[Kiba's POV]
The clock winds back a few days.
It happened while we were deep in training inside the special barrier created by Miu-san and Alice-san.
"Too slow!"
"Ghu—!?"
While Irina and I were taking a breather, Xenovia was facing off against Maurice-san alone.
Calling it a "fight" would be a generous overstatement. Maurice-san effortlessly parried a full-power strike from Xenovia before burying a kick into her midsection. She went skidding across the dirt, tumbling several times before collapsing into a heap. It wasn't even a contest.
He was overwhelming her in technique and outmuscling her in raw strength. In her current state, Xenovia couldn't land a single scratch on him.
...Though, in fairness, the same could be said for Irina and me. We were only "resting" because we'd already been beaten to a pulp. We'd been worked so hard our limbs wouldn't move; Asia-san had only just finished treating us moments ago.
Seeing Xenovia unable to stand, Maurice-san sheathed his sword.
"Whoops. Guess I put a bit too much stank on that one... Asia! Fix her up, would you?"
"O-Of course!"
At Maurice-san's request, Asia-san hurried to Xenovia's side, bathing her in a warm, healing light.
"Xenovia-san, are you alright!?"
"Yeah... Thank you, Asia. As always, your healing is a godsend. The pain is already gone."
Thanks to Asia-san's quick work, Xenovia managed to push herself up. However, her expression remained clouded.
Suddenly, a droplet hit the dirt at her feet.
It was a tear. Xenovia was crying.
"Xenovia-san...?" Asia-san asked, startled by the sudden display of emotion.
Xenovia covered her eyes, her lips trembling with bitter frustration.
"I'm pathetic... Kiba and Irina have already cleared their hurdles, yet I haven't made a single step of progress. At this rate...!"
Two weeks had already passed inside the barrier since we began. As she said, Irina and I had managed to pass Maurice-san's initial trials and move on to the next stage. Only Xenovia remained stuck, throwing herself into her training with a growing sense of desperation.
For the stoic Xenovia to shed tears... her frustration must have been unbearable. She simply couldn't forgive her own perceived inadequacy.
If I were in her shoes, I knew I would be suffering just as much.
"Xenovia, get over here."
Maurice-san plopped himself down on the ground and beckoned her. He patted the dirt, gesturing for her to sit in front of him. After wiping her eyes, she complied.
Maurice-san stared at her for a long moment before letting out a heavy sigh.
"There's no need for tears. You don't just 'cross' a limit like it's a line in the sand. You worry, you suffer, you struggle until you're at your wit's end—and then you break through."
"But... Kiba and Irina have already moved on. They surpassed their limits, didn't they? It's because they pushed themselves harder than I did. To be the only one left behind... it's humiliating. My resolve must be nothing compared to theirs."
Xenovia clenched her fists so hard they shook, her face a mask of self-loathing. She began to pour out the thoughts she'd been bottling up.
"I can't stay like this. I swore I would fight for Issei, but if I stay this weak, I'll never fulfill that vow! Worse, I'll just be a burden! I can't stand it...!"
Her gaze fell to the two holy swords at her side.
"Durandal, Excalibur... if your master were stronger, you wouldn't have to suffer like this. I'm sorry... I'm so sorry."
Durandal and Excalibur—her partners, the ones who had always supported her. She felt that if she were stronger, she could take them to greater heights. If she were more capable, she wouldn't be a "drag" on these legendary blades.
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