Chapitre 42: Spring Flowers That Has Yet To Blossom…

Ayami's eyes widened, her casual tone slipping away. "What do you mean, 'belong to him'?"

Maya and Ayaka came dashing toward them, their faces a mix of confusion and concern. "What is she talking about?" Maya demanded, shaking Ewaan violently. "Explain yourself!"

Ewaan, trying to steady himself, shouted, "Speak with context, lady! You're definitely giving them the wrong idea!"

Yuuna's expression remained calm but resolute. "I owe my life to him, and I intend to repay that debt by staying by his side."

The girls paused, absorbing her words. Ayami's skepticism melted into a thoughtful frown, while Maya and Ayaka exchanged uneasy glances.

Ewaan, taking a deep breath, added, "It's not what you're thinking. Yuuna's loyalty comes from a deep sense of gratitude and duty. It's nothing more than that."

Ayami sighed, rubbing her temples. "This is all so... complicated. But I suppose if Yuuna wants to join us, we should welcome her. Just... no more surprises, I've had enough of these today already!"

Both Maya and Ayaka sighed in relief, the tension in the air dissipating. But then a realization dawned on Ayaka, and confusion clouded her mind. She pondered,

– Huh? Why am I relieved to know that it was only a life-saving grace and not... something else?

She stole a brief glance at Ewaan, her heart fluttering unexpectedly. A warmth spread through her chest, and she felt her cheeks flush a delicate pink hue.

Her thoughts raced, struggling to make sense of the emotions swirling within her. Why did the idea of Yuuna being close to Ewaan stir such feelings?

Ewaan, oblivious to Ayaka's inner turmoil, looked around at the group, then sighed. "Alright, now that there's nothing else, we should go and clock out for the night," he said. Facing Ayami and Maya, he added, "Can I have some hot water, please? I need a bath, for real!"

Ayami, walking casually, remarked, "Sure, sure, but Yuuna coming with us!"

Ewaan furrowed his brows, answering, "Obviously!"

Ayaka snapped out of her reverie, nodding in agreement. Her mind still buzzed with unanswered questions, but for now, she pushed them aside.

As they headed toward their rooms, Ayaka couldn't help but steal another glance at Ewaan, her heart beating a little faster.

The feelings inside her were a confusing whirlwind, but the warmth in her chest remained, a gentle reminder of the complexities of her growing emotions.

The dynamic of the group was shifting, and the journey ahead promised to be even more complex than before.

And just like that, three weeks passed in the blink of an eye.

°°°

The group found themselves in the sprawling plains near the Sardania Empire, training as usual. The sun hung high in the sky, casting a golden hue over the fields as a gentle breeze rustled the grass.

Ewaan and Ayami clashed in their usual sparring session, their swords—crudely fashioned from broken tree branches—whizzing through the air with impressive speed and precision.

However, unlike their previous bouts, Ayami was struggling to keep up with Ewaan's relentless attacks.

"Come on, Is that all you can do?" Ewaan taunted, his eyes locked on hers with an intensity that left little room for error.

Ayami gritted her teeth, barely managing to parry his latest strike. "You're... too fast," she panted, her movements growing more desperate as she tried to match his pace.

Ewaan's branch sword came down in a blur, and Ayami barely managed to deflect it, stumbling back a few steps.

"You... How come I can't even land a single hit on you?" Frustration was evident in her voice, "While you keep marching forward!!" she lunged forward with determination, aiming a swift strike at his midsection.

Ewaan sidestepped with a fluid grace, countering with a quick jab that landed a glancing blow on her shoulder.

Falling to the ground, Ayami let out a frustrating groan and uttered, "Ugh... I give! No more...!"

Ewaan felt a sigh, extending a hand, his expression softening with a mix of pride and concern. "You've come a long way, keep this kind of pace and you'll surely surpass me, haha..."

Taking his hand to lift herself up, she remarked, "Yeah right! Barely a month ago, I defeated you with clean hands... And now, look at where we stand!"

Meanwhile, Maya and Ayaka were deep in their own training. On the other side of the field, Maya was explaining the intricacies of incantationless magic to Ayaka.

"Focus on the mana within," Maya instructed, her voice calm and patient. "Feel it flow through you and shape it with your will alone. No words, just intent."

Ayaka closed her eyes, concentrating hard. A small bolt of lightning formed between her fingers, flickering uncertainly. She furrowed her brows in concentration, and the lightning stabilized, passing through her fingers clearly.

"How's that?" Ayaka asked, her voice tinged with both excitement and uncertainty.

Maya nodded, a proud smile on her face. "You did it! These past weeks of regular practice didn't go in vain. You can now officially do silent casting, girl!"

Excitedly, Ayaka jumped and hugged Maya.

Then it was Maya's turn. Ayaka said, "Now that I've succeeded myself, it's your turn to control your mana and build your efficiency."

Maya nodded, absorbing Ayaka's guidance. "Channel your mana smoothly and steadily, minimizing waste. And for mana control," she continued, her tone shifting to a more instructional one, "try to envision your mana as a flowing river. Direct it carefully through your pulse to avoid any unnecessary loss."

Ayaka continued, "Try to create a shield using the minimum amount of mana possible, like dropping only a droplet of water in a jar. Efficiency is key in a prolonged battle."

Maya nodded, her concentration unwavering as she began to form a thin, shimmering barrier around herself. Ayaka watched intently, correcting her form and offering tips to further refine her control.

Maya's barrier shimmered with a soft, blue light, its surface smooth and almost translucent. She maintained her focus, adjusting the flow of mana to keep the shield stable and efficient.

"You're doing great." Ayaka encouraged, her eyes gleaming with pride. "Now, try to maintain the shield while moving. It's important to keep your defenses up even when you're not stationary."

Maya nodded, taking a deep breath as she began to move slowly, keeping the shield intact. She took careful steps, her mind focused on the steady flow of mana. The barrier flickered slightly with each movement but remained solid.

Ayaka walked alongside her, offering support and advice. "Remember, your mana is like a river. Let it flow naturally, adjusting to your movements. You're in control."

Maya's confidence grew with each step, the barrier holding firm as she picked up her pace. She smiled, feeling the thrill of her progress. "I think I've got it!"

Ayaka grinned, clapping her hands in delight. "You do! This is incredible progress, Maya. Keep practicing, and soon you'll be able to cast and move effortlessly."

°°°

The training sessions continued when suddenly, Yuuna emerged from Ewaan's shadow using her shadow movement.

Ayami, visibly annoyed, sighed and said, "Come on, Yuuna, you gotta stop doing that. He's not your personal shade, you know..."

For the past three weeks, they had taken on many quests and jobs, and each time Yuuna utilized her shadow movement, she always appeared from Ewaan's shadow instead of using any other nearby shades.

This habit of hers clearly annoyed Ayami, though she couldn't fully understand the reason behind her own irritation.

Yuuna, unfazed, remarked calmly, "Don't want to, his shadow feels the safest, and I like it this way."

Her blunt answer made Ayami furious. She glanced at Ewaan, who seemed unbothered by Yuuna's actions, and masked her irritation by crossing her arms.

Despite her outward composure, she felt a pang of something she couldn't quite identify.

– Why does this bothering me so much?

Ayami wondered, her thoughts conflicted.

Yuuna, noticing Ayami's frustration but choosing to ignore it, remarked, "Besides, it's the most efficient way to stay close and protect him."

She then turned to Ewaan, her expression serious. "The rank advancement trial is tomorrow. What are you going to do about it?"

Hearing this, a tiny smile graced his face. "It's about time," he murmured, then pondered,

– Even though Great Sage gave me three months of time, I'm not going to take any chances. My whole identity as a Hero is at stake!

"I thought so," Yuuna said, pulling two quest parchments from her small bag and handing them to Ewaan. "Take a look. These are for your and Maya's rank advancements."

Ewaan glanced at the parchments. They contained two separate quests, one for Maya to advance to C-rank, which involved eliminating three bipedal buffalo demons, and one for him to advance to B-rank, which required clearing a cave of ogres.

The trials were tailored to their class categories.

But he wasn't satisfied. "No, this won't do," he declared. "I'm aiming for A-rank, and not just for me and Maya." His gaze shifted to Ayami and Yuuna. "But for all of us."

Ayami looked up, her eyes meeting his with a mix of surprise and determination. "All of us?" she echoed.

Ewaan nodded. "We've come this far together. We rise together. We need to push our limits, not just individually, but as a team."

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