Beside her, Anzo sat at a nearby table, his fists clenched tightly, his teeth gritting in frustration.
“Ha!”
“I win again.”
Miyu said with pride.
Anzo’s jaw tensed as he shot her a heated glare. “One more round,” he said through gritted teeth. “I’ll win for sure.”
Miyu’s smirk only deepened as she turned to gaze at him. She leaned forward slightly.
“Ha, in your dreams, Anzo,” she said, her voice laced with amusement. “What is this now, like the 50th time?”
“That’s not true! Since when have we been keeping count?” Anzo stammered, his face flushing with irritation.
Miyu tilted her head slightly, her smile almost condescending. “Since the first time you lost.”
Anzo’s hands tightened around his cup, his frustration could easily be seen in his stiff posture. He shot a glance at her, his pride wounded.
“Just wait.”
“Next time will be different.”
Alister then said, “Since when did the two of them get so close?”
Axel and Blitz exchanged amused glances before responding.
“Well, while you were busy in your brief coma, Anzo decided to challenge Miyu,” Axel said with a shrug, “thinking that since she’s your sister, she’d definitely be a worthy opponent.”
Blitz then spoke with a playful smirk, “And Miyu beat him.”
Alister raised an eyebrow, almost sounding surprised. “She did? Really?”
Blitz chuckled softly. “Why so surprised, boss? She is your sister. Maybe some of all that ‘macho’ you got also runs in her veins.”
Alister gave a soft sigh, shaking his head. “Enough with the teasing.”
Blitz leaned back in her chair with a grin, her arms resting casually on the table. “Anything for you, boss.”
Alister sighed, finally finishing his meal before his expression turned thoughtful. “Where are Lila and Beatrice? I haven’t seen them this morning.”
Axel leaned back in his chair, a piece of toast still dangling from his hand. “They’re on the training grounds.”
Alister’s brows furrowed slightly. “This early? Did they skip breakfast?”
Blitz folded her arms, her pink eyes glinting with amusement. “Who knows? Not like they’re trying to catch up to your legendary appetite, maybe you missed them.”
Axel chuckled, finishing his toast. “Doubt they could manage that, so that should most likely be the case.”
Blitz and Axel exchanged a knowing look before standing simultaneously, brushing crumbs off their clothes.
“Well, catch you later, boss, we’ve got something to do,” Axel said, stretching lazily.
Blitz then spoke, “Team activities don’t resume for a while, so we’re off the hook for now.” Alister nodded but didn’t respond, his thoughts already drifting toward the training grounds.
Meanwhile… In the training grounds
The crisp morning air was filled with the clash of steel and the heavy ‘THUD’ of impact.
On the training grounds, Lila, gripping her sword tightly, lunged forward with a determined expression.
Her brown hair clung to her sweat-dampened face, and her green eyes shone with resolve.
Opposite her, Beatrice stood, her massive hammer resting casually on her shoulder, pink hair framing her calm blue eyes.
“Come on, Lila! Again!” Beatrice shouted.
Beatrice’s hammer clashed with Lila’s blade with a deafening clang, sending vibrations up both their arms.
Lila gritted her teeth, her knees nearly buckling under the sheer force.
With a swift twist, Beatrice countered, sending Lila stumbling backward before a final blow knocked her off her feet entirely.
Lila hit the ground hard, dust rising around her as she lay sprawled, gasping for breath. Beatrice lowered her hammer and stepped closer, offering a hand.
“That’s enough, Lila,” Beatrice said softly. “You’re pushing yourself too hard. Let’s call it a day.”
Lila slapped her hand away, struggling to her feet. Her sword trembled in her grip as she stood, panting heavily. “No,” she said firmly. “I won’t stop. I can’t stop.”
Beatrice frowned, crossing her arms. “Lila, this isn’t healthy. You’ll hurt yourself-“
“I have to keep moving forward!” Lila interrupted, her voice filled with emotion. Her knuckles whitened as she tightened her grip on her sword.
In her mind, memories played like a slideshow-moments of being left behind in the academy she attended, of watching others surpass her, of the crushing loneliness that came with failure.
‘I can’t go through that again,’ she thought, her heart pounding. ‘I won’t be left behind… I… I don’t want to be alone anymore.’
Beatrice’s expression softened, her stance relaxing slightly as she observed the fire burning in Lila’s eyes. “Lila…”
“I’m not giving up!” Lila shouted, cutting off any words to talk her out of it. She steadied her trembling legs, raising her sword again. Her breath came in ragged bursts, but her resolve remained unshaken.
Without waiting for a response, Lila charged forward, her sword glinting in the morning sun. Her form slightly sloppy from exhaustion but no less fierce.
Beatrice sighed, hefting her hammer once more. “If you’re that stubborn, I guess I have no choice.” She braced herself, her feet digging into the ground as she prepared to meet Lila’s
attack.
Lila swung her sword with all the strength she could muster, the blade cutting through the air with a sharp whistle. Beatrice blocked with ease, the impact reverberating through both weapons as sparks flew.
But Lila didn’t stop. She pressed forward with a flurry of strikes, each one more desperate
than the last.
Beatrice parried skillfully, her movements far smoother than Lila’s.
“You’ve got fire, Lila, I’ll give you that,” Beatrice said, her voice steady despite the intensity of their sparring. “But raw determination won’t win battles. You need control.”
“I’ll learn!” Lila shot back, her voice hoarse. “But I’m not stopping until I do!”
Beatrice smirked faintly. “Then show me.”
Their clash continued, the sound of steel and hammer echoing across the training grounds. Lila’s body screamed in pain, her muscles burning, but she refused to stop.
In the distance, a figure watched silently from the shadows of the nearby trees. Alister’s arms
were crossed, his gaze fixed on the scene before him. His expression was unreadable, but there was a glint of approval in his eyes as he observed Lila’s relentless spirit.
‘She’s got heart,’ he thought to himself.
‘But why does she look so… desperate?’