In the palace gardens, the maris flowers still bloomed stubbornly—delicate, silver-tipped petals standing resilient against the creeping chill. The sky was a crisp, cloudless blue, and by evening, the air grew sharp enough that the girls wrapped themselves in light cloaks while training.
Shade had taken to curling under Evelyn's collar for warmth, its slender body coiling like a silken ribbon against her neck. The serpent seemed to dislike the cold, often nestling itself in the folds of her clothing with a hiss of complaint whenever the breeze picked up.
Life continued in its quiet rhythm, but Evelyn remained watchful.
She sat on a shaded wooden bench, a book resting untouched on her lap. Her eyes, cool and distant, scanned the training ground. Shade's violet eyes blinked slowly, its tail flicking now and then in rhythm with Evelyn's thoughts—calm, but alert.
Cassy was in the center of the training ground, sparring against a wooden dummy. Her strikes were fierce, her stance steadier than before, though she still faltered in transition. Sweat lined her brow, but her eyes burned with determination.
Though Cassy had successfully summoned Shade, the serpent, the summoning lacked the seamless precision Evelyn demanded. During the summoning ritual, Evelyn had sensed a faint instability in Cassy's mana—subtle, but telling. It was enough for Evelyn to point out that while the summoning had been technically correct, Cassy's concentration was still fragmented, her control not yet refined.
Evelyn had instructed her to sharpen her focus, to temper her thoughts and tighten the reins on her power. The summoning was a step forward, yes—but not enough.
Nearby, Lily was channeling fire into her palms, testing the balance of heat and control. The flames danced across her fingertips, flickering bright orange against the soft sunlight.
A little farther off, Lora moved with quiet intensity, her sword slicing through the air with controlled precision. She wasn't fighting a dummy—she danced with the blade itself. Each swing was deliberate, each pivot sharp. Her expression was focused, her brow furrowed in concentration as she practiced the forms Gerald had drilled into her. Her breathing was steady—measured.
Claire sat in a quiet corner with a large book balanced on her knees, her lips moving as she mouthed spells to herself, eyes darting between paragraphs. Every few seconds, her hand would twitch toward the air beside her, as if drawing symbols from memory.
At the far end of the training ground, Ella was locked in a sparring session with Gerald. Or rather, Gerald was instructing her, offering calm corrections as their wooden blades clashed in rhythm.
Unlike Cassy's aggressive and eager style, Ella's form was more measured. Her grip had improved, her footwork more grounded. The wild, uncertain swings from before had slowly been replaced by cleaner strikes, sharper angles.
Gerald blocked another of her strikes with practiced ease, his tone calm but firm.
Gerald: "Steady. You're not chopping firewood. Flow, not force."
Ella huffed, adjusting her grip.
Ella: "I am flowing! Like a hammer flows into a nail!"
Lora laughed as she swung her training sword in a wide arc, breathless but grinning.
Lora: "You're still better than me. My sword's basically a glorified broomstick at this point."
Ella (teasing): "Hey, broomsticks have their uses. You could always join the cleaning ward."
Lora: "Ha-ha. Very funny. Maybe I'll use it to sweep you off your feet in a duel."
Cassy, striking the wooden dummy with precision, didn't miss a beat.
Cassy: "Careful, she means that literally."
Lily with a flickering flame on her fingertip, chimed in with a dramatic sigh.
Lily: "At least you're swinging. I nearly burned the garden trying to 'ignite with intent.' Whatever that means."
Claire said softly without looking up from her book.
Claire: "It… means exactly what it s-says."
Cassy: "Honestly, I'm just impressed Lily hasn't set the palace on fire yet."
Lora: "Yet."
Lily rolled her eyes, muttering something about "no faith in brilliance," while poking the air with a spark at her fingertip.
They all chuckled again, the easy camaraderie crackling louder than any flame Lily could conjure. Shade gave a small flick of its tail on Evelyn's shoulder, unimpressed.
Ella wiped the sweat from her brow, breathing evenly. Her expression, once clouded by hesitation, now held a quiet resolve.
Nearby, Evelyn's gaze lingered briefly on them. Gerald's voice reached her clearly—firm but composed, never wasting words. He didn't coddle them. But he didn't push them recklessly either.
Evelyn's eyes held no outward emotion, but there was a softness—faint, fleeting—as if the quiet determination in Ella reminded her of something distant, long buried.
Ella lunged again.
Clack.
Their wooden blades met mid-air. This time, she managed to hold the stance instead of stumbling.
Gerald gave her a rare nod of approval.
And Melinda, ever the quiet one, was crouched near the edge of the training ground. A small cage sat in front of her, housing four rat. She'd prepared a soft green vial of poison and was watching the effects with keen precision—taking notes, adjusting dosage, monitoring how the concoction reacted. Her concentration was unnervingly calm.
The scene was lively in its own way—framed by golden trees and fallen leaves, with chatter and laughter weaving through the air.
The low, amber light glimmered through the turning branches, casting long shadows across the training ground. Warm golden hues wrapped the world in a quiet kind of melancholy, but the girls pressed on in their training.
Lily flung her hands up in frustration, her voice cutting through the air.
Lily: "Why does the fire magic falter now? It was perfect yesterday!"
Cassy: "Because you're overthinking again. Your mana's jittery."
Lily: "Oh, thanks, great summoner."
She said with a dramatic bow, her voice dripping sarcasm.
Lily: "Maybe if I had a wind ghost whispering in my ear, I wouldn't have to think."
Cassy rolled her eyes, arms crossed.
Cassy: "I don't whisper. I lecture. Know the difference."
Melinda: "Lily, you did almost set Cassy's hair on fire last time. That flame spike went wild."
Melinda said while observing the scurrying rats in the cage.
Lily: "That was one time! And her hair looks fine!"
Cassy: "Because I acted fast enough. You're welcome."
Hearing their complaints, Lora paused mid-swing, resting her wooden sword on her shoulder.
Lora: "I still remember the smell of burnt air. Honestly, I thought her braid was done for."
Lily: "Traitors, all of you."
Melinda: "We're just being supportive. Supportively honest."
Cassy: "And maybe a little traumatized."