Silence settled over the mountain.
Only the wind whispered through the trees as Grace sat on the grass, lost in thought.
Kael quietly gathered the broken pieces of his wooden sword.
A few moments later...
Soft footsteps approached.
Larissa appeared carrying a tray with fresh food and drinks.
She smiled warmly.
"Here."
"I brought lunch."
Grace lowered her head.
"...She came again."
"With that fake kindness."
Larissa tilted her head.
"What did you say?"
Grace quickly looked away.
"...Nothing."
Kael accepted the tray with a grateful smile.
"Thank you."
"I was getting hungry."
Larissa laughed softly before looking at Grace.
"So..."
"Who won today?"
Kael raised the broken sword.
"My sword lost before I did."
Grace smiled proudly.
"I won."
Larissa clapped gently.
"Congratulations."
Grace looked at her with jealousy hidden behind a faint smile.
"...Thanks."
"Your sword helped me a lot."
Larissa ignored the sharp tone.
She simply handed Grace a small packet of snacks.
"Eat before your next lesson."
Without waiting for an answer, she quietly walked away.
The same routine continued.
Morning after morning...
Grace trained beside Kael.
Larissa cared for everyone without expecting anything in return.
Emily remained locked inside her laboratory, endlessly experimenting with strange chemicals.
Days became weeks.
Weeks became months.
Three months slipped away like falling leaves.
One peaceful morning...
The sky was clear.
Sunlight bathed the mountains in warm golden light.
Kael and Grace stood facing each other on the training ground.
Wooden swords rested nearby.
Kael stretched his shoulders.
"We've practiced swordsmanship long enough."
Grace raised an eyebrow.
"What now?"
Kael smiled.
"Hand-to-hand combat."
Grace cracked her knuckles.
"...Let's try."
Without another word...
Both charged forward.
Bang!
Their fists collided.
Grace immediately spun into a kick.
Kael blocked with his forearm before countering with a punch aimed at her shoulder.
Grace stepped aside just in time.
The battle became faster.
Punches.
Kicks.
Sweeps.
Neither side managed to gain the advantage.
For several minutes...
They remained perfectly equal.
Then...
Kael's experience slowly began to show.
His attacks became sharper.
More precise.
Grace found herself forced backward.
She clenched her teeth.
A crimson aura suddenly erupted around her body.
Red energy flowed across her arms like burning flames.
Kael watched calmly.
"So..."
"You've decided to use your power."
Grace answered with another punch.
Kael dodged effortlessly.
Even with her awakened power...
He still hadn't released his own.
Grace attacked again.
And again.
But Kael continued avoiding every strike.
Finally...
He smiled helplessly.
"It looks like..."
"You're forcing me to get serious."
He slowly closed his eyes.
The mountain breeze suddenly stopped.
A deep orange light gathered around his body.
Like the glow of molten fire.
His aura spread across the battlefield, causing the nearby grass to sway violently.
Grace narrowed her eyes.
"So that's your true power..."
The ground beneath their feet trembled.
Far below the mountain...
Even the people near the laboratory felt the pressure.
Emily walked into the garden carrying a mug of coffee.
She looked toward the mountain peak.
"What a powerful aura..."
Larissa finished watering the flowers before joining her.
She sat beside Emily.
Emily handed her another cup.
"Come."
"Take a break."
Larissa smiled.
"Thank you."
Emily took a sip of coffee.
"Those two are fighting at another level."
Larissa looked toward the distant mountain.
"It's Grace and Kael."
"They're both using their powers."
Emily nodded.
"Grace learns incredibly fast."
Larissa smiled proudly.
"She has remarkable talent."
Emily sighed.
"...She's talented."
"And she's clever."
Larissa shook her head.
"Don't describe her like that."
"Some people care deeply..."
"They simply don't know how to show it."
Emily looked at her.
"You only think that because your heart is too kind."
Larissa gently laughed.
Instead of arguing, she changed the subject.
"How's your research?"
Emily leaned back in her chair.
"I'm trying to create something entirely new."
"So far..."
"Nothing has worked."
Larissa smiled encouragingly.
"You'll succeed."
"You always do."
Meanwhile...
High above the clouds...
Grace and Kael disappeared in flashes of red and orange light.
Each collision echoed through the mountains.
Neither warrior was willing to retreat.
Grace's movements had become far sharper than they had been months ago.
Kael's expression filled with quiet satisfaction.
She had grown stronger.
Much stronger.
Both fighters sprinted toward each other one final time.
Their fists flew forward together.
Boom!
Each punch landed squarely across the other's face.
The impact sent them flying backward.
They crashed onto the grass at the same time.
The red and orange auras slowly faded into the morning air.
For several seconds...
Neither of them moved.
Grace let out a long, exhausted breath.
Kael stared at the blue sky above them before laughing.
"...Looks like..."
"It's a draw."
Grace smiled as she caught her breath.
"...Until next time.
The sun slowly drifted toward the western horizon, painting the mountains in shades of gold and amber.
For the first time in months...
Grace and Kael returned from training much earlier than usual.
Their footsteps echoed along the stone path leading back to the house.
In the garden, Emily had fallen asleep in her wooden chair. A gentle breeze occasionally brushed against her hair, causing the pages of the notebook resting on her lap to flutter.
Beside her, Larissa quietly read a book beneath the shade of a cherry blossom tree.
Hearing the footsteps, she looked up and smiled.
"You two are back early today."
She closed her book and stood.
Without saying another word, she poured two glasses of cold water and handed one to each of them.
Grace accepted it silently.
Kael emptied his glass in a single breath.
"That feels refreshing."
Larissa smiled.
"You both must be hungry."
"What would you like me to cook?"
Kael stretched his arms.
"I'll be leaving for the city."
Larissa tilted her head.
"The city?"
Kael nodded.
"I need to buy a few things."
"I might stay there for about a week."
A hint of surprise appeared on Larissa's face.
"A whole week?"
"At least eat something before you leave."
Kael shook his head with a grin.
"I'll have dinner once I get there."
He walked toward the stable, saddled his horse, and mounted it.
Before leaving, he waved at everyone.
"I'll be back soon."
The horse galloped down the mountain trail until both rider and dust disappeared beyond the trees.
Silence returned.
Larissa turned toward Grace.
"What about you?"
"What would you like to eat?"
Grace placed the empty glass on the table.
"I'll cook for myself."
Larissa looked at her with concern.
"You've been training all day."
"You must be exhausted."
Grace calmly replied,
"Maybe"
"But I still want to cook."
Without waiting for another response...
She walked into the house.
Larissa watched her disappear inside before quietly sitting back down.
Emily slowly opened one eye.
"I wasn't asleep."
Larissa laughed softly.
"You looked completely asleep."
Emily yawned and stretched.
"I heard everything."
She glanced toward the doorway Grace had entered.
"I told you."
"She's jealous of you."
"Just leave her alone."
Emily picked up Larissa's book and placed it back into her hands.
"Go on."
"Read your book."
"You're the only person I know who can make friends with someone who barely speaks."
Larissa looked toward the house for a brief moment.
A gentle smile appeared on her face.
"I don't mind waiting."
"Sometimes..."
"People just need someone who doesn't give up on them."
Emily sighed helplessly.
"Your heart is far too soft."
Larissa reopened her book.
The breeze turned another page on its own.
Neither of them noticed...
Behind the kitchen window, Grace stood silently, watching the two of them from the shadows.
Her expression remained unreadable.