna straightened instantly, adjusting in her chair so she could focus fully. He does not waste words. If he’s about to teach, I need to catch everything. She thought.


    Arthur folded the towel he had been using and set it aside, his dark eyes narrowing in thought before he began. "The first technique is called Palm Root Striking. It relies on your upper body, your shoulders, arms, and the heel of your palm. No kicking, no shifting weight onto your legs. Just pure, sharp impact delivered with stability from your core. With precision, even someone twice your size will feel like they’ve been struck with a hammer."


    Nnenna’s eyebrows shot up, impressed. "So I can break bones without standing up?" she teased, though her eyes gleamed with genuine interest.


    Arthur gave her a long look, almost like he was weighing how much of her amusement was bravado. "If you train enough, yes. But it’s not just about strength. It’s about directing your force correctly. That will be your weapon, not your legs."


    He’s choosing his words so carefully, Nnenna noticed, watching the slight pauses, the measured way he framed each sentence. Like he’s afraid one wrong phrase will remind her she can’t walk. He didn’t want her to think she’s fragile, even though he still sees her that way.


    Arthur shifted slightly, his voice steady as he continued. "The second technique is Deflective Redirection. You won’t always have the strength to match a direct blow. But you can use angles and timing. With your arms, you’ll guide an opponent’s attack away from you, letting their own force overextend them. It’s not shy, but it’s efficient, and it doesn’t require standing."


    Nnenna leaned forward, absorbing every word. "So instead of blocking like a wall... I be a door that swings them off course?"


    A faint flicker of approval crossed Arthur’s features, almost a smile, but restrained, as always. "Exactly. A clever door that doesn’t break under pressure."


    Her chest swelled at the praise, even if it was wrapped in his usual coolness. She still noticed he was holding back, not knowing he didn’t need to.


    She nodded firmly. "Then let’s do it."


    Arthur studied her for a moment longer, his expression unreadable. Fragile... but not breakable. She’ll prove that herself soon enough.


    Just as they were about to begin practicing the two techniques, faint footsteps echoed in the distance.


    Arthur reacted first, his posture shifting as his eyes turned sharply toward the sound. A few momentster, Nnenna wheeled her head around too, catching the faint disturbance that had pulled his attention.


    Arthur’s gaze lingered on her now, narrowed. She’s slower than me, yes, but not by much. That wasn’t just her copying my movement. She heard it too.


    His thoughts flicked back, unbidden, to those long days when she had been in aa. Did her hearing sharpen to make up for her sight being gone? The conclusion came easily, almost instinctively. Most likely.


    <fn2514> The source of th?s content is find?novel</fn2514>


    And yet... it didn’t add up. The medical tests had been clear, her hearing shouldn’t even be functioning fully. But it was.


    Arthur’s jaw tightened faintly as another memory surfaced. Back in Lionara, she bent medicalws in ways that frustrated even the best doctors. Again and again, the impossible seemed to bend around her.


    For a heartbeat, the curiosity burned, sharp and demanding. Why her? Why does she defy the limits the rest of us live by?


    But almost as quickly as the thought came, he pushed it aside. She’s not a specimen for research. She’s... Nnenna.


    His eyes softened, if only slightly, as he watched her, still alert, listening for the source of the footsteps. Despite everything, she was improving faster than anyone had a right to expect.


    Arthur exhaled quietly through his nose, almost amused. At this rate, I’ll need to push myself harder. Otherwise, the student just might be the teacher one day.


    The corner of his lips twitched, the faintest hint of determination behind his calm.


    After a few more minutes, the neer finally came into view. Darius.


    "Boy, do you guys wake up too early," he said, shaking his head dramatically. His gaze slid straight to Nnenna in her training clothes. "You know that’s not healthy for a growing girl, right?"


    But before Nnenna could even respond, Arthur cut in, his tone sharp. "You’re her psychiatrist, not her internal health doctor."


    Darius lifted his hands in mock surrender. "I know, I know," he said, backing off after a few seconds, though the grin on his face didn’t falter.


    "So... what are you two up to?" he asked, and without hesitation, made his way to Nnenna as though pulled by an invisible ma. Squatting down in front of her, he leaned in, shing his most charming smile, deliberately closing the space between them.


    "Why are you all dressed up?" he teased.


    Nnenna didn’t flinch, she simply shoved his face back with one hand, creating distance. "Since when are training clothes considered ’dressed up’?" she asked tly.


    "Since training clothes look like a stunning red cocktail gown on you," Darius replied without missing a beat, his voice carrying an effortless sincerity that made the line hit harder than a casual flirt.