-Author
The next morning, the air was crisp, the scent of dew still clinging to the trees.
Crimzo leaned against a tree, arms crossed behind his head, completely at ease. That was until a messenger rode up, handing him a sealed letter. He raised an eyebrow, sat up, and tore it open. His eyes scanned the page before widening.
He let out a low whistle. "Well, damn… We got our location."
He flipped to another part of the letter, then grinned even wider. "And we got big salaries."
His sister peeked over his shoulder and gasped. "Crimzo, you're rich now!"
Crimzo laughed, looking at her. "Absolutely, and I am not giving you a single penny."
She looked at him with an innocent. "You evil."
Roy and Andrew exchanged glances. "They must have sent the professor our letters too." Andrew said.
Sophia nodded. "For sure. And mine probably made it to my house."
Lauren crossed her arms. "Yeah, same. Not that it matters. I don't need to go home." She looked around. "I already have everything I need."
Andrew turned to Sophia. "Do you want to go to your home before heading to the base?"
Sophia hesitated. "Yeah… I should."
"Then I'll come with you," Andrew said casually. "No reason for you to travel alone."
Sophia blinked at him before glancing away. "Yes. If you want to…" Her face turn red.
Andrew just smiled. "Yeah. I do."
Meanwhile, Roy turned to Crimzo with a sharp look. "I was watching you during the last fight. You had a lot of gaps in close-range combat."
Crimzo groaned. "Oh, here we go."
Roy ignored him. "You need to fix that. Spar with me before we leave."
Crimzo sighed but nodded. "Fine, fine. But if I beat you because of your injuries, then that your own problem."
Roy didn't answer.
After a moment...
Andrew and Sophia rode side by side, the road stretching long ahead of them.
Andrew glanced at her and grinned. "I'm glad I came with you. Riding alone is boring."
Sophia, without missing a beat, tilted her head slightly and teased, "Yes, sure, I definitely wanted a huge and tall man to come with me."
Andrew blinked before realizing that she was mocking Rose's words.
He burst out laughing. "Wait… Sophia..." He paused then said, "Are you jealous?"
Sophia tensed slightly. "No."
Andrew raised an eyebrow, still smirking.
She hesitated, then sighed, barely above a whisper. "Maybe."
Andrew couldn't stop the grin from spreading across his face.
"That's sweet," he said simply.
Sophia's grip on the reins tightened slightly, and she quickly changed the subject. "So... What do you think of Crimzo's mom food, it's delicious?"
Andrew laughed at her obvious attempt, but he let it slide.
"Yeah, I really liked it," he said.
Sophia glanced at him; her red eyes gleaming with something playful. "You have to taste my cooking. I make delicious food too. When we get there, I'll cook for us."
Andrew raised an eyebrow, pretending to think it over. "Oh? That so?"
She nodded, waiting for his reaction.
Andrew chuckled. "Sure, I can tell. I'm excited for that!"
He meant it—not just because of the food, but because he saw something shifting in her.
She wasn't just the quiet, reserved Sophia who sits with the group. Here, with him, she was different. More open, more playful. Even a little childish.
And for some reason, that made him happier than he expected.
Meanwhile...
In the front of Crimzo house, a yard where Roy and Crimzo stood. While Lauren watching with interest.
Crimzo cracked his neck, rolling his shoulders. "Alright, Roy. Let's see what you got."
Roy, as always, remained calm, adjusting his stance slightly. "Come."
Crimzo moved first. He was fast—faster than most—but to Roy, his movements were full of openings. The second Crimzo threw a punch, Roy sidestepped effortlessly, barely moving more than necessary.
Before Crimzo could recover, Roy flicked his wrist, tapping his opponent's exposed ribs with the back of his hand.
"Gap," Roy said simply.
Crimzo clenched his teeth and came again, this time feinting left before striking from the right. Roy blocked it with ease, shifting his weight at the perfect moment.
"Too predictable," Roy noted, stepping in and tapping Crimzo's shoulder lightly. "You telegraph your moves. I can see them before you even throw them."
Crimzo gritted his teeth but nodded. "Alright, alright. Again."
The fight continued, but the outcome didn't change. Crimzo couldn't land a single hit. Every attack was either dodged or blocked with an almost lazy precision.
Roy kept his voice steady as he corrected him. "You're relying too much on momentum instead of balance. That's why you can't adjust fast enough when I counter."
Crimzo groaned. "You make this look way too easy."
Roy didn't answer. He simply stood there, waiting.
Finally, Crimzo exhaled exhausted and stepped back, raising a hand. "Alright, I get it. I'll work on it."
Roy gave a slight nod, showing no real reaction.
But before he could turn away, Lauren stepped forward. "What about me?"
Roy raised an eyebrow. "You want to fight?"
Lauren smirked. "YES!?"
Crimzo threw up his hands. "Alright, now I have to see this."
Roy motioned for Lauren to step forward. She held two wooden sticks in her hands instead of daggers, twirling them between her fingers with an ease that caught his attention.
Roy's gaze sharpened.
The moment the fight started; she moved first. No hesitation.
She weaved in, her movements smooth, almost elegant. She struck at his ribs, and Roy blocked with one arm, shifting slightly to absorb the impact.
Lauren didn't stop. She followed up with another attack—this time toward his neck. Roy barely moved his head as he raised his forearm, catching the strike inches before it could land.
"Not bad," he muttered.
Lauren grinned, her energy rising. She launched into a flurry of attacks, her sticks moving in rapid succession. Strike, feint, sweep, kick.
Roy blocked every single one.
Her foot shot toward his legs, aiming to sweep him, but he stepped back just in time. Roy replied with a low kick, aiming to unbalance her.
But Lauren flipped, controlled, landing smoothly before countering with a sharp strike.
Roy raised his arm just in time, catching her attack before it could hit his neck.
Lauren's eyes lit up. "You're really so strong! I can fight freely"
She pressed forward, testing Roy defences, throwing quick, well-placed strikes combined with her agile footwork. Every time he dodged or blocked, she adjusted, getting sharper, faster.
Roy noticed. She wasn't just attacking—she was learning.
But she still had gaps.
"You're leaving your ribs open when you go for high attacks," he pointed out, deflecting her next strike. "And your stance—"
Suddenly Lauren kicked him in the stomach.
She expected him to stagger.
He didn't move. He grabbed her leg, fast...
Lauren froze for half a second. "Wait… you felt that, right?"
Roy didn't answer. Instead, with no wasted movement.
Before she could react, he twisted slightly and swept her other leg out from under her with his low kick, taking her down in an instant.
Lauren hit the ground with a small gasp, her sticks slipping from her hands.
Roy took a step back, offering his hand. "You're good. But you're leaving your ribs open. Against a real and strong opponent, that's the difference between winning and losing."
Lauren blinked up at him before finally huffing a laugh. She grabbed his hand and let him pull her up.
"Alright, fine. Teach me more."
Roy simply nodded. "Next time."
The others chuckled, Crimzo shaking his head. "Damn, Lauren, you almost had him."
Lauren smirked, rubbing the back of her head. "Almost isn't enough." She rolled her shoulders. "But next time, I win."
Roy glanced at her. "We'll see..."