EPILOGUE 1: Lucy

"HUP!"

Lucy slammed the end of her staff into the ground with a satisfying thud. The small group of children watching her began clapping enthusiastically and cheering in their shrill voices.

"That's all for today," she commanded, reaching for the towel draped across a nearby chair. "Make sure you're all on time for warm ups tomorrow."

"Yes, Miss Lucille!" the kids shouted in unison before rushing off.

Clap. Clap.

As the children's footsteps faded, a sarcastically applauding man stepped out from the edge of the area where he'd been observing the training.

"Ah, the grand life of a combat instructor," he sneered. "All your years of hard work have really paid off, haven't they?"

"Good afternoon, Sir Jerrod," Lucy responded, shooting the man a glare.

The two had been trained alongside each other from the time they were young, though Jerrod was never able to compete with Lucy's extraordinary combat skills.