Two days have passed since the festival, and life has settled back into its usual rhythm. Mornings begin with sword practice, just like before. Honestly, it feels strange holding a sword again—it’s been a week since I last did.

"Ugh… What did I do wrong this time?!" I mutter, frustration evident after yet another of Yumiko’s outbursts.

Yumiko’s back to normal—aggressive, sharp-tongued, and as harsh as ever.

"You weren’t ready to block," she retorts, arms crossed and gaze fierce. "It’s your fault for getting hit, dumbass." A flicker of smugness in her tone as she adds, "Now get up! Let’s go again!”

I sigh, adjusting my stance under her intense, no-nonsense gaze. Behind her, Rina watches with an amused grin, clearly entertained by our exchange.

"Hey, Kaito, you’re doing good," Rina says, her warm, encouraging tone cutting through my frustration. "Don’t let Yumiko get to you. You’re improving."

Her words bring a small sense of relief, and I can’t help but smile. Improvement—it’s not something I hear often, and hearing it from Rina feels amazing.

"Thanks, Rina. I really appreciate it." I glance at Yumiko, feeling the ache in my arms. Couldn't Rina take a turn with her? "Hey, Rina… want to take over? I could use a break."

"Huh?! You’re already tired?!" Yumiko exclaims, a cocky smirk tugging at her lips. "Guess I’m just too strong for you." Despite her teasing, her expression softens slightly, and her voice drops. "But… I was hoping we could train a little longer."

"Already giving up?" Rina teases, though her tone is light. "Alright, I’ll take on Yumiko for now.”

"Okay, I'll be back soon, Yumiko, alright? And thanks, Rina." I move to the side, sitting down to watch them square off.

Rina calmly settles into her stance, while Yumiko vibrates with energy, anticipation gleaming in her eyes. Despite her brash nature, Yumiko holds deep respect for Rina—a respect that makes their mentor-student dynamic seamless.

The spar begins with a burst of motion. Yumiko darts forward, her footwork sharp and deliberate, pouring everything she has into her attacks. Rina, however, remains composed, her stance soft yet unshakable. She waits, unflinching, as Yumiko’s blade strikes with precision and force.

Rina parries effortlessly, her movements fluid and controlled, sending Yumiko stumbling but never losing her footing. Determined, Yumiko leaps back, recalibrating for her next move before Rina can exploit the opening.

Though they share similarities in their styles, their differences are stark. Yumiko’s smaller frame makes her nimble and quick, but Rina’s experience and control give her an undeniable edge. For every strike Yumiko delivers, Rina counters with refined ease, leaving Yumiko struggling to keep up.

I wonder just how strong Rina truly is. She’s never gone all out—not that I’ve seen. What rank is she? I'd guess at least an Expert—she might even be ranked master.

And me? I'm still ranked a Novice in the sword. Actually, can I even call myself that? To be honest, I'm probably unranked. Yumiko, though—she should be an Adept, I think.

I've got a long way to go, that's for sure.

"Agh…! That felt good…" Yumiko groans as she collapses onto the ground, completely burnt out. "Kaito! Pass me the water!" she yells sharply, snapping me out of my thoughts.

"Yeah, yeah, coming," I say, jogging over and tossing her the waterskin. She catches it easily.

"Here, Rina," I offer, "you want some too?"

"Yes, thank you." Rina accepts it with a grateful nod.

"Ahhh!" Yumiko sighs dramatically, water dripping from the corners of her mouth. Then, without missing a beat, she calls out eagerly, "Kaito! Let's spar again, alright?" Her tone shifts to a cocky edge as she adds, "Or… are you still tired, huh?"

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"Sure… I’ll spar," I reply, matching her energy—or trying to. "This time, I’ll land a blow. Just watch!”

"Yeah, sure," Yumiko bursting into laughter, clearly amused. "Like you’d even block one of my strikes."

"Yeah… we'll see…" What am I even saying? There's no way I'm landing a hit on her…

"Okay, ready to spar?" Yumiko asks, springing to her feet with renewed energy. "Don't worry—I'll take it easy on you."

Sure. Like she's really going to go easy on me… I appreciate the thought, but I don't believe her for a second.

I grip my sword tighter, feeling its weight. "Whenever you’re ready." I reply, forcing a confidence I don't quite have. At the very least, I’ll make her work for it.

Part 2

Afternoon studies have started again, along with our favorite student Yumiko… our only student…

"Agh!..." she groans, slumping back in her chair dramatically, her head nearly steaming from the strain of reading. "Can't you just read for me?! My head hurts!"

"Too bad, you went way too hard with me on sword practice, you said you were going to go easy!" This is payback; she should know how it feels.

"But, I did go easy on you though…" She changes her tone to a softer one, trying to defend herself and look innocent. "I didn't mean to, I promise, I didn't mean to hit you hard… Can you please take over for a bit? I have been reading for so long now, please."

Yeah, yeah, I suppose, I mean she did probably try to go easy, maybe she just accidentally hit me hard due to being in the moment or something… She did say please, that's something she doesn't say a lot, or like never.

"Sure, I'll let you take a break for a bit. Give me the book," I say as her expression softens, and she slides me the book.

"Thank you…" She responds as I grab the book.

"Yeah, no problem," I say as I start reading. It's a fairy tale about beings, the Divine Vices, ruling lands far away from these we live on. It somewhat sounds like a whole other world, a world containing three moons… This world we live in doesn't. A world perfect for a fantastic, somewhat realistic fairy tale.

Yumiko's eyes seem somewhat tired, but at the same time, I can sense she wants to hear more… "These seven Divine Vices are born from their sins—sins that were crafted by the gods themselves. Each one carries a name, a weight, and a story: Solitude, Desire, Scorn, Ideal, Fade, Grudge, and Mute."

Yumiko's eyes are heavy, yet there's a spark of curiosity shining through beneath her exhaustion. She leans in slightly, as if trying to capture every word. "Tell me more," she murmurs.

I give her a soft smile as I continue, "Each Vice carries with it a curse, one that will change those who carry it forever, but what these curses are, no one knows."

"Alright," I say with a light slap of the book, signaling the end of the lecture. "Class is over for today." I close the book with a quiet sigh, my mind lingering on the Vices. I'd love to dive deeper into this, to learn more about their curses and their meanings.

"Ahh—already? Can't you just read more?" Eager for more, she looks over at me, a sense of adventure in her eyes. "Come on!..."

"No, we are done. The time is past 930." 930 being 3 pm, this time system is still kind of unfamiliar, even if I have been using it for a long time now.

"Mmh… Okay, next time, you better read more!" Yumiko says with a teasing pout.

"Yeah, yeah, I will," I reply. "But you better read your share too!"

"Yeah, yeah, I will," she says as if it is the most boring thing ever to read.

She says that, but I don't believe it. She is probably going to get away from reading somehow… We'll see.

Part 3

"Kaito, might I have a word?" Julian's voice carries through the grand corridor, smooth and poised, drawing my attention. What could he want?

"Yeah? Julian, is something the matter?" A faint worry creeps into my tone. Have I done something wrong?

"No, not at all," he assures me, a faint smile easing the tension in the air. "You've done nothing to warrant worry, so let that crease in your brow relax. I merely wished to speak with you."

Relief washes over me, and I let out a quiet breath. "Oh… I see. Then what is it?"

"There have been reports," Julian begins, his tone calm but serious, "of bandits near the outskirts of town. It's possible they've ventured into the Luminara kingdom itself. While there's no immediate threat, I would urge you to stay alert—especially if you have reason to leave the mansion."

His words, though a warning, carry a reassuring warmth, as if to say the danger is distant for now but not to be ignored. He speaks like one accustomed to delivering news with care, balancing caution with a sense of safety.

"I see. Thank you, Julian. I will take care; I hope you do too, Sir," I replied, striving to keep my tone poised and respectful.

"Thank you as well, Kaito," he said with a gentle nod, his voice calm yet resolute. Taking a deep breath, he added, "Well, I must be off—duty calls." Turning on his heel, he strode down the corridor, offering a casual wave as he departed.

"Take care, Julian. Good luck," I called after him, raising my hand, waving farewell.