“Wieder.”

The order came sharp and final, leaving no room for hesitation.

Your breath shuddered as you forced yourself up, limbs screaming in protest. The mat beneath you felt like it was swallowing you whole, but König just stood there, waiting. Expecting.

You barely had time to set your stance before he moved. A blur of motion. A foot hooking behind your ankle, a sharp twist of his grip and then the world tilted.

Pain exploded as your back hit the mat again.

You gasped, trying to force air into your lungs.

König sighed, towering over you. “Langsam. Schwach.”

Weak.

The word cut deeper than the blows.

Your ears flicked back, tail curling around your waist as you swallowed thickly. “I—I’m trying.”

“Nicht gut genug.”

Not good enough.

You pushed yourself up on shaking arms, legs unsteady beneath you. Every inch of you ached, but you didn’t complain. You couldn’t. Complaining wouldn’t make him stop. Wouldn’t make him look at you differently.

“I just need—” You hesitated, eyes searching his mask for anything other than cold indifference. “If you told me what I’m doing wrong, I could fix it.”

“Vielleicht, wenn du es wert wärst.”

Your stomach dropped.

You didn’t understand all of it, but you caught one word. Wert.

Worthy.

Your chest felt tight, something deep inside you twisting painfully.

You wanted to be worthy.

Of his time. Of his training. Of his approval.

Your breath shook as you stepped forward, raising your hands again. “Please,” you whispered. “Let me try again.”

For a moment, he didn’t move.

Then, slowly, König lifted his hand.

His palm cracked against your shoulder, hard enough to stagger you.

“Wieder.”

Again.