As the sun rises for daybreak, warm light beams through the stained glass, flashing Cloud in a deep sleep with reflecting colors. He turns to the side, catching sight of a clock hanging on vines. "Oh, it's 7:23... It's still early?" he says.
His eyes glance around, filled with bizarre herbs and vials with unknown compounds carefully organized on the shelves. A peculiar smell trails to his senses—a boiling plant soup—an unsettling combination of aromatic earthly smell and sharp rancid stench that makes his stomach seethe with discomfort.
He looks at himself, "What the—Why am I wearing pajamas?" perplexed ruffling his clothes. He gets up to search for Hayan and Yunika but leans to the side and vomits into an empty container that was surprisingly already placed close to him.
Steps of clattering flip-flops approaching from outside. Slamming the door open, a girl kicks and barges into the room, "Hey there! You're finally awake!" she greets him enthusiastically as she watches Cloud leaning down to the bucket.
With her brownish skin and captivating brown eyes, she exudes an air of warmth and curiosity. Her black hair cascades in curls, adding a touch of elegance to her appearance. Draped in a pristine white coat, the sleeves casually rolled up to her elbows, she radiates a sense of purpose and readiness. Her long wrinkled skirt follows her movements gracefully, accompanied by the soft click-clack of her bakya. But it is not just her expertise that sets her apart; it is her insatiable thirst for knowledge and unyielding passion for the extraordinary. As she sees Cloud, she can barely contain her excitement, her eyes gleaming with anticipation, eager to share fascinations.
She comes jumping to Cloud, making him flinch out of nowhere. "Hi, hello, I'm Sora Brightway, a subordinate of Archangel Gabriel. I'm the one who took care of you and your friend here in the infirmary—"
"Infirmary? Looks like a spell shack to me—with all of this—" Then he is immediately interrupted.
"When Archangel Raphael hit you, your mana focused to the point of impact to reduce harm on you, well it's not really 'harm' because his attack was not meant to hurt you. But because of that, you released a large amount of mana that made the bind on your wrist recognized it as a usage of magic restraining it in the process. But thanks to it the damage was reduced although it is not a literal 'damage' since it is not really meant to hurt you, but yes, the bind helped to reduce it,"
Staring at her perplexed, no words could describe her tongue. She's not making sense at all.
She reaches for his wrist. "How are you feeling? Tired? Exhausted? Sleepy? The bind absorbed so much mana that it affected your physical body, which Archangel Raphael instantly noticed, which is why he asked Ody to bring you and your friend here to the infirmary to be treated," She takes one deep breath "Also, I like your features, dark brown eyes and your not-so-long hair, I like your hairstyle. A good height of 5'10, very nice. Your body is not that robust, but I have a feeling that you have what it takes. Do you punch people? Do you have any experience in fighting? Karate? Jiu Jitsu? Muay Thai?"
Sora is so enthusiastic that Cloud can't comprehend, so he sits there listening while she spits words he can't follow. As she keeps spouting things, he stands up from the bed.
She immediately paused. "Wait—Where are you going?" she asks.
"I'm going to look for my friends." He said as he left the room barefoot.
So she accompanies him outside. "I think I know where they are. I believe they're in the training room." She walks with him across the majestic halls in white marble glimmering with purity. As they go, Sora brings a cup and a bean. As they find their way, she casually brews a cup of coffee for Cloud. "Hey, take this cup of coffee to compensate for your sleep," she provides.
"Oh, thanks," and took a sip. Although the coffee is steaming, it does not burn his tongue. "Is this even coffee, it is hot but it doesn't burn?" confused.
"Yes, that is coffee and water, but it's not an ordinary one, it comes from the gardens at the back of the Embassy, from the mystical trees taken care of by our Archon. That water possesses incredible healing ability and can recover the mana and strength of whoever drinks it."
As they continue to walk, shouts of groans and grunts from heavy hits reverberate across the halls. Upon entering, Hayan, wrapped in bandages comes flying from the platform down towards their feet.
On the corner, "Hey... Guten Morgen," Yunika greets them both.
"Good morning," he responds and sips his coffee. "So, what exactly is he doing?" mixed with sarcasm and confusion as he watches a guy with multiple injuries; 5 broken ribs, concussion, heavy bruises and burns throughout his body, and 15 other broken bones.
Lying on the ground, Hayan grunts in pain as he takes deep breaths, his body drenched in sweat from throwing fists for over an hour. "I see that you're already awake, good morning," he said to Cloud. Then a gust of wind blasts his face, interrupting him conversing with Cloud.
"Eyes up here, boy! You're in a fight not at a tea party," On the platform, Estrella taunts him after having four consecutive losses. As a mercy to him, she even assured him that she would only use her wind techniques without her blade.
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Yunika leans beside Cloud whispering "After long weeks of recovering he didn't waste any time and straightforwardly asked Estrella for a match, he even begged her to use blades," Takes his cup "Like he wants further injuries," and sips from it.
Cloud chokes and spats hearing what she said, "Wait... weeks? What do you mean by long weeks?!"
Sora on the side, "Oh I forgot to tell you that you've been asleep for 4 weeks," she casually mutters.
His eyes widened. "I was asleep for almost a month?!"
Hayan regains his stand like it's nothing, "Again," he requests.
Estrella smirked at him, "Draw your blade!" she said, challenging him to land a cut.
At that moment, in a precise second, a dagger hurled at her in a flash of lightning. In rapid response, Estrella grasps the strong currents of winds potent enough to stop the raging blade, but before she even blinks, Hayan dashes in front of her with his weapon close enough to pluck her eyes out. But she's quick enough to parry and delivers a tremendous blast of wind throwing him away again.
"Slow!" she taunts.
Her eyes widen as Hayan comes dashing again behind her with another strike not only to be thrown again. Before he blasts into the air, he swiftly teleports to the dagger planted on the ground. He utilizes his agility, dashing left and right, front and back. In Every dash, he delivers a strike leaving Estrella in a constant defense. Despite being frail and still recovering from severe injuries, he refused to allow that to stop him from relentlessly throwing solid blows at Estrella. With Hayan's strikes, Estrella also exchanges with brute hits, with her open-palm strikes, Hayan falters.
She holds his hand firm and says "You sure are fast. Archangel Michael taught you well," she compliments. In a swift moment, she slips a robust uppercut straight to his jaw, by raw strength Hayan goes flying outside the platform.
Flying outside, he hastily whirls both of his daggers towards Estrella, in response she gestures her hands curling against the wind, he stops mid-air as if he is held by her will, and then she pulls him backwards, an unseen force dragging him towards her. Hayan leaps back as Estrella pours a rain of punches on him, flipping the game of defense. Her hits are so fast and aggressive that his agility appears like child's play, luckily, he's skilled enough to evade some of her attacks.
"What's wrong? Ran out of tricks?" she taunts again.
"Do not mock me!" he said as he whipped a flurry of kicks staggering Estrella a few steps back, giving him enough time to pick up his weapons, he immediately formed a stance with such ferocity that his blades burned bright with amplified mana. A chance will be in his grasp. In a matter of seconds, he dashes in front of Estrella and swings with all of his might. She parries it, but another follows, tenacious thrusts and slashes come upon her, his blades scraping the floor as he remains consistent with his slashes. It caught her off guard, feral yet so tranquil. But Estrella is fast enough to snatch his wrist, disarming him easily, concentrating strong amounts of wind to her palms and blasting him outside the ring.
She takes a good deep breath, "Whooo... You're this close to landing a hit," she gestures a small pinch. "With consistent and proper training, you'll be promoted in no time." a win again for Estrella.
Laying on the ground. Cloud approaches him, kneels and asks "The hell are you doing?"
"This is not your concern, stand back," Hayan argues. Faltering and swaying left and right as if he is being pulled by two people. Limping as he strolls up the platform for another round but calm and slow wind meets his path as Estrella swooshes towards him.
"That'll be enough for today. You take some rest now, kid, " she says, expressing her care.
Sora leans to Yunika whispering "I kept telling your friend to stay in bed for weeks, 'cause those bones aren't gonna heal in a boxing match, but nope... he insists." she shrugs.
Estrella carefully lifts him. "Can you help our devoted punching bag here, Sora," She glances at Cloud with a pesky smile "How's the sleep?" she humors.
"Great! I think I can stay up for weeks," he responds.
"I see that you've already met our doctor," Estrella said.
Sora, on the side, brews a tea infused with mana and herbs for Hayan: "Here, take this so you can get a beating for another day." As soon as Hayan started to spar with Estrella daily, her eyes never left, so when something bad happened to him due to his injuries, she'd be there to take care of him.
"Thank you," he simply appreciates. He sips a sour and sweet aftertaste, soothing his tensed muscles and replenishing his mana as well.
Estrella approaches Cloud, "He begs every day, he doesn't sleep, eat nor rest at all, he won't stop until he gets what he wants... improvement," she expresses her concerns. She sighs in admiration for his resilience, "But I hope that will not be the death of him,"
"Those punches are for the weak," someone speaks out.
Cloud turns to his side and looks at Raphael out of nowhere. "What the—" he flinches as he spills his coffee. "When did you get here?!" he asks.
Raphael, with folded arms, watched the whole match. "I was here the whole time." Despite standing beside them, his mana is properly concealed, making him unnoticeable. "Hayan seeks a fight that will challenge his skills, not his patience with your taunts," he addresses Estrella.
"If I may, your Eminence—" Hayan attempts to rationalize with the Archangel yet Estrella cuts him off.
She raises a brow, "The boy asks for it, and I want to educate him something more," she narrows her eyes and stares at Raphael. "Raw strength will not suffice in a fight; it must come with a strong mind. If you don't have the capabilities to understand or analyze the enemy's mind with patience and the only thing in your mind is to win, that lust for victory will be your death. Maybe that's the reason why he was trained with another Archangel, you're too hard and strict to become a teacher,"
Raphael tilts his head "It's called discipline, maybe if you have it, you should've known how to properly act in front of an Archangel!" he argues.
"Oh, forgive me, Your Eminence!" she exclaims. "For I lack the required respect and discipline when I'm in your presence..."
The four quietly bystanding in front of the arguing Radiants over a simple predicament. With their mana slowly surging from their body, Raphael did not take her comment very well. The holstered pistols on his shoulders were pulled out. "Have you lost your respect, Virtue?" with a solemn face he said.
Sora leans at the three and whispers "Uh... umm... I think I should get going now... Besides the patient has been treated now. I'll come back if my help is needed again, bye!" then she comes running leaving the room with her slippers clacking throughout the halls.
Estrella gives a hint of a smile, "You gotta earn it," Summoning her blade in response, "Your Eminence..." Glowing wind whirls as she calls upon her strength.
Both form a stance as their weapons are drawn to each other. Their standing alone is enough to send everyone in the room a bone-chilling feeling and intense pressure. With sheer presence and power, an Archangel and a Virtue Radiant commence a test of strength.