The world around the blonde changed, taking on shapes and voids while on the dark background bright lines outlined every shape present. The demigoddess observed the clash looking for a clue and immediately captured the real problem.

Between Lilia and Eury, a shapeless mass of humanoid-shaped mana moved completely autonomously, as if it was a parallel version of Rutia's son. Upon closer observation, Marina noticed a red circle within the demigod's green irises.

Lilia has fallen victim to an illusion, she confirmed, observing white rays starting from the pupils of Torari's daughter and blocking in front of the mass of mana.

He created an image that covers his presence and blocks Lilia's view, that's why she's missing all the shots. Very… astute.

At a certain point, Eury's laughter became louder, and Marina perceived movement to her left.

Suddenly, Gliomedes intervened. Without saying a word, he took an arrow from his bow and nocked it in one fluid motion. In an instant, the latter was covered in a silver patina, a sign that the demigod had activated his mother's powers.

The son of Ion shot the arrow, which pierced the air with deadly precision and pulverized the false Eury's head, dissolving the entire illusion in a flash of light. The arrow stopped, then, in mid-air, rotated on itself and returned to the archer's hand after describing a long upward arc. Marina widened her eyes, amazed by the skill of the representative of the eighth house. Having studied their powers, she was certain that they didn’t possess an eye power at the same level as a child of Ien, and she didn’t see any trail of mana around his eyes. That could only mean that Gliomedes did it thanks to the sharp senses that came with her mother’s pathway plus some tricks she wasn’t aware of.

“Simply amazing,” she whispered.

Silence fell on the arena.

“Eury,” Gliomedes's voice was calm but the tone was firm, “This is a training, not a duel. You need to focus on improving your skills, not confusing your opponent. If you rely only on illusions, you will never develop true mastery with weapons.”

The words hit the boy, whose smile immediately disappeared. He nodded apologetically, but the damage was done. Lilia had fully awakened and, furious at having been teased, prepared to attack with renewed energy.

Gliomedes approached Marina as the fight between Lilia and Eury resumed. Ien's daughter greeted him with a slight smile, still a little nervous at having witnessed such a decisive intervention.

“Are you feeling better?” Gliomedes asked her, his tone gentle and curious, “Normally I would have asked you to join the others, but I know that the children of Cragar continue to cause you problems even as happened with the son of Tefine.”

Marina shrugged her shoulders, trying to hide the inner turmoil she felt.

“I don't feel quite right,” she replied, trying to keep her voice light. She wasn't ready to talk about it and hoped Gliomedes wouldn't insist.

“The important thing is that you learn to manage your mind as best as possible, an excellent mentality creates a strong body,” he tried to reassure her after a few seconds of silence. “Our power does not come only from strength or technique, but from the ability to stay focused even in the most difficult moments.”

Marina listened to Gliomedes's words attentively, but her gaze was still lost in the battle that was happening before her eyes. Gliomedes' words were wise, yet she felt that that knot inside her, that confusion and vulnerability, would not be untied so easily. The thought of Shirei would not soon leave her mind and with it everything concerning the future of the park.

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She nodded slightly, unable to form a real response, as her eyes returned to following Lilia.

The clash resumed with new energy. Torari's daughter, still enraged by Eury's delusion, attacked ferociously. That time she didn't let herself be distracted; her strokes were faster, more decisive, and she seemed to have learned her lesson. Instead of trying to understand what had happened, she concentrated only on hitting hard and fast, using her physical strength to crush her small opponent. Eury, bereft of his delusion, attempted to defend himself, but the difference in skill and experience between the two was becoming clear.

He was agile, but not fast enough to avoid every blow. Lilia's growing pressure was starting to make itself felt. Marina could see the frustration growing in the green eyes of Rutia's son, who was trying to stay focused even though the situation was now desperate.

The raven took advantage of his moment of hesitation.

With a precise movement, she pushed her shield against him, making him take a few steps back, and then struck with her sword, not to wound, but to disarm him.

The shot rang loudly in the arena. Eury fell to the ground, the dagger slipping from his already red hands.

“I give up!” the demigod immediately shouted, raising his arms in surrender. His breathing was labored and his lips stretched into a forced smile.

Lilia stopped, lowering her shield and sword, but not before giving Eury a look of pure triumph. The blue-haired boy slowly stood up, trying to hide his defeat with a joke.

“Looks like today isn't my day,” he said, trying to smile as he picked up the dagger to hand it back to the tutor, “Alwas said I'll never win against a woman.”

Gliomedes approached, observing the scene carefully.

“You fought well,” he said to applause, acknowledging their effort. Then he turned his gaze to Rutia's son.

“Eury, remember what I told you. Your illusion is useful, but it is not a shortcut. You will only grow if you learn to rely on your physical abilities too.”

The boy nodded, perhaps not entirely convinced, but enough to accept the advice. Marina felt a strange solidarity towards him. She knew what it meant to feel inadequate or not up to expectations, a feeling that had often haunted her in the past.

The lesson continued with the other pairs of demigods, but Marina's attention was now elsewhere. She was lost in her thoughts, remaining sitting on the steps as Lilia approached, still a little sweaty, but visibly satisfied with her victory.

“Shall we go home?” the raven girl asked, smiling as she took off her leather jacket and threw it over her shoulder. Her tone was more relaxed once the tension of the fight passed.

Ien's daughter nodded and stood up. “Yes, let's go back,” she replied, trying to shake off the heaviness she felt inside.

As they walked side by side out of the arena, the two girls stood in silence for a while, enjoying the quiet of the late afternoon. Shadows were lengthening along the paths of the park, and the first lanterns were starting to light up, casting a warm, soft light on them.

Lilia noticed her friend's silence and decided to break the ice.

“Did you see how that little boy was trying to fool me with his illusions? He thinks he's funny, but I put him in his place.”

Marina smiled slightly. “You were incredible, Lilia. I had no doubts.”

“Well, I had to. I don't let anyone make fun of me that easily.”

Then, her gaze became more serious. “Are you okay? You're very quiet. Yesterday everything seemed fine, what has changed?”

Marina hesitated for a moment, not sure what to say.

Lilia had always been an iron-willed, albeit stubborn, person. She, on the other hand, was a tangle of conflicting thoughts and feelings.

“Yes, everything's fine,” she finally lied, trying to hide her anxiety. “I just… I have a few things on my mind.”

“I understand,” she replied simply. “Just remember that you can always count on me, okay? I'm ready to beat Shirei!”

Marina laughed but nodded, grateful to have her by her side.

“He has done nothing to me… and you should calm your contempt for children of Cragar.”

“Absolutely not.”

They finally arrived at the seventh house. The lanterns along the path illuminated the road, creating a tranquil atmosphere worthy of a balmy evening. Torari's daughter stopped in the doorway, looking at the now darkened sky.

“So, what do you do next?”

“I should go to the thirteenth, I promised it to Dalia” replied Marina.

“Okay… just ignore me for the little girl.”

Ien's daughter sighed, “Will you stop?”

Lilia smiled at her and walked away, leaving her alone.

Marina stood there for a moment, watching the lanterns dance in the wind. With a second sigh, she entered the house to get ready.