Authors notes: First off... HAPPY HALLOWEEN! ... though it's 12:28 already where im at so im pretty late.

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"Again"

instantly three figures attacked. Lilith, brandishing a spear, made a thrust with her weapon that contained deadly accuracy and great speed. meanwhile the two borthers held broad swords and positioned themselves at his left and right. with swift movements, the swords swung in his direction.

Roland paid them no mind. his eyes were aimed straight at Lilith. He charged at her. He shifted slightly

and the spear, aimed directly at his heart, slid past him. he grabbed the shaft and tripped Lilith, using her own momentum against her to flip her on her back. True spear masters had absolute control of their bodies and their spears. It was not accracy that mattered, but the ability to adapt to various situations. It was something that Lilith lacked

True spear masters would use the spear to keep opponents at a distance with the reach the spear provided. however, if the opponent was good and managed to get closer, then the spear became like a staff, fluid and versatile enough to not give the enemy any quarter.

Having disposed of Lilith, he chose to battle the other two differently. defeating them quickly would not teach them anything. So, he chose to merely block and counter their strikes. Each time their swords flashed out, his own would meet them or snake past their defenses and add a new cut each time. Roland had a bored expression. he held back considerably, yet the difference was clearly seen. The speed, for one, was worlds apart. For each one strike of theirs, Roland would have been able to land twenty. It was the speed of one who had reached the pinnacle of swordplay.

Not only that, his attacks were sharp and there was no wasted movement whatsoever. He exuded a casual grace that made the two brothers awed at his skill. When would they reach such a height, they wondered.

Lilith felt something by watching them, a flash of some inexplicable understanding. it was something she had never encountered before, but felt that if she took the time to think on it, her power would probably increase. But how can a person grow stronger by watching others fight?

it was a distinctly odd sensation.

As per his promise, Roland started to give Reina some lessons as well. he said that she had great potential, but Lilith didnt believe it. she knew exactly how weak her sister was. Even if she gained a few benefits, how much stronger could she actually get? But her sister didnt listen to her concerns. Lilith felt like her sister saw something in Roland . Hope, perhaps.

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From childhood, Reina had a complex about her lack of power. because she was weak, Reina knew that the day where she ended up dead or worse would come eventually. Or at least that is what she told Lilith once. Lilith said she would always protect Reina, but the rather cold reply was that she would not be able to stay by her side at all times of the day. To that, Lilith could not say anything

Lilith was never weak. How could she understand the unfairness of having no power in a world where power or personal status was really all that mattered?

strength was justice. Once you had enough of it, it enabled you to do what you wanted at no cost.

Sure, in the rapidly evolving world of today, being strong was not wuite as important as it used to be, but it still played a large factor in various aspects of life. That was what Reina knew from all the years of abuse.

And because she was weak, if she fought back, she would only be treated worse, perhaps even killed. Other than Lilith, who would care? A person like Reina, who was considered a cripple, was someone that would not be missed.

However, when Reina saw Roland, a person who seemed so strong, someone who knew the Trickster God Loki on a personal level. A person who Lilith said could fight Immortals like they were mere children, she instantly admired the power he had. The freedom.

Not only that, she trusted him, and for no apparent reason at all, not even knowing why. It was an almost instinctual feeling of trust that welled up from some unknown place within her.

And when he said that she could gain power as well, that she could attain the strength to fight Immortals like they were nothing, to lead her life how she wanted, she didnt even question him.

she always understood that if she wasnt killed, she would be married off to some noble for political reasons. She would have been powerless to stop it. The past few years were blissful, but she knew that someday it would end. Due to various reasons, she and her sister were taken in by a kind couple and their family, but she knew that it would end once their family had a use for them.

So she, despite her sister's concerns, jumped at the chance to learn from Roland. To her, it was a once in a lifetime opportunity.

During the third day since she arrived at the Academy, Roland come to her in the morning said that it was time to train.

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Lilith didnt know what the two did or where they went, but on that third day, Roland picked up Reina very early in the morning. When they came back right before classes began, Reina's face was flushed and she was breathing hard, while Roland looked refreshed and calm. Now, naturally Lilith would have been very suspicious upon seeing a scene like that.

Given Roland's handsome looks and the way he carried himself, he gave the feeling that he was quite experienced, so it would be normal if her beautiful sister, having no experience with men, had fallen pray to him.

it would not be surprising if they had done..."that".

So, she questioned her sister at length but she refused to talk about what they did. However, after a while Lilith concluded that nothing of that nature happened between the two, because if it had then she knew Reina would absolutely not be so composed or even be able to look Lilith in the eye.

Lilith still felt unsatisfied, but decided to let it go for now.

it was because, mainly, Lilith noticed that Reina seemed different now. After only a few hours, she gave off a slightly different aura. In fact the way she walked, so steady and graceful, was completely different. she had no idea what Roland had done but... whatever it was did not seem to have had a negative effect. Still, she determined to watch the man's actions more closely from now on.