The week of training had pushed Kyren and Hiro to their limits, each day a grueling test of endurance and skill. The mornings were filled with intense cardio on the beach, where the salty wind whipped at their faces, urging them to push harder, run faster. Their feet dug deep into the sand as they sprinted, hearts pounding in rhythm with the crashing waves. Afterward, their sparring sessions grew more brutal with each passing day, blades flashing under the sun as they honed their attacks, parries, and counters, each clash of metal driving them closer to mastery.

But their hardest tests came in the afternoons, with the punishing hill climbs. Muscles screamed for relief as they scaled the steep, rocky inclines, sweat pouring from their bodies as they raced against each other. The relentless grind had paid off—by the week's end, they were stronger, faster, and sharper. Yet, amidst all this, a shadow hung over them. Alaine, their mentor, had been called away to Knight Bay City, leaving them under Patricia's watchful eye.

As they set off for Arramaya City, Patricia's words hung heavy in the air.

"Listen up, fellas. Y'all gotta shine bright at this Academy. We done put a whole lot into you, so don't let us down," she had said, the seriousness in her tone like a cold blade. But just as the tension seemed unbearable, she chuckled. "Haha, just kidding. But seriously, stay alive out there!"

Kyren and Hiro exchanged glances, each understanding the weight of her words even through the humor.

Their journey to Arramaya was peaceful at first, the road winding through the lush landscape as they rode on their rented steed. As the horizon stretched before them, Kyren's curiosity broke the silence.

"Patricia, how did you and Alaine become friends?" Kyren asked, his voice tentative.

Patricia, glancing sideways with a smirk, didn't hesitate. "Oh, that’s a story alright. One that'll probably keep you from nodding off on this boring road." She chuckled, her tone light but her eyes carried the weight of memories.

"Are you comfortable sharing it?" Kyren pressed, intrigued by the bond they seemed to share.

"To be real with you, me and Alaine didn’t start out tight like you and Hiro. We actually crossed paths at Sky Academy. It wasn’t exactly love at first sight.” Patricia’s voice grew a bit darker, and both Kyren and Hiro leaned in, eager for the tale.

"Sky Academy…" Hiro whispered, the name of the prestigious institution rolling off his tongue like a legend.

"Yup. I was the leader of our section, and one thing that stuck out like a sore thumb there was how rough it could get, especially for humans. Alaine... well, she was smart, but she was catching heat from bullies. Human students had it tough."

Hiro blinked, surprised. "Alaine? Bullied?"

Patricia nodded, her expression serious. "You wouldn’t guess it now, would you? But back then, she was cornered. Most humans couldn’t handle the discrimination. She wasn’t spared none of that. I watched it go on long enough until one day, I had enough. Stepped in and told those punks to back off."

"And that’s when you became friends?" Kyren asked, his curiosity rising.

"Not exactly." Patricia gave a slight chuckle. "See, Alaine wasn’t some damsel in distress. She fought back, and I realized she was sharp, really sharp. We had each other’s backs from then on. But life at Sky Academy wasn’t all smooth sailing."

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Patricia’s voice took on a grim note, the atmosphere between them shifting. "On the surface, everything seemed cool, but man, some of those so-called friends we had turned out to be straight-up two-faced. Backstabbers. They’d act like they were on your side one minute, and the next, they were plotting against you."

Kyren frowned. "How did you find out?"

"When you’re just regular folks, you idolize the warriors and sorcerers like they’re untouchable heroes. But once you step into that world yourself, it’s different. The world’s not split between good guys and bad guys. It’s all shades of gray. Some people you think have your back? They’ll be the first to sink a knife in it when you’re not looking."

The weight of her words pressed down on them like a cloud.

Hiro, ever the optimist, finally spoke up. "Then why not just get rid of the ones causing trouble? The ones breaking the rules?"

"It’s not that simple, Hiro," Patricia replied with a sigh. "The real elite? The ones who keep the peace and balance, they’re less than one percent of the warriors and sorcerers out there. They’ve got bigger battles to fight than worrying about petty rule-breakers or small-time crooks. And those in the middle? They’re just trying to survive, claw their way to the top."

She paused before continuing, her eyes softening. "But Alaine... she stood out. Sharp as a tack and tough as nails. Made it to the top of our batch. She was the brains, and I was the brawn. I jumped into fights without thinking. She planned them."

Kyren was impressed. "So, she’s perfect for the leader position then."

"Perfect?" Patricia laughed softly. "We complemented each other. But don’t underestimate her. Alaine’s more than capable in a fight, trust me. And we trust each other completely. She even saved my life once."

Hiro and Kyren’s eyes widened. "Saved your life?" Hiro blurted.

Patricia’s voice lowered, the memory clearly a painful one. "Yeah, nearly died at Sky Academy. A trap set by a few section leaders. If Alaine hadn’t stepped in… I wouldn’t be here talking to you."

"What kind of trap?" Kyren pressed, but Patricia deflected with a wave of her hand.

"It’s not important. What’s important is that Alaine’s earned my trust. We watch each other’s backs, and now, I’m watching yours."

As the story ended, their journey fell into a peaceful silence once more. The road ahead stretched on, until...

Suddenly, the horse jolted to a stop, trapped in a mess of hidden wires.

"Patricia, what’s going on?" Kyren asked, his tone immediately alert.

Patricia moved quickly, heading toward the front to investigate the tangled wires when a sharp, metallic hiss filled the air. Kyren barely registered the glint of something small and deadly before it struck—an expertly thrown needle embedded itself in Patricia’s neck. Her body crumpled to the ground in a heap, unconscious before she could even react.

"Patricia!" Kyren’s voice cracked, panic rising in his chest.

"Hiro! We’re being ambushed!" Kyren snapped, drawing his sword, adrenaline surging through his veins. His eyes darted around, trying to locate the attackers.

"Again?! What do we do?" Hiro stammered, gripping his blade tightly, his hands trembling.

Kyren’s eyes locked onto three figures emerging from the trees, their movements calculated, confident. Each step they took towards the caravan sent a chill down his spine. Their eyes gleamed with malice, and the fact that they had taken down Patricia so effortlessly made Kyren’s gut churn.

"We're in trouble. If they can take down Patricia, these guys are no joke," Kyren muttered, feeling the weight of the situation sink in.

One of the ambushers, a tall, cloaked figure with an air of authority, stepped forward, his voice dripping with smugness. "Drop your weapons. Grab the orc girl and leave the caravan, or we’ll finish you just like her."

“KYREN! PLEASE NOT THIS TIME!” Hiro reflecting on the past situation that they were in.

Kyren’s blood boiled at the man's arrogance, but he quickly assessed their situation. Patricia was down, and they were outnumbered by seasoned fighters. But Kyren’s resolve hardened. They had fought too hard, trained too long to go down without a fight.

"Yeah, not this time, Grab your sword, Hiro. We fight," Kyren said, his voice a low growl, his mind already racing through battle strategies.

Hiro’s eyes widened in fear, but seeing the determination in Kyren’s gaze, he nodded and raised his blade. "Right. No turning back."