Mai's leap into the air is as graceful as it is deadly, her spear thrusts raining down with precise force. Si-Woo's movements are fluid, dodging most of her strikes but catching a mild cut on his shoulder as a reminder of her skill. As she lands, Mai seamlessly transitions into a 360-degree sweep, forcing Si-Woo to take a step back to maintain his balance and avoid a harsher blow.

Si-Woo wipes a small bead of sweat from his forehead and smiles, admiration evident in his eyes. "You're incredible, Mai."

Mai's expression softens for a brief moment before her competitive grin returns. "You're not so bad yourself, Si-Woo," she replies, her eyes glinting with respect and focus.

Knowing he must close the distance, Si-Woo braces himself. He studies her stance, anticipating her next sweeping move. He darts in quickly, his eyes fixed on her every motion, intent on exploiting any opening he can find. Mai's spear comes at him in swift arcs, but Si-Woo begins weaving through them, utilizing his Wistful Halo formation to dodge with precise footwork and minimal movement. Every step is calculated; every dodge is a fluid shift.

His heart races as he inches closer. He knows that one misstep could lead to a decisive strike from Mai, but if he succeeds in closing the gap, his close-combat skills could turn the tide. The challenge only makes him more determined.

With a quick feint, Si-Woo shifts his momentum, aiming to slip past Mai's spear reach and finally bring the fight to a range where he excels.

Mai's eyes widen in surprise as Si-Woo closes the gap with unexpected speed. She reacts instinctively, shifting her weight and aiming a powerful kick at his stomach, hoping to create some distance. For a brief moment, it seems her plan worked—until she realizes that Si-Woo has caught her leg, his grip firm and determined.

Without hesitation, Mai channels her agility, using a light jump to lift herself and unleash a second kick with her free leg. Si-Woo anticipates the attack and dodges, narrowly avoiding the strike. As she lands, Mai can sense the shift in the battle. Si-Woo spots an opening, a faint glow emanating from her abdomen—a point of vulnerability. He lunges forward, intent on capitalizing on the moment.

But just as his strike is about to land, a sudden, searing pain radiates from his head. Mai's wooden spear, gripped firmly and flipped with precision, strikes his temple. The impact sends a sharp jolt through Si-Woo, momentarily blurring his vision. He stumbles back, holding his head as the realization of her swift counter sets in.

Mai steps back, her breathing heavy but eyes unwavering. "You’re impressive, Si-Woo. But don’t forget... I’m not an easy opponent." Her tone is serious, but there's a hint of admiration in her words.

Si-Woo steadies himself, determination burning brighter despite the pain. "I wouldn't have it any other way," he replies, a smile tugging at the corners of his lips, ready to continue the battle.

Mai’s smile widens, her eyes sparkling with excitement as she takes a deep breath and shifts her stance. "Prepare yourself, Si-Woo," she warns playfully, but there is a glimmer of seriousness in her eyes. "I’m going all out now."

Before Si-Woo can react, she seems to vanish from sight. His eyes dart frantically, his instincts screaming. Where is she? He scans the area, looking left, right, and even up, but by the time he senses her presence, it's already too late. Mai appears behind him with blinding speed, unleashing a powerful kick to his side. The impact sends Si-Woo flying across the training platform, the force causing him to tumble before skidding to a halt.

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As he struggles to catch his breath, Mai is already there, her spear poised at his neck with precise control. "That was great, Si-Woo," she says, her voice warm and genuine, though she keeps her weapon steady.

Si-Woo groans, feeling the ache from the impact. "It... was," he mutters, a hint of a smile breaking through despite the pain. Mai extends her hand, helping him to his feet. Their eyes meet, and for a moment, there’s mutual respect and camaraderie—their training battle, a step toward making each other stronger.

Minho approaches, his footsteps firm but his expression warm. "Well done, both of you," he praises, his gaze settling on Si-Woo with a hint of pride. "You moved with purpose, Si-Woo. Closing the gap and adapting on the fly, even when the odds were against you—that was good work."

Si-Woo, still catching his breath, looks up. "Thanks, Minho," he replies, feeling a small sense of accomplishment despite the bruises and cuts. "But... is it really okay for Mai to be training here with us?"

Minho’s eyes soften, and he gives a nod. "Normally, no. But I bring other students here from time to time. It helps keep any unwanted attention away. Mai is no different in that regard."

Mai steps closer, examining the mild cut on Si-Woo’s shoulder. Without a word, she gently places her hands over the wound, her breathing steadying into a practiced rhythm. A soft glow emanates, and Si-Woo can feel the soothing warmth of her healing technique. He watches in quiet awe. To actively use healing techniques with such precision—it’s incredible, he thinks, knowing that it requires the rare skill of total concentration breathing, an ability only one is born with.

Minho clears his throat, breaking the moment. "Mai will be your occasional sparring partner from now on. Your focus should be on continued growth and refining your skills. When you reach level 5, your proficiency degree will be officially determined. Until then, every session matters."

Si-Woo nods, a spark of determination lighting up his eyes. Training with Mai would be a challenge—but one he would rise to meet.

One of the soldiers approached Minho, looking both amused and slightly exasperated. “Sir, Ha-Yoon just threw up,” he announced, pointing to a nearby training platform where a rather unfortunate glob of barf was evident. Minho raised an eyebrow as Ha-Yoon appeared a moment later, her bonds trailing after her, and declared with a grin, “I feel much better now! Let’s continue!”

"I knew this would happen" Si-Woo exhaled in dismay. The soldier shook his head, crossing his arms and raising his voice. “I’m not continuing until that is cleaned up!”

Without missing a beat, Ha-Yoon ran over to Mai with open arms, hugging her tightly. “Mai! Hi!” she greeted cheerfully, completely ignoring the soldier’s protests. Mai hugged her back, laughing, while the soldier sighed dramatically, muttering about the unpredictability of their training sessions.

Mai gave Ha-Yoon a playful squeeze before pulling back, smiling warmly.

“Glad to see you, Ha-Yoon,” she said. “And it seems like you’ve recovered quickly.” Ha-Yoon nodded enthusiastically, her eyes shining with excitement. “Yeah, just needed to get that out of my system!” She glanced over at the soldier, who was still standing stiffly, and stuck out her tongue mischievously. “Sorry about the mess!”

Minho, watching with a mix of amusement and exasperation, gestured toward the glob. “Ha-Yoon, please take responsibility for the, ah, incident before continuing.”

Ha-Yoon groaned dramatically. “Ugh, Yes Master.” She called her spade wolves over, who barked playfully, seemingly ready to help with anything she needed. With a wave of her hand, she guided her bonds toward gathering water and cleaning materials from a nearby station. The process was both comical and slightly chaotic, as the wolves playfully tried to help, splashing water around and making a bigger scene than necessary.

Mai chuckled, covering her mouth as she watched. “You have a way of making every situation an adventure, Ha-Yoon.”

Ha-Yoon, scrubbing the platform while her wolves watched with tilted heads, grinned back. “That’s the point, right?”

Finally, with the platform mostly cleaned—if a little damp—Ha-Yoon stood triumphantly. “Okay, all done! Can we get back to training now?”

Minho sighed but nodded. “Good work. Now, focus. Ha-Yoon, back with your sparring partner. Si-Woo, take a moment to catch your breath with Mai before resuming.”

As Ha-Yoon returned to her training station, she shot Mai a quick wave. Mai and Si-Woo exchanged glances, both smiling at the lighthearted moment that briefly interrupted their intense routines.