"...Is the threat eliminated?"

Webb scratched the back of his head. He lightly jabbed his own bandaged arm and scowled. "Wow, Jamie, that's the first thing you ask?"

Myr shook her head at the antics. She climbed onto her Walker again and let Webb explain what they'd encountered to James. She gave Elicia a light nod and leaned against the wall to rest.

[What are you doing?]

She rested.

[Stop that, now.]

And rested.

[Stop ignoring me.]

And—

[Get. Up.]

Myr groaned. She lazily opened her eyes and tapped the hilt of her rapier to signal that she was listening.

[It is time for you to train.]

"But I just...."

[I knew what you did. I was there. It does not change the fact that you should train.]

"Fine." Myr got up and sighed. Her muscles were sore, but she couldn't argue much with Luna. She gave Elicia another curt nod and jumped down. But as soon as she did so, her Walker began to move. "Eh?"

"Myr, go back to your Walker! We're moving!" The Merchant shouted.

Before Myr could answer, Luna projected outward and spoke.

[Do not. See this as an opportunity to train.]

Myr kept a stiff smile. She shouted back to the Merchant, "H-How long do we have left before Iglsah?

"Eh, give or take a day."

"U-Understood...."

Myr kept her frustration to herself and began walking along the Walker. They were just slightly faster than her normal walking speed, but a bit too slow for her jogging speed.

She had to adjust her speed to an uncomfortable one.

[Seeing as you will not make any improvement to the First Movement any time soon, I shall teach you the foundation of the Second Movement.]

A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation.

Myr's eyes lit up. Just the mere mention of a new move made all her frustrations go away. With newfound excitement, she nodded eagerly.

"Teach me!"

[Very well. All you need to do is..... Hold.]

"...?"

[The act of hovering your hand just above the handle, giving yourself perfect position to strike at any time.]

"That sounds...."

[Easy? What I explained is just the surface. Now, get into position.]

Myr obliged. She hovered her right hand above the rapier's handle as she walked. Though her movements were a bit awkward, she still found it easy.

[Now pour your Mana inside.]

"...As a Pattern?"

[Do no overestimate yourself. A Pattern is out of the question for now, so start with just pure and unrefined Mana. It is best that you keep it wrapped in a thin layer around the blade, but at your level, I will consider it a success if you make it to Iglsah without your scabbard exploding.]

The thought of accidentally destroying old man Lewis' gift made her scared, but she guessed that this was exactly why Luna wanted her to do it.

She had to control her Mana perfectly. Sorry, "acceptably," as Luna deemed it.

A pale red hue extended out of Myr's body, and she slowly directed it into the scabbard.

Webb and James poked their heads out of their Walker to investigate the surge of power, but as soon as they saw that it was Myr, they lost interest and went back.

As the hours went on, Myr struggled to keep her eyes open. The mere fact that she had to pour in her Mana, control it, wait for her Mana reserve to recover, and pour in new Mana, and repeat for several on ends was insane even for the junkiest of battle junkies.

All the while, Luna floated beside her crossed-armed; looking over her with scrutiny.

As the hours went on, Myr's body was soaked with so much sweat that her clothes were no more than wet rags. She'd reached her limit. Grip on her own Mana was slipping as well as her consciousness. The corner of her vision went dark. She didn't know what or who she was anymore.

Why am I doing this?

Why am I forcing myself to suffer?

Do I..... Do I really need to get stronger?

Maybe—

[You can stop now.]

Those four words were all Myr needed. She let her control break but soon realized what she just did. Mortified, she haphazardly made her Mana stick onto the rapier and unsheathed it.

Confused and not knowing what to do with the glowing sword, Myr slashed in the direction of some forages. The red Mana slid right off her rapier and tore the ground in its path apart. It travelled the about length of three building blocks before fizzling into nothingness.

"W-What?"

[...]

"L-Luna?"

The silver-haired shard became silent and contemplative. She placed a hand on Myr's shoulder, making the latter jolt in surprise, and spoke with equal shock in her voice.

[That is the Third Movement.]

"Don't you mean....!"

[Do not get too conceited. Without my Moonlight, what you did was nothing but an accidental imitation of its power. But....] Her voice tinged of pride and a bit of apology. [Good job, nonetheless. It is no small feat for someone like you to instinctively grasp the wild concept of the Third Movement. I believe a small rest is well-deserved.]

Before Myr could get too excited again, Luna poured cold water over her head.

[You only lasted an hour and a half this time.]

"W-What? But it felt like at least five hours!"

[I kept count, and I will keep doing so. You will return to training Hold after an hour.]

Just as Myr thought her mood couldn't plummet any lower, she heard Webb jumping off from his Walker.

"What the hell was that!?"