After the training, Iris said, "How are you so strong? I doubt you're even trying, yet I can't land a single hit. And I know Liebe is stronger."
Licht said, "Yeah, a bit."
Liebe said, "Actually, we're more or less the same."
Iris said, "Strong and humble, huh?"
Licht shrugged. "Well, yeah. Close enough."
Iris sighed. "Even after six hours, I couldn't touch you."
Licht said, "Yeah, I noticed something—you were focusing in the wrong area."
Iris said, "How?"
Olivia smirked. "Well, I doubt it's really strength—beating one weakly injured girl."
Licht said, "Agreed. So why not make it a 1v2? I don't mind fighting both of you. In fact, I'll even allow you to use your familia."
Olivia said, "That confident now, are you?"
Licht said, "Not confident—precise."
Olivia said, "Okay then."
Liebe grinned. "One second, let me get some Coke. This'll be fun."
Licht said, "Then let's make it a no-holds-barred match. Feel free to use your magic to its full extent—I'll use about twenty-five percent."
Olivia said, "And what are the win conditions?"
Liebe said, "Simple. First one on the ground loses. For you two to win, just make Licht fall. And for you, Licht—take them both down."
Licht said, "Okay then, Liebe. You're the referee."
Liebe said, "Everyone, start fifteen meters apart."
As Olivia drew her lance, Liebe counted down. "In 3… 2… 1… Begin!"
Olivia said, "Ice Magic: Frozen Start!"
As the field froze, Licht dashed across the ice. Olivia's eyes widened. "Even as a skater, I can't move like that!"
Iris said, "Look at his boots—he's using magic to create tiny spikes under them. That's why he has traction."
Olivia said, "Gelieth! Match his attack!"
Licht smirked. "Now the fun begins."
Gelieth slammed the ground, sending up jagged ice spikes.
Iris said, "Mirror Magic: Mirror Beams!"
Liebe muttered from the side, "As if that'll do anything…"
Licht said, "Light Magic: Purging Wave!" He slashed, shattering the spikes into nothing.
Gelieth managed to block, but Licht was already closing in. Olivia blinked—then felt the ground shift. Gelieth froze mid-motion as thin holy cuts appeared across its limbs.
In the blink of an eye, Licht vanished—then appeared behind Olivia.
Olivia stammered, "How did you—"
Licht said, "Did what, exactly? Turn your weapons into hunks of metal?"
Olivia's lance split cleanly down the middle, while Iris's staff clattered to the ground.
Iris gasped, "How!?"
Licht said calmly, "Shatter."
Her mirrors cracked and exploded into dust. Then, with a playful kick, Licht made Olivia stumble and fall backward.
"Well," he said, lowering his rapier, "that was fun."
Liebe whistled. "Damn, that was fast."
He drew his sword toward Iris with a teasing smile.
Iris quickly raised her hands. "We quit!"
Licht said, "Well, that settles that."
Liebe tossed him a can. "That was fun."
Licht caught it. "Dew, huh? My favorite."
Liebe tossed two more cans—one to Iris and one to Olivia.
Iris said, "Thanks."
Liebe said, "Don't sweat it. And sorry about your weapons—I don't mind fixing those for you."
Iris said, "That'd be asking too much. You've already helped us train, and now that you're a captain…"
Liebe said, "Judging by the damage, it'll take me about ten minutes to fix."
Olivia and Iris both said at once, "Are you sure you're not stronger than Licht?"
Liebe chuckled. "No, we're about the same. Maybe I'm stronger, but he's faster."
Licht said, "Trust me—if Liebe went full twenty-five percent, it wouldn't be a fight. It'd be a slaughter. You'd be cleaning Gelieth off the floor in pieces."
Olivia said, "Then next time, Liebe, you fight."
Liebe said, "Sure. How about tomorrow?"
Olivia said, "Deal."
Licht said, "Sorry, he can't. We're packed for the next three days."
Iris said, "We understand."
Later That Night
As Liebe was training with his dual swords, Licht passed him a can of Dew.
Licht said, "Quite tragic, isn't it?"
Liebe said, "About… what exactly?"
Licht said, "The fact that people look at you and only see strength. They just blame it on talent. Not a single one sees the years of training and the hard work. It's easier to pretend you were just born that way."
Liebe said, "I'm not that hardworking anyway. And if they admitted that, they'd have to face the truth—that they're not giving it their all. Blaming talent is just easier."
Licht said, "If only people could meet the real you—the one behind the image. Maybe reality would be a little kinder."
Liebe laughed. "Dude, what are you saying? I'm far too lazy to think that way. Like I always say—if you have time to complain about others, you have more than enough time to train. Guess I really want to complain inside."
Licht chuckled. "Yeah."
Then he said, "Light Magic: Cleansing Light!" and slashed toward a nearby bush.
Two startled voices cried out.
It was Iris and Olivia.
Liebe said, "Iris? Olivia? What are you doing here?"
Olivia said, "We were just—uh—checking if you guys were okay."
Iris said, "Sorry!"
Liebe sighed. "It's fine."
Olivia admitted, "Okay, fine—we were listening in."
Licht crossed his arms. "Sad to know."
Liebe said, "And what made you think listening to our conversation would help you in any way?"
Iris said, "Olivia wanted to know the secret to your secret."
Licht said, "Well, now you know. Now get lost."
Olivia said, "That's rude!"
Licht said, "You know what else is rude? Trespassing and eavesdropping."
Just then, Hedin appeared. "Liebe, can I talk to you for a bit?"
Liebe said, "Sure. And Olivia—please don't do that again."
Olivia said, "Okay, fine."
Licht added, "Now go."
As they left, Liebe said, "You were a bit harsh, weren't you?"
Licht said, "I just get annoyed when people disregard privacy and act like doing something wrong will somehow help."
Liebe nodded. "Fair enough."