"Come on, is this all you got?" Elizabeth asked as she stared at the floored Tibaut. It hadn't even been five minutes and yet he was on the floor gasping for air.

"Liz, you should really leave his rehabilitation to me," Tina said as she watched from the shade of a tree. Lily was by her feet, biting one of her nails watching this fight. She was looking somewhat distressed.

("Ah man, I shouldn't have told her.") Tina thought to herself.

"I knew you had weakened but this is unexpected. Tina may have surpassed you in power now." Elizabeth commented as she helped Tibaut back up.

It seems the lack of muscle had also considerably slowed him down. That plus his already weakened state had made him easy pickings for Elizabeth, even with his magic. After all, if she rushed him quick enough, he couldn't even be able to use it.

"Then why'd you go all out on me!? I'm supposed to be recovering, not fighting for my life."

"Hmm, this won't do." She walked closer to him. She lifted up his arm and began examining it. "There is a noticeable difference compared to a few days earlier but this is too slow. It'll probably take months for you to get back to normal."

"Ugh, really? Dammit."

"Let me get some training in with him, Liz, I wanna help him out, after all," She said in an oddly nefarious tone. ("I'm gonna get a clean win over you, you bastard.")

After convincing herself what she did to Tibaut happened in a dream, she was fired up to defeat him. Before she could begin her approach, Lily stood up and put her hand before her to stop her.

"You don't mind if I try, right Tina."

"Lily, come on, this isn't the time for this," Tina responded.

She gave no answer and began walking towards Tibaut. Tina rolled her eyes. ("He can't even do it on command, what are you even going to accomplish?")

Lily walked over to Tibaut with a mean look on her face.

("Huh, what's up with her?") He wondered as she stood in front.

Elizabeth seemed to be in thought after talking to Tibaut as if she was trying to remember something. She paid no mind to Lily.

"Hey Tibaut, quick question." Lily calmly asked.

"Oh, uh, Lily, what brings you over here?" Tibaut asked. They had never had a conversation before, so he wondered what this was about.

"How long have you been doing martial arts?" She asked, completely ignoring his questions.

"Uh, I think three or four years now… what is it?"

"Hehehehe," she coldly laughed after hearing this. "Hehe, three years." Her face took on an unhinged appearance and she kept laughing to herself. Tibaut was starting to worry.

Did you know this story is from Royal Road? Read the official version for free and support the author.

"Uh, is there a problem?"

"Eight years."

"I'm sorry?"

"I've spent eight years trying to hone my craft and reach the point where I can use ki. Yet you just show up out of nowhere, already knowing how to use magic and also manage to learn ki? Do you think my eight years were a joke? Besides learning both magic and ki at the same time? Pick one to be good at you fucking overachiever."

Tibaut started to feel uncomfortable as she began ranting.

"Um, I'm sorry to hear that?"

"You think I'm talentless don't you?"

"Uh, no I actually. I don-"

"You liar!" She swung at him.

("Wow, this is the first time I've ever seen Lily this pissed.") Thought Tina as she watched with interest.

"You're gonna show me how you did before the end of the day, you bastard."

She threw a kunai at him and Tibaut managed to grab it. She threw several others and he blocked them with the one he grabbed.

("Is she a ninja or something?") He thought to himself.

She had jumped into the air and landed with a kick aimed at him. He quickly blocked but she didn't relent. She immediately got closer to him and began throwing punches. He attempted a leg sweep but she stepped on his foot stunning him momentarily. If not for his pain tolerance, she would have landed a clean hit to his face. He comfortably blocked with both his arms but she soon hit him with a leg sweep of her own.

("Geez, she's really fired up today.") Tina commented.

Tibaut quickly swept her legs after she left herself open momentarily after sending him on the floor and both rolled away from each other. They both got up. She was already sweating while Tibaut was sweating before the fight even started.

"Um, listen I know it migh-" Before he could get his words out she threw more kunai at him. He managed to parry most while the others missed but she used this brief moment his attention was focused on them, to get closer.

She threw another punch but Tibaut managed to stop it with a blow with his elbow, which made her wince. She backed away while flicking her wrist. But she soon ended up backing into Tina.

"Cut it out, Lily, I'm the one who's gonna train with him."

"Oh screw off, I'm not gonna stop until he uses his ki!"

She ran back towards him but Tina grabbed her hoodie which sent her straight to the floor. She got up, rubbed her ass and turned her attention to Tina.

"What's the big idea, Pinky?"

She flicked her forehead. "Don't call me that," Tina responded.

Lily placed a hand on the point she was flicked and looked ready to start brawling with Tina. "Ow, what is this about, can't you see I'm busy?"

"Why are you even doing this?"

"Cause it isn't fair, God dammit. You're telling me I trained for eight years, yet don't feel anywhere near close to it and this guy who's been doing it for half the time can do it." She angrily said. She began stomping her feet. "It's not fair, besides the least he can do is show me it." She said as her attention turned back to him.

"I already told you, he can't do it on command, besides I want to beat him before you can devalue him."

"Devalue?"

"Right, if he loses to you then a win against him in his current state would mean nothing to me."

"Hmph!" she turned around and began walking back towards him. Tina quickly grabbed and held her back. She bit her arms in from there the two got into a squabble.

"Ah, I suppose it wouldn't hurt to check the library. Stay here, for the time being, Tibaut." Elizabeth seemed to have finally finished her thought and quickly walked from the scene.

Tibaut didn't know what to think as he saw Tina and Lily go at it.

Eventually, she ran behind Tibaut as Tina chased her. She used him as a makeshift shield and Tina eventually gave up and walked back towards the tree.

"Uh, you're not gonna attack me right?" He asked.

She looked more amicable than earlier as she stood behind him.

"Don't worry, I've got it out of my system. But man, it sucks seeing talented people."

("Why's she acting so close with me?") He wondered. "But, uh, did you have to attack me?"

"Well, Tina hid all our booze and Vanessa seemed really busy with something so I couldn't hang out with her. So this seemed like the best way to let off some steam. You're a cool guy, though, you don't mind right?"

("I mean, I would have appreciated a heads up.")