"How much... longer to the valley?" Sera asked, bent over with one arm braced on her knee and the other resting against a tree for support. Sweat slid down her pale face, and her breathing came heavy.
Mana exhaustion paired with physical strain from the fight earlier.. it was catching up to her.
I glanced ahead. "Let me see… about a day's walk from here."
She exhaled hard, her head hanging. "Huff…"
I frowned. "I told you to rest after that fight, didn't I? But no, you had to act tough." I walked closer, watching her try to steady herself.
Her eyes lifted to me. "How are you fine after walking five hours straight without even eating?"
I gave her a small smile. "Let's just rest." Sliding the luggage off her back, I set it down and helped her sit against the tree. She stretched her arms, her body twitching slightly from the strain.
"Fighting with mana drains stamina in seconds," she muttered.
I nodded. "Yeah. And without aura to support your muscles, it's even worse. Most A-rank and above title holders use aura to strengthen themselves when fighting with swords while casting spells with mana."
I spread out a mat on the grass and unpacked the food we'd carried. Bread, dried meat, hard cheese, a few apples, and a small pouch of nuts. Simple enough for travelers.
"But still," Sera said, taking a bite of the bread, "I want to fight more. It feels good… when your effort pays off, when you feel your techniques improving."
I chewed a strip of dried meat and swallowed. "Then how about we spar after resting for a while?"
She tilted her head, surprised. "Rune… you've never trained with swords."
"I know how to hold one," I said.
Her lips curved into a knowing smile. "I appreciate you trying to help… but I'm fine. You don't have to force yourself."
This girl. She was seriously looking down on me.
"Fine," I said. "Go easy on me. But if you lose, you'll have to do one thing I ask. No questions."
[What are you going to make that poor girl do?]
I'm not a pervert like you.
[You —
He wrote something else, but I ignored it. Probably an insult.
Then Sera slowly crawled toward me, hands pressed into the grass, her body arched low. My throat went dry as her chest shifted with every movement.
"What…" I asked.
Her face drew close, almost brushing mine. Her cherry-colored lips curved as she whispered near my ear. "If you lose… we'll do what we didn't that night in the inn."
My heart skipped. "That night…?" My eyes betrayed me, drawn to the way her chest moved with her breath.
Her lips came closer. "You know… our first night together."
A shiver ran down my spine.
Maybe I should lose.
[You have no right to call me a pervert.]
I swallowed hard.
Then Sera pulled back suddenly, laughing. "Just kidding!"
"What?!"
"You'll get hurt, Rune. I promised I wouldn't let anyone hurt you, didn't I?"
I narrowed my eyes. "Sounds like someone's afraid of losing."
She laughed, light and teasing. "Come on, you know the reality."
"Yes, yes," I said with mock weariness. "We both knew, and that's why you're afraid."
[7/10 Rage bait.]
She pouted slightly. "Now you're pushing it."
I exhaled and stretched. "Seriously, Sera. Let's try a match. After lunch."
[You can't keep hiding your abilities in the valley anyway. Better let her know now.]
"That's the plan," I said silently. "Besides, Tugnier's not the type to be fooled."
[I kinda miss him.]
A faint smile tugged at me. "I can't wait to meet him either."
*****
Sera's pov:
The breeze from the trees brushed past me, loosening my white hair again, spreading it wide around my face. Maybe I should cut it someday.
Still, the wind was refreshing, even under the midday heat. Another reason why I've always loved forests.
I looked down at the sword Rune had given me. Its edge gleamed sharper than any sword I'd ever seen. A few feet away, Rune stood facing me, swinging my father's old sword, the one I'd brought along as his keepsake.
I only saw my father three times in my life. The third was his dead body.
Rune lifted the blunt, battered sword with both hands. For a moment, his eyes widened as he gazed at it. Then he turned to his right, looking into the empty air, and nodded as if someone invisible stood there beside him. He even smiled at the sword.
Whatever… he'd been acting strange a lot lately.
"Hey, Rune," I called, holding my hair back from falling into my eyes. "We don't have to do this. Just tell me what you want me to do."
I really didn't want to see him get hurt. He'd already been through too much with that bastard Vorrak. If I'd been as strong back then as I am now, I would have killed Vorrak on the spot and fled the village with Rune next minute.
"It won't work that way!" Rune shouted, his voice carrying against the wind.
What won't? I frowned.
"Whatever, Rune!" I yelled back. "Just.. just sit down after this one. We won't spar again if I win. That's my condition."
He nodded, then raised his voice, steady and firm. "Come at me with your best shot!"
Was he serious? He had to be kidding. Fine. I'd make him fall once, and then this would be over.
I drew my blade and turned its sharp edge towards me. Rune had changed so much. Maybe he just wanted to act big in front of me… to impress me.
I chuckled quietly at the thought. I wanted him to see me that way too. But, deep down, it didn't feel like that was what he was really thinking.
I exhaled and moved my right foot forward, sliding my right arm back, elbow tucked behind me. The sword leveled horizontally at eye height, its tip being led by my outstretched left arm.
This stance… it was the one my mother taught me. She always said the sword felt most like an extension of her own body this way. She drilled me in her footwork until it was second nature. I never lost a single spar to anyone, except her.
A pang of sadness stirred in my chest. I really believed I would meet her again, right before I bit my tongue to end it all… before Rune came with the guards.
I forced the feeling down, focusing on him. One sharp attack, that was all it would take. I'd strike the sword from his grip and push him to the ground.
I narrowed my eyes. "Here I come, Rune!" I shouted.
His grin only widened.
I launched off the ground.