Sandhills Town Training Hall

Alaine stood back, her arms crossed as she watched Patricia take charge of the training session. Her eyes never left Kyren and Hiro, keenly observing their movements and responses. Patricia, in her element, began to wrap her hands in bandages, her voice ringing with confidence.

"Alright, boys, listen up. Before we can get serious about training, I need to see what you’re made of. We’re gonna have a little duel. You two—against me," she declared, her grin full of playful challenge.

Hiro blinked in surprise, his curiosity piqued. "Wait, we’re fighting you? Together?"

Patricia finished wrapping her hands and nodded. "That’s right. Don’t hold back—come at me like I’m your worst enemy. Think of it like this: I’ve captured Alaine, and it’s your job to save her. That should light a fire under you," she added with a wink.

Kyren’s mind started racing again. Patricia’s words struck a nerve, reminding him of his recurring nightmare. The thought of someone close to him being in danger filled him with a familiar dread. He remembered the panic and helplessness he had felt when he couldn’t save Hiro in his dreams, and now, with more people he cared about in the mix, the weight of responsibility felt overwhelming.

Before he could spiral into his thoughts, Hiro’s hand landed firmly on his shoulder, snapping him back to reality. "Are you ready, Kyren? Let’s give her everything we’ve got!" Hiro’s enthusiasm was contagious, pulling Kyren out of his inner turmoil.

Patricia, seeing them refocus, clapped her hands and called out, "Alright, boys, let’s begin!"

Patricia wasted no time, charging forward with speed and precision, forcing Hiro and Kyren onto the defensive immediately. Hiro hesitated, his grip on his sword unsure. The thought of striking Patricia with a real weapon made him nervous. Meanwhile, Kyren took a more analytical approach, carefully studying her movements and looking for an opening.

"What are you doing? I said the duel began!" Patricia barked, her tone playful yet commanding as she pushed them harder.

Hiro grimaced. "I’m hesitant to attack you with this sword! What if I hurt you?" he admitted.

Patricia chuckled mid-movement, her eyes gleaming with mischief. "Hurt me? Boy, these blades won’t even scratch me. You’re fighting against a 3-starred Fighter, remember?"

At that moment, Kyren saw an opportunity that Patricia is being distracted and went for it, launching a quick strike aimed at Patricia. But she evaded effortlessly, her agility catching Kyren off guard.

"Kyren, what are you doing?" Hiro shouted, surprised by his friend’s sudden aggression.

Kyren remained focused, his voice steady. "Hiro, Patricia’s right—she’s strong. We won’t hurt her with these weapons. If we don’t go all out, we’ll never win."

Patricia grinned, impressed by Kyren’s resolve. "I like your spirit, Kyren! You’re smart, attacking while Hiro’s still figuring it out." She glanced at Hiro. "C’mon, Hiro, don’t let him show you up."

Hiro’s eyes lit up with determination. "You’re right! I’m not going to fall behind!" he shouted, finally finding his resolve. He swung his sword with renewed vigor, but even with his efforts, landing a hit on Patricia was proving to be impossible.

For nine intense minutes, Hiro and Kyren tried to keep up with Patricia, who skillfully dodged and countered their every move. Finally, both boys were panting, their stamina nearly spent. Patricia, barely breaking a sweat, stood back with a satisfied smirk.

"Boys, you lasted for a solid nine minutes," Patricia said, her tone light but firm. "That’s not bad for beginners, but it’s clear where we need to start. Tomorrow morning, we’ll work on your cardio. Your wielding skills will come with time, but your stamina—well, it sucks," she teased, shaking her head. "We’ll focus on building your endurance first."

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She clapped her hands to signal the end of the session. "Alright, that’s enough for today. Get some rest. Tomorrow’s gonna be tough, so be ready. And don’t forget to grab some spare heavy armors from the office."

After the training session, the group returned to the Heart Blade Guild’s office. They were greeted by the rest of the team, seven members in total, including Alaine, Patricia, and Roland. The air was warm and filled with the energy of a successful mission.

One of the members, a woman with sharp, focused eyes, approached Alaine. "Hey, Alaine, Patricia—we completed the mission and received the reward. I’ve already deposited the checks in the treasury," she reported.

"Good work, Lili," Patricia acknowledged.

Alaine smiled and stepped forward. "I’d like to introduce our future members—Kyren and Hiro," she announced.

Lili’s face softened as she extended her hand. "Nice to meet you, Kyren… Hiro. Welcome to the Heart Blade Guild." Her voice was calm and friendly, making the two newcomers feel instantly welcomed.

"Thanks!" Hiro beamed, shaking hands with Lili.

Alaine introduced the rest of the team, and the atmosphere became lively with jokes, laughter, and light-hearted teasing, mostly from Patricia, who never missed a chance to playfully rib her fellow members. The warm and hospitable environment made Kyren and Hiro feel at home.

Kyren, usually reserved, found himself smiling more than usual, while Hiro, ever the social one, quickly became a favorite among the guild members. As the night wore on, the guild members shared stories about their missions, dreams, and hopes for the future, filling the room with a sense of camaraderie.

Later that night, as the others prepared to go home, Kyren stepped outside for some fresh air. He stood by the fence, staring up at the night sky. The stars glittered above, and the sound of the ocean waves crashing gently on the nearby shore created a serene backdrop. Yet, despite the beauty around him, Kyren’s mind was heavy with thoughts.

He remembered what Alaine had told him about Lili, the healer who might help him unlock his past. "She’s the one who could help me… but why am I feeling so anxious about it?" he thought, his heart racing with a mix of anticipation and fear.

Hiro’s presence broke the silence as he joined Kyren by the fence. "It’s beautiful out here, isn’t it?" Hiro said, taking in the peaceful surroundings.

"Yeah," Kyren replied quietly, his thoughts still elsewhere.

Hiro turned to him, his expression softening. "Kyren, I’ve gotta thank you again. If you hadn’t pushed me to follow my dreams, I’d never have found Alaine or this guild."

Kyren remained silent for a moment before finally voicing the question that had been gnawing at him. "Hiro, do you think I was a warrior before? Do you think I had a purpose?"

Hiro’s face softened even more as he spoke, his voice gentle but hesitant. "I know... it’s hard, not knowing who you were." He paused, fumbling slightly as he tried to find the right words. "But, uh... Kyren, does it really matter who you were? I mean... you’re here now, with people who care about you." He scratched the back of his head, clearly uncomfortable with giving advice, but pushing through. "Maybe... instead of stressing over your past, you could focus on, you know, the present? Just... enjoy the life you have right now. Even if it's just for a little bit." His awkward delivery showed he wasn’t the best at comforting others, but the sincerity in his words was unmistakable.

Kyren’s grip on the fence tightened. "But if I was a warrior, shouldn’t I be stronger? Shouldn’t I have lasted longer in that duel today?"

Hiro chuckled softly. "Patricia’s a real monster, Kyren. Don’t be too hard on yourself." He is pouting his cheeks, clearly searching for the right words. "You've... uh, been given a second chance at life, right? Er, wait... how do I say this?" He fumbled, visibly struggling to express his thoughts. "Maybe... instead of worrying about what you don’t know or can’t do, you should, you know, just enjoy being alive for now." His awkward delivery showed that while Hiro wasn’t a smooth talker, he genuinely wanted to help.

Kyren pondered Hiro’s words, feeling a small flicker of hope.

Before they could continue, Alaine appeared at the door. "Hey, you two. Everyone’s heading home. Are you okay staying at the office tonight and for the rest of the week?" she asked, her voice gentle.

Hiro grinned. "Of course, Alaine! We’re all good here."

Alaine’s gaze shifted to Kyren. "Kyren, Lili’s staying a bit longer. Are you ready to talk to her?"

Kyren felt a knot of anxiety tighten in his stomach, but he nodded. "Yeah… I’m ready," he said, though his voice wavered slightly.

Hiro, ever the joker, interrupted with a mischievous grin. "Wait, what? Are you confessing to Lili, Kyren? I’m so confused right now."

Alaine rolled her eyes, smacking Hiro lightly on the shoulder. "Idiot. Lili’s a healer. She might be able to help Kyren recover his lost memories."

Hiro’s eyes lit up with excitement. "Really? Well, let’s go then, Kyren! This is going to be awesome!"