Brannic's training grounds were quiet this morning.
Not empty—never empty—but quiet in the way only a place designed for violence could be. Scored earth. Splintered targets. Reinforced barriers repaired so many times they'd become permanent scars.
Llandra stood at the edge of the field, bow resting lightly in her hand.
"I haven't chosen any of my new skills yet," she said.
Jax looked at her in mild surprise. "None of them?"
She shook her head. "I wanted… your input."
He stepped closer. "What are your options?"
Llandra raised her hand, summoning her system. Translucent panels bloomed into the air between them.
"I can choose one Legendary skill," she said, then hesitated. "And… about fifteen others."
Jax let out a low whistle. "That's not a small decision."
"It isn't," she agreed. "That's why I waited."
He nodded once. "Alright. Start with the Legendary. How does it work?"
Llandra took a breath and explained.
Astral Echo.
Two perfect duplicates. Autonomous. Tactical. Her true body turning invisible the moment the skill activated.
When she finished, there was a pause.
Then Jax said, simply, "That's incredible."
Her shoulders relaxed just a fraction.
"It's not just powerful," he continued. "It's versatile. Deception, control, survival… this one's a no-brainer."
She nodded. "I thought so too."
"What else?"
She scrolled.
"Starfall Volley. Everdraw Quiver. Arrow of Binding. Arrow of Severance. Phantom Step. Sovereign Sight. A few others."
Jax studied the list carefully.
"At the end of the day," he said slowly, "the choice is yours. But I want you to prioritize survival. Always. Your safety—and the others'—comes first."
Llandra understood why he said it.
But something in her chest twisted anyway.
She didn't say it aloud, but the thought burned quietly behind her eyes.
I don't want to just survive.
I want to be useful.
Worthy.
They tested combinations in theory first.
Starfall Volley with Everdraw Quiver was an obvious pairing—overwhelming, sustainable firepower.
"That's artillery," Jax said, impressed. "You could hold an entire flank alone."
Arrow of Binding earned her immediate approval.
"Crowd control," she said. "Captures. Interrupts. It keeps enemies from reaching you—or anyone else."
"Forces mistakes," Jax added. "Good."
Then came the final slot.
Jax pointed at Phantom Step. "This one. Short-range repositioning. Escape tool. High survivability."
She stared at it.
Then scrolled past.
"I want Arrow of Severance."
Jax blinked. "That weakens defenses. You won't always be the primary target anymore."
"I know," she said quietly. "But it makes everyone else stronger. Bunny hits harder. Zee breaks shields faster. You end fights sooner."
She looked up at him.
"I don't want to be safe. I want to matter."
Jax held her gaze for a long moment.
Then he nodded.
"I understand," he said. "Those are excellent choices."
Her breath came out in a soft, relieved exhale.
"Alright," he said, stepping back. "Let's see what you can do."
They started slow.
Single skills. Controlled use.
Starfall Volley tore through distant targets in clean, precise arcs.
Everdraw Quiver hummed as golden arrows formed endlessly in her grasp.
Arrow of Binding pinned constructs in place, tar-like magic rooting them helplessly.
Arrow of Severance followed—each hit stripping defenses, barriers failing faster and faster.
After an hour, she began combining them.
Volley after volley rained down. Binding arrows locked targets in place. Severance weakened them until the training dummies shattered under accumulated force.
She didn't stop.
She pushed harder.
Then—finally—she activated her Legendary skill.
Llandra vanished.
In her place stood two identical versions of herself.
All three positions erupted in coordinated fire.
Jax's enhanced perception caught fleeting glimpses of the real Llandra—barely. Anyone else would see nothing but chaos.
Three volleys at once.
Endless arrows.
Binding.
Severance.
The battlefield became a storm.
Jax stared.
"…Wow," he murmured.
Twenty minutes later, Astral Echo faded.
The clones dissolved. Llandra reappeared, swaying slightly as exhaustion hit her all at once.
She had given everything.
Jax was at her side instantly, hands resting on her shoulders—steady, warm.
"Great job," he said softly. "You were incredible."
The pride that bloomed in her chest chased away the fatigue.
Those words meant everything.
She closed the distance herself, pulling him into a kiss that was confident, earned.
"Thank you," she whispered.
Jax looked back at the devastated training field, then down at her—still holding her close.
"I think that's enough for today," he said. "The rest of the day is yours. Anything you want to do?"
Llandra smiled.
"Just you, Jax."
And for once, she didn't care who heard her thoughts.
She had earned this.