Nania POV

I deeply regretted asking Talon to be my teacher.

The Priestesses at the temple would scold me for the slightest mistake. Even when I performed a task perfectly myself, hearing them scold another girl would cause me to flinch and my stomach to sink. Talon’s lessons were a very different kind of painful, that left me with aching muscles and bruised skin. I was left panting and pained by the end of them. Frustration over my weakness and how thoroughly he outclassed me burned in the pit of my stomach. He didn’t even look winded!

I really, really couldn’t hurt him, even if I wanted to, could I?

And if even he was outclassed by the Sun Fiend… I had a long road to walk, didn’t I?

He placed his hands on his hips, glaring down at me. “What did you do wrong?”

“H-how should I know? You’re the one teaching me,” I gasped.

“And if you don’t know the mistake you made, you’re just going to repeat it. If you keep repeating your mistakes, then teaching you is a waste of time. What did you do wrong?”

I thought for a few moments. Everything we’d gone over so far was very basic. He hadn’t even shown me any punches, kicks, or actions… “Is the first lesson not to fight someone I know I can’t beat?”

He snorted. Something like amusement entered his eyes. “Not the answer I was looking for, but that is a good first lesson for you.”

“Then…was I standing on uneven ground, or something slippery? I should watch where I stand?”

An eyebrow raised. “...Very close, actually. Not just where you stand, but pay attention to how you stand. Get up.” Once I was standing again, he knelt down and moved my feet apart, so they were planted shoulder-length apart. His hands were warm, not unlike Ellie’s. He continued, “If you stand like this, then…” He shoved me. Rather than falling on my rear again, I stumbled a few paces and caught myself.

“Now, what did you do wrong?” he asked again.

“I need to pay attention to both where and how I’m standing,” I said with confidence. “And I shouldn’t ever challenge you to a real fight, because you could probably kill me.”

Talon POV

“Now, what have you learned?”

She looked back at me, determination clear in her forest-green eyes. “I won’t grow winded so quickly if I breathe how you showed me.”

“Demonstrate.”

She nodded, and imitated the breathing patterns I had displayed perfectly.

“Good. Now I’ll show you how to throw a punch, and where to aim. Also, consider asking Elian to jog with you and exercise or something. Even the most precise blows will be pointless as you are now.”

She clearly appeared disappointed, but made no complaints. Sweat shone against her skin, making her dress and hair stick closely to her and emphasize her stick-thin frame. Even knowing the proper ways to breathe and pace herself, it would take her years to properly build her stamina and strength to match Elian and I.

It was strange. Training her filled me with a mixture of emotions. Like Kite, she too lacked the hunger for vengeance that had driven me to obsess over strength and channeling. A different sort of hunger drove her. Not a hunger for attention or power, one I was more unfamiliar with…could it be a genuine desire to learn?

At first, I had expected she would begin whining and give up mere moments into our session. I had expected she’d demand an easier path to becoming an expert and matching my power. To my surprise, she listened to each of my instructions, and remembered each correction I made. She even shocked me with thoughtful observations and answers. My only fear now was that she’d try too hard to imitate me, when it came time to put her newfound skills to the test. The Flame Arts relied upon brutality, speed, power, and unpredictability. If she could only manage mere imitation, then she would only ever defeat the weakest of the weak.

“Demonstrate,” I said, after finishing another lesson.

She nodded once, and imitated my strike. Still, the power behind her blow was lacking. Her movements were slow and clearly read, as well. But aiming to jab out my eyes was a good choice.

I easily caught her hand, and massaged her wrist with my thumb. I could feel the small bones of her wrist. Delicate, they would snap easily if I applied too much pressure. Like twigs. “No. Your arms are too rigid. Relax them. It helps absorb the shock.”

A strange, warm feeling fluttered in my chest. Was this the pride a teacher felt, seeing a student with potential grow?

“C’mon, Tal, it’s been ages. She should take a break!” Elian called out.

I observed her again. Though she remained resolute and determined, her face had grown red with exertion.

“Fine. Rest until Elian and I finish sparring.” I released her wrist, and turned expectantly towards Elian.

He shook his head. “You’ve been up all this time teaching her. You should rest a little longer.”

I sat down with a scowl. Typical that he wanted to waste time. We only had these meetings once a week or less; we should make the most of them.

“Hey, Tal, you spend a lot more time in the Deep Woods—you live here or something?”

“It doesn’t matter.”

“You ever eat phoenix before?”

I sighed. “No, I have not. That was my first time as well.”

“What did it taste like?” Nania asked.

“Like it hated my tongue and set it on fire!” Elian cried. I chuckled at the mental image. He continued, “You gotta try it, Nia, you’ll love it—and Tal, you gotta tell me what other monsters taste like!”

“Ooh, that does sound good…” Nania said.

“Not all monsters are edible, Elian,” I said. “Some have such a desire for vengeance that their meat will kill you.”

Elian’s mouth fell open, and I freely laughed. Beside me, I heard Nania cackle loudly at her friend’s face.

I had spent a long time simply avoiding my village. But I was no longer simply running from my village. Now, I was running from them…to these two strange, stupidly naive Greshans.

It felt…nice. But it only kindled my rage. If I didn’t want to lose this, too, then I would need to destroy the Sun Fiend.