Kyren and Hiro settled into their newly renovated hut, the scent of fresh wood and varnish still lingering in the air. The snug space felt more like a sanctuary than just a shelter, hidden away from prying eyes.

“You guys are resourceful, aren’t you?” Zeeha remarked, swinging her feet in the high chair they had crafted from salvaged materials. Her gaze swept around the cozy space, an impressed smile playing at her lips.

Hiro chuckled, adjusting the makeshift curtain to block out the last rays of the setting sun. “Not really; we just need this to survive.”

“Well, I think this is the max we can do about it. We can’t expand it any more, or it won’t be a hideout anymore if it becomes too big,” Kyren observed. His voice held a tinge of satisfaction as he scanned the room.

“Yeah, I thought about that too,” Hiro replied, glancing at the sturdy walls and the effort they’d poured into the place.

The three companions paused, soaking in the spectacle of the sun dipping below the horizon, casting hues of orange and pink across the sky, filling the hut with a soft glow.

Breaking the silence, Kyren turned to Zeeha. “So, Zeeha, where did you get that root enhancement for your sword? And how do you control it?” he asked, his curiosity piqued by the mysterious powers of her weapon.

Zeeha’s eyes sparkled with excitement as she held out her hand to reveal a delicately crafted ring etched with intricate runes. “Oh, yes, it’s from this,” she said, her voice brimming with pride. “My friend customized this ring. It stores roots and can fuse them to your weapon.”

Hiro’s eyes widened in amazement. “What? Is that even possible? I’ve never heard of anything like that.”

Kyren shook his head. “No, Hiro, we actually heard about it from Alaine… but it was a bit different. Zeeha, can you tell us more?”

“Of course,” Zeeha replied with a grin, stretching her arms out leisurely. “We don’t have anything else to do, do we?”

The soft flicker of the lantern light cast shadows as Zeeha settled into her story. “I have two friends here at the academy, but they’re in different sections. After the qualifying exam, we all got split up,” she said, a hint of sadness creeping into her tone.

“That’s tough,” Hiro said sympathetically. “It’s different from us, I guess.”

“Yeah, very different.” Zeeha’s smile turned nostalgic. “They’re GAs too, in sections 11 and 12. I’ll never forget the coronation of the GA. The 11th is a dwarf, right?” Kyren asked, recalling the event.

Zeeha nodded, finishing her tea. “Yeah, but he doesn’t look like one of them—more like a pure elf, like the 8th GA. He and my friend from section 12 are the ones who craft these accessories.”

Kyren watched Zeeha carefully as she spoke, noting the admiration in her voice. Her loyalty to her friends was evident, but he couldn’t shake a nagging feeling that there was more to her story than she was letting on.

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“How do you control it?” Hiro asked, his eyes locked onto the ring. “And how do you avoid getting struck by the electricity?”

Zeeha flexed her gloved hand with a proud grin. “It’s simple—well, maybe not that simple,” she admitted, gesturing to her gloves and sleeves. “These are resistant to electric roots. My friend designed them to protect me.”

“Whoa! So how do you release the roots from the ring?” Hiro asked, leaning in closer, mesmerized by the glowing runes.

“If I grip my sword, the ring releases electricity. The harder I grip, the more electricity flows,” Zeeha explained, demonstrating with a quick jolt. Her movements were fluid, her hand as steady as if she’d practiced this a hundred times.

“This ring can store other elemental roots too,” she continued, “like wind, water, and fire. But electricity is the best for enhancing sharpness. Wind is good for mid-range slashes, but fire drains energy fast, and water or earth dulls the blade.”

“Fascinating,” Kyren murmured, his interest growing. “What’s the capacity of that ring? How much can it store?”

Zeeha scratched her chin, thinking. “If I go full power, it lasts about half an hour. In normal fights, up to two hours. Recharging takes three days.”

“Must be worth a fortune,” Hiro mused, awestruck. He looked at the ring as if seeing a priceless relic.

“It is. I only have it because my friend from the 12th GA, who’s from a semi-royal family, gifted it to me,” Zeeha said, tucking her ringed hand into her lap with a smile.

Kyren raised an eyebrow, still watching Zeeha closely. She had powerful friends and valuable artifacts—too valuable for someone he barely knew. His gaze shifted to Hiro, who seemed to trust Zeeha fully. Kyren could feel a knot of doubt tightening in his stomach.

“So,” Hiro said, breaking Kyren’s train of thought, “what are your plans for tomorrow? Our section is pretty awful, right?”

Zeeha sighed, the weight of her frustration clear in her voice. “It is. Our section’s practically at a disadvantage. It’s like giving us a broken boat and telling us to win a ship race.”

Hiro looked thoughtful. “Maybe we need to work with others in our section. Surely, some of them can’t be as bad as the rest.”

Zeeha’s expression soured. “They betrayed me. They might think the same way we do, but they’d rather side with whoever’s the strongest.”

Hiro’s smile faded as he considered her words. “Then maybe we just need to watch each other’s backs,” he suggested. His voice was softer, almost vulnerable.

Kyren noticed how easily Hiro formed attachments with people, how quickly he found trust where Kyren saw only risk. He wasn’t ready to fully trust Zeeha yet, but he’d go along with it for now.

“Well, I still don’t trust you guys,” Zeeha murmured, her eyes drifting closed, “but you’re not Calir’s puppets, at least.”

Hiro’s face lit up with a memory. “Oh, you saw our little showdown with him, right?”

“Yeah, and it was terrible,” Zeeha muttered with a smirk.

“What? I held my ground!” Hiro protested.

Zeeha scoffed. “He was just testing himself, showing off. If you fought him seriously, he’d crush you.” She yawned, glancing at the two of them. “Anyway, you guys going to sleep?”

The three settled down, drifting into the quiet of the night. But Kyren found himself staring at the ceiling, thoughts churning.

After an hour, Hiro noticed him still awake. “Why aren’t you sleeping, Kyren?”

Kyren shifted, hesitating before answering. “Hiro, honestly, I still don’t trust Zeeha.”

Hiro paused, considering this. “Can’t blame you,” he replied softly. “After everything… it’s not easy to just move on.”

Kyren felt a tightness in his chest as he whispered, “Yeah… I hate to think it, but it feels like we’re up against everyone. Like no one really wants to make a fair deal with us.”

Hiro fell silent beside him, his breathing growing steady. Kyren sighed, glancing over to see Hiro fast asleep.

In the quiet, Kyren tried to relax, forcing his doubts away. He wanted to believe in Zeeha, but trust wasn’t something he gave easily. For now, he’d stay vigilant—because in a world like this, survival meant watching your back… even with friends nearby.