“May I come in?” Fae asked.

“Wh-what time is it?” Kenrich asked.

“I couldn’t say, but it’s still dark out if that’s what you mean. Sorry to disturb your sleep, but I need your help.”

“What can I help you with?”

“I need to know just how strong Violet is. I need a rundown on her tactics, use of magic stones, favorite weapons, etc. You’ve been fighting with her the most recently, so I figured you would be the perfect person to ask.”

“Violet would probably cut my head off if I shared her strategies with you…”

“C’mon! You’ll help out a cute girl, won’t you?”

“I did say that I wanted you to win, so fine. I’ll tell you what I can.”

“You sure did! I’m ready to learn Master Kenrich.”

Kenrich invited Fae into his room and told her about the various strategies that he was taught by Violet as well as the strategies he picked up on her using during combat. He also told her about the speed, stamina, mist, and freeze stones that she had as well as the new strength-depleting stone they received from their most recent battle. As Kenrich was talking, Fae was copying all of what he said into a small black notebook. He wondered if he also had a notebook somewhere in his dorm. There were definitely some things he wished to write down if given the chance, especially once they receive more information from Queen Puri about the mission. After Kenrich had run out of things to tell her, Fae thanked him, and they parted ways for the night. After she left, Kenrich searched his dresser and nightstand for a similar notebook, but did not find one. He shrugged it off and went back to sleep.

After what felt like even less time passed, he was once again woken by a knock at his door. He flipped over onto his face and sighed, trying to gather even just ten more seconds of shuteye. He could not even manage five though before the knocking got louder and he heard two familiar voices.

“Get up, judge! You’re gonna want a front row seat to watch me whoop this kid’s ass!”

“Oh, please! Just look at my birth records! According to the rules of time, I’m actually a few months older than you!”

Kenrich knew that their bickering would keep him awake no matter what, so he got up and went towards the door.

“I’ll be out in a moment!” he said, before heading to his dresser.

He removed his clothing and substituted them with identical, yet much cleaner, replacements, before slipping on his boots and going into the hallway. He saw the two girls facing each other once again with a violent aura surrounding them. It would be hard for any ignorant onlooker to see them as anything other than archenemies in this state, but Kenrich knew that they were only this mad at each other because of how much they cared. Kenrich saw a third familiar face standing at the other side of them though, it was Yui.

“Alright, if you will all follow me, I’ll lead you all to the gym,” she said.

They all followed Yui to the other side of the palace’s first floor. After a bit of walking, they stopped at a large double-door which two Aquarium guards standing on either side, opened to let them in. Inside, it was another dull gray room which matched all of their bedrooms. The room was large and was mostly empty except for the large mat in the middle of it and the practice dummies that were pushed to the edge of the room. As Kenrich looked further, he saw three more doorways in the back of the gym that read “Weight Room,” “Aerobics” and “Equipment.”

“This must be the place where we’re going to start our training,” Kenrich said.

“Correct,” Yui said. “Once her majesty starts your training, this is where you will meet.”

“Good to know,” Violet said. “Okay, let’s get this fight started. Kenrich over here looks like he hasn’t slept in years.”

“Ha-ha,” Kenrich said sarcastically.

“C’mon, it’s dawn! That’s when every soldier rises!” Fae said, sticking her thumb in the air.

“Kenrich spent most of his life in a quiet village, so there was probably no need for him to get out of bed so early.”

“I’ll have you know that I was a miner. I got up this early all the time. I know that you know that, Violet.”

“Even so, you do look like you could use a rest so let’s get this show on the road!” Violet said.

“Please don’t make too much of a mess,” Yui sighed before stepping out of the gym.

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“I’m gonna grab a weapon from the equipment room, you need me to grab you a shield, Vivi? You used to love yourself a good kite shield.”

“No thanks. I two-hand my broadsword now.”

“Must’ve been something the commander broke into you, huh? He always saw shields as cowardly.”

“He was a fool to think that way, but I am also a fool for letting him drill that into me. Just go ahead and grab the biggest axe you can find and let’s do this thing!”

“You know me so well~” Fae said, skipping to the equipment closet.

Violet took her spot on the mat closest to the door while Kenrich leaned up against the wall on the same side. It was true that he was sleepy, but there was no doubt that the fight about to happen would entertain him enough to keep him in the waking world. After a second, Violet went over to Kenrich and plopped her pack next to him.

“Watch these for me, judge.”

“I don’t think anyone here will steal them, but okay. Are you not using gemstones for the battle?”

“We decided not to use them. Fae doesn’t have any so it's not fair of me to just bombard her with magic. She barely used them at all during the academy anyway.”

“I see…”

Violet then walked off back to her spot and started stretching on the ground. She was wearing lighter armor than usual, so it was apparent that she wanted the best mobility possible in this fight. After a moment, Fae left the equipment room with a large battleaxe resting on her shoulder. Her armor was much lighter than Violet’s. In fact, she was wearing the same black and red dress Violet had originally given her.

“What gives? Was there no armor in there?” Violet asked.

“This battleaxe is all the armor I’ll ever need. Lotta good my last set of armor did for me anyway…couldn’t even stop an arrow…”

“Suit yourself.”

“I shall.”

Violet stood up from her side of the room and took out her steel broadsword which shimmered in the light. Yui must have gotten her hands on it, because it was shinier than the day Kenrich first saw it. Fae took her spot on the other side of the room. She was holding the massive axe like it was a prop, not like the massive metal weapon it actually was. It was almost comical to Kenrich how easily she was grasping it. She then took the axe off of her shoulder and held it with both hands in front of her, ready to battle.

“So, what are the rules of the duel before we start?” Violet asked.

“The one who loses is the first to give up…or die. Whichever comes first,” Fae said.

“This truly does show how far our friendship goes, doesn’t it?”

“It does. We’ll literally kill each other to protect each other. Kinda poetic in a way.”

“I hope you two aren’t serious about that…” Kenrich called from the wall.

“Well…if the judge decides to call the fight early, he can,” Fae said. “I’d hate to stain poor Kenrich’s eyes with needless violence.”

“Kenrich, if you call the fight early – I’m challenging you next,” Violet said, turning to him.

“Am I the judge, or aren’t I, V?!”

“V? That’s a cute nickname. Wish I thought of it…” Fae said.

“No one even calls me by my real name anymore except for old enemies.”

“I always did say your name was too long,” Fae said.

“Once again…it’s TWO syllables!”

“A likely story!” Fae said jokingly.

“Ugh! Let’s just start already!”

“Okay! Count us down, Kenrich!”

“Sure thing…”

Kenrich got ready to count as Violet and Fae got back into their stances.

“3…2…1…Go!”

Just as Kenrich started the “G” sound, Fae had already thrust straight towards Violet at inhuman speed. Violet received her and held up her broadsword to block the blade of her axe, sending a shockwave through the gym. Fae jumped backwards and put some distance in between them, but as she did, Violet closed the gap immediately with a thrust of her sword. Fae did not seem to expect this and was barely able to place her axeblade down in front of her chest which caused the axe to be knocked awkwardly to her side. Violet tried to follow up with a slice at Fae’s now vulnerable side, but Fae recovered quickly and used her feet to thrust her body over her axe, vaulting herself behind it just in time to miss her slash. It was just as Violet described in her stories, Fae truly was an expert at using large battleaxes as both weapons, and as shields.

After Violet’s slash missed, Fae propped her body up with her axe handle once again and used both feet to kick the flat side of its head straight at Violet who was pushed to the ground from the force. As Violet tumbled down the gym floor, Kenrich could not help but cheer a bit with just how cool Fae looked as that move not only landed her back on her feet but neatly placed her axe back on her shoulder, nonchalantly.

“See! Kenrich over there liked that move. How about you, Vivi?”

“Sh-shut up…” Violet said, making it back to her feet. “The show ain’t over yet.”

Violet again ran straight at Fae, thrusting her sword in front of her, so to defend, Fae once again put her axe head in front of her to block it. However, just before contact could be made, Violet spun around and tried to sneak her blade past the side of the stationary axe. Fae seemed to predict this move as well though and thrust her axe handle straight down into Violet’s blade, like pulling a lever, which pushed it into the floor. With her blade firmly planted into the ground, Violet unexpectedly climbed onto the handle and jumped off of it, putting herself above Fae. Fae was too slow to pull her axe up and was kicked by Violet across the gym floor, disarming her. Once again, Kenrich let out a small cheer. He did not realize that he enjoyed a good fight before this.

“How was that move, Fae? Kenrich sure liked it…”

“Heh…” Fae said, kneeling on the ground. “You proud of kicking a legally deceased teenager, Vivi? Have some shame!”

“You don’t get to play that card!” Violet yelled. “Now, get up!”