"I underestimated the distance," Hiro admitted while consulting the crumpled map. "Really underestimated it."

  He looked up at the group. "Are you tired? Do you want to take a break?"

  "Just look at Cassian," Lena said, pointing. "That answers your question."

  Cassian was visibly exhausted. Her shoulders slumped. Her feet dragged slightly with each step. Strands of hair stuck to her sweaty forehead.

  Hiro frowned. "Why didn't you say anything?"

  Cassian ignored him completely, collapsing unceremoniously onto a flat rock.

  I've never walked this much distance on foot. NEVER.

  On Earth, she took her car. Or the bus. Or anything with wheels and an engine.

  Walking for hours? It was torture.

  Right after sitting down, she felt the pains coming.

  Wave after wave.

  Her calves burned. Her thighs screamed. Her feet howled in protest.

  "Ow. Ow ow ow."

  Everyone settled around her, equally exhausted.

  Lena sat cross-legged, closing her eyes. Her hands began to glow with a soft, greenish light.

  "Body Relief," she murmured.

  The light spread, enveloping the whole group in a soothing aura.

  Cassian felt the effects immediately.

  The pain in her legs diminished. Not completely—but enough to be bearable.

  This is so convenient.

  "Thanks," she said sincerely.

  Lena opened one eye, smiling slightly. "You're welcome."

  "It's been a while since we stopped following the paths," Hiro noted, folding the map. "We're getting closer to our goal."

  Cassian stood up slowly, stretching. Then approached Hiro.

  "Hey."

  He looked up. "Yeah?"

  "Can I examine your sword?"

  Hiro blinked, surprised. "Uh..." He unbuckled it from his belt, handing it to her. "Sure. Why?"

  Cassian took the sword carefully, weighing it. "I'm just looking to improve my magic."

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  She ran her finger along the blade. "This is the first time I've held a real sword."

  Hiro watched her attentively.

  "With my magic," Cassian continued, "I was trying to create weapons based only on visuals. Imagining how the weapon was supposed to be."

  She frowned. "But I noticed it had bad consequences. The ice weapons I created were pale copies of the real ones."

  "How so?" Lucia asked, interested.

  "The weight was wrong. The balance was wrong. They broke too easily." Cassian shook her head. "But when I create ice objects inspired by things I'm used to using, the creation is much more faithful. Better."

  She paused. "For example, a knife. I can create a perfect ice knife. But only a kitchen knife. Because that's the one I use regularly."

  "So you want to get used to the sword," Hiro concluded.

  "Exactly."

  Hiro shook his head. "You don't need to learn that. The best would be for you to specialize in ranged combat."

  "I insist," Cassian said firmly. "I want to be able to handle any situation."

  Hiro thought inwardly: If I protect Cassian, she won't have to worry about fighting in close combat.

  But he could see she was too determined.

  He sighed. "It's good to know how to create an ice sword. But you also need to know how to wield a sword."

  "Exactly," Cassian said with a smile. "You could teach me."

  Hiro froze, his cheeks turning slightly pink. "I... I've never taught swordsmanship to anyone. I'm probably bad at it."

  He scratched the back of his head in embarrassment. "It was Lena's father who taught me. And Lena was really good with the sword. She helped me when I didn't understand things."

  "I was really bad," he admitted with a nervous laugh.

  Lena snorted. "Oh, I remember. You confused the guard and the point."

  "Once. It happened ONCE."

  "Twice."

  "...Maybe twice."

  Lena turned to Cassian, smiling. "I can teach you the basics."

  She paused. "But really, the best would be for you to focus on ranged magic."

  "By learning this," Cassian explained, "I learn to better control my mana. In the end, my ranged magic benefits too."

  "That makes sense," Lucia admitted. "Besides, since you're thirsty to learn..." She smiled. "I could teach you the language."

  Cassian froze.

  That's right.

  All this time, she had been talking to people thanks to Hiro's automatic translation.

  Without that, she would be incapable of having a normal conversation with anyone.

  I'm completely dependent.

  "You're right," she said slowly. "I need to know the language."

  She sighed. "It's going to take a long time."

  Lena stood up, drawing her sword. "Okay. Let's start."

  Cassian quickly created an ice sword—rough, unbalanced, but functional.

  Lena examined the blade with a critical eye. "Not bad. But the weight is wrong."

  "I know. That's why I'm training."

  "Okay." Lena got into position. "Some basic moves first."

  She demonstrated three simple strikes. A vertical strike. A horizontal strike. A diagonal strike.

  "Easy, right?"

  Cassian tried to replicate them.

  Her movements were awkward, hesitant.

  "Not bad for a first time," Lena said. "Now, practice."

  She raised her sword.

  Cassian backed away immediately. "Wait. We're using REAL swords?"

  "Obviously."

  "This could get dangerous!"

  Lena smiled. "There's nothing else. We make do with what we have."

  "We could use tree branches," Cassian suggested, pointing toward the nearby forest.

  "No." Lena's tone was firm. "You need to get used to the feel of a real sword. Not ruin everything under the pretext of safety."

  She approached. "You need to get used to the danger a sword represents. For yourself. And for others."

  Cassian stared at her for a few seconds.

  Then nodded slowly. "Okay. I understand."

  A few minutes later, Cassian already regretted it.

  Lena attacked relentlessly, her sword tracing deadly arcs through the air.

  Cassian blocked desperately, her arms trembling with each impact.

  Clang. Clang. Clang.

  "You're supposed to show FIRST!" Cassian shouted, backing away. "Then explain! Not the other way around!"

  Lena laughed, continuing to attack. "It's more fun this way."

  "Fun?!"

  Clang.

  Lena's sword stopped a hair's breadth from Cassian's face.

  Cassian froze, eyes wide.

  "See?" Lena smiled. "I control it perfectly."

  "You control NOTHING!"

  Hiro watched from afar, smiling nostalgically.

  Lena has always been a bit violent in training.

  Memories came back to him. Him, younger, getting dominated exactly like Cassian now.

  Good times.

  "Originally," Lucia said, crossing her arms, "we were just supposed to rest a few minutes before leaving. Not do this."

  "She's right," Cassian panted, blocking another strike. "Lena, stop."

  "Since we've already started," Lena said, attacking again, "we have to finish."

  Clang.

  "You're enjoying this too much!"

  "Not at all," Lena denied, smiling widely.

  Liar.

  This is a golden opportunity. It's not every day I'll have the chance to go after Cassian so openly.

  She accelerated her attacks.

  Cassian backed up, backed up, until her back hit a tree.

  Trapped.

  "Damn."

  Lena raised her sword.

  Cassian closed her eyes.

  Thunk.

  The blade sank into the bark a few inches from Cassian's head.

  "Dead," Lena announced cheerfully.

  Cassian opened her eyes, trembling. "I... I already regret my choice."

  "Why?" Lena withdrew her sword. "You're learning fast."

  "I'm learning NOTHING!" Cassian slid down the tree, sitting on the ground. "Originally, I just wanted to know the structure of a sword. Not get victimized for free."

  Lena laughed. "It's the same thing."

  "It's NOT the same thing."

  Hiro approached, extending a hand to help Cassian up. "You did well for a first time."

  "No. No, I didn't do well." Cassian took his hand, standing up with a grimace. "Lena massacred me."

  "It's the learning process," Lucia said with an encouraging smile.

  "The learning process of TORTURE."

  "You're being dramatic," Lena said, sheathing her sword. "We'll do it again tonight."

  "What? No."

  "Yes."

  "I refuse."

  "You agreed to train." Lena smiled innocently. "So we train."

  Cassian stared at her in horror.

  What did I do to deserve this?