Azure sidestepped a punch with casual ease, then backed away from the follow-up kick with just as little effort, letting it pass inches from her face for no apparent reason but to show off. Lusya launched into another kick aimed at Azure’s chest, but Azure blocked it with a single hand. The shockwave behind the kick ruffled her hair and cloak, but that was it.

Lusya retreated, though there was little need to. Azure never went on the offensive until Lusya almost landed a successful blow. Those last few had come close only because Azure allowed it, so they didn’t count. So far, Lusya had yet to strike her opponent for real. Every time she came close, Azure overwhelmed her in an instant. It wasn’t often that she came close for real, either.

Perhaps that was to be expected of a Paladin, but that didn’t make it any less frustrating. Lusya almost would have preferred that Azure crush her in an instant, though the reason she didn’t was obvious. She had nothing to gain from doing so, while attempting to overcome such a superior opponent was a useful exercise for Lusya. Only so long as said opponent stayed on the defensive to give her a chance, though. She wouldn’t learn anything from being destroyed in seconds. All that said, she could have done without the showboating. Azure’s insistence on defending at the last second was a needless annoyance added to the mix.

Lusya rushed forward and went on the attack again. She threw out countless blows, and countless blows were dodged or turned aside. She had started using Danfia’s techniques more, but that only helped so much. Knowing that Azure was going to block with her right hand didn’t help much if Azure was quick enough to react to any attempt to capitalize on it, which she was. Maybe for Danfia it would have helped more. Lusya was still slower to read such things. It was by the tiniest fractions of a second, but that meant everything in a battle of these speeds.

After weeks of sparring, however, Lusya had picked up an additional advantage. She knew how Azure, specifically, fought. At least during these training sessions, that was. How she fought when she was serious was likely a different matter. It wasn’t enough to predict every move, but, combined with everything else, Lusya often had a good idea of how Azure would react before she had moved an inch.

That was why she knew Azure would step back to avoid that kick. Why she placed a foothold beneath Azure’s foot, distracting her when her foot suddenly stopped higher than expected. Lusya feigned a punch, which Azure raised an arm to block, then threw a kick with the opposite leg. Azure was just disoriented enough. The kick hit Azure square in the side of the head. The impact shook the ground and send a cloud of dirt billowing out around them. Azure, of course, was neither harmed, nor moved. Lusya’s foothold dissolved, allowing Azure to stand straight as Lusya lowered her foot.

“You hit me,” Azure said with a smile.

“Only because I have adjusted to your movements,” Lusya said. “And because you are barely trying.”

Azure clicked her tongue and shook her head. “Tsk, tsk.” Lusya was not sure why she felt the need to say that after already making the sound. “Stop trying to downplay it. Striking the Seventh Paladin is impressive, no matter how you try to spin it.”

“But—.”

“No buts!” Azure cut in. “Take the compliment and be proud of yourself.”

Lusya blinked. “I cannot simply will myself to be proud, but I will accept your praise.”

It was also probably true that she had picked up some more generalizable skills while learning Azure’s fighting style. Lusya might not be able to apply knowledge of how Azure fought to other opponents, but she may well have improved her ability to read and analyze an enemy’s movements in general.

How that would apply to other opponents of Azure remained to be seen, though Lusya hoped it would not need to be any time soon. Not before Father was revived, at least. She would certainly not see the same results as against Azure herself, but there was reason to hope the experience would still serve her well. If she could be a stronger soldier for Father next time around, then all the better.

Azure chuckled. “I’ll settle for half. In any case, it’s not as simple as you make it sound. That never would have worked a month ago, even if you’d studied my movements for years.”

“Indeed,” Lusya said, nodding. “My motomancy has grown stronger again.”

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Skill and all manner of special techniques only accounted for so much. When motomancy entered the equation, gaps in power could be insurmountable. That between Lusya and Azure still would have been if they had been fighting in earnest. But when they had started, Azure almost would have had to stand still for Lusya to land a genuine blow.

“Gee, I wonder why that is?” Azure asked, her tone dripping with sarcasm. “Could it be because a beautiful woman helped you get more in touch with your emotions, which power motomancy?”

“I suppose it is,” Lusya said. “That is what has been driving my growth during this journey.”

“Well, I’m sure fighting strong opponents helped,” Azure replied. She looked a bit disappointed, oddly enough. Perhaps she had expected more of a reaction to her sarcasm and humorous boast. Lusya had not found either amusing enough to dwell on. If anything, not acknowledging it was better for both of them. “But I would guess that’s it. You’ve formed a lot of bonds and experienced a lot of feelings that are new to you. Of course that would make your motomancy stronger.”

Lusya nodded. “I suppose it would. Still, my growth has been quite rapid.”

“That’s not surprising, considering whose child you are,” Azure said. “It would be weirder if you didn’t improve quickly.”

Being the Demon King’s daughter did have its advantages. Lusya had always been stronger than most mortals her age, but she had plateaued a bit before this journey. Perhaps a change of environment had been what she had needed to realize her potential. She did wish it had been under different circumstances, but she would fix it.

Azure’s words were true. Lusya was not sure she would have said she had forged “a lot” of bonds, but she had forged some. Chief among them was with Ariya. Lusya had grown attached to the child. It might have sprung out of her promise, but that attachment, that affection, was the reason Lusya protected and spoiled her. Lusya did not regret that, but it was temporary. She would not allow it to weaken her resolve. She would fulfill Father’s request and see him again.

Other than that, Ander had been a friend, but he was dead. She could not say the dead did not count, but it was a different sort of bond. Aside from Azure, who Lusya would have struggled to classify if pressed, nobody else was much more than an acquaintance.

Still, the core of the matter was as Azure had said. Lusya had met many people and had a range of interactions with them. Making and mourning a friend, doting on a child, even offering encouragement—if unintended—to a struggling musician. All new experiences that stirred new emotions and brought new reactions from others, which in turn stirred more emotions.

“Your mother would be happy,” Azure said. “She worried, you know. Even as a kid, you had trouble making friends.” She sighed. “That was partly out of your control. Your mother couldn’t well say she had a child with the Demon King, so she claimed some reltus who didn’t wish to be involved was your father. Other noblewomen didn’t exactly want to be her friend after that, nor did they want their children to be yours. Even with the kids who would hang out with you, though, you always seemed to have issues connecting with them.

Lusya tilted her head and blinked. “I do not have many friends now.”

“More than you might think,” Azure said. “You’re a pretty memorable person. I’m sure plenty of the people you’ve met, even if it was just for a little while, think of you fondly. You might not be close friends, but there’s a bond there just the same.”

“I see.”

Lusya was still not sure she agreed that those people were her friends, but she had no basis on which to argue that they did not feel that way. She could not read what was in their hearts, and she was no expert on friendships.

There was a brief silence. Azure sighed and looked up at the moon, as if for guidance. Lusya, in turn, looked at her, wondering what she was thinking.

“You’re still mad at her, aren’t you?” Azure asked.

Lusya blinked. She considered the question for a moment before nodding. “I am glad for the time I spent with Father, so I suppose I cannot complain about the result. Even so, being discarded does not endear me to her.”

Azure just nodded, silent.

“Even with your explanation,” Lusya went on, “it seems to me that she simply gave up when she suspected raising me would be more difficult than she had expected.”

Azure cast her eyes down and nodded. “That’s a fair way of looking at it. I don’t think it’s right, but it’s easy to see how you would.” There was another silence, then she sighed again and smiled. “But that’s okay. Even if you never forgive her, I’m sure she’ll keep on loving you.”

“I see,” Lusya said. “You would know better than I. However, if everything was as you say, I suspect her parting words would not have been a lie.”

She remembered now, who had said those words to her and when, even if most of the details remained hazy. The words that influenced her to this day. The reason she would not inflict a broken oath on another.

Azure did not seem to have a response to that and fell silent. They sat there for a while, not saying anything. A few times, it seemed as if Azure was about to speak, but she stopped at the last second each time. Lusya, in turn, had nothing more to say. If Azure did not say something soon, Lusya would consider this interaction finished and bid her good night.

“Well, I’d say we have time for one more round before bed,” Azure said at last. “What do you say? I’ll be kicking it up a notch, of course. Can’t let you stagnate.”

Lusya blinked. What an abrupt change of subject. Though not a surprising one, she supposed.

“I accept,” she said.

“Then let’s get started,” Azure replied. “Of course, you still get the first move.”