So, I'm mostly out of the danger zone. Still have a bit of a cough, though.

The chapter is a bit short because I fell asleep around 6pm yesterday and slept a whole twelve hours. I figured that my body needed it, though, since I was able to fall asleep just like that.

I had a really weird dream though....

It was a fantasy game adventure through a honey factory/volcano/ steamworks area;that turned into a book series; that turned into people talking about the book series; that turned into me being at a huge indoor playground where a bunch of old friends of the family was having a get-together, and talking about the book series...

And then one of the ones that I didn't know ended up chasing me around the playground (of course, I was always one step ahead of him), and then I lost that person and started stuffing myself with leftover sweets from the buffet...

And then they all started to leave, so I was trying to hurry up and finish eating my food before we left. And then I woke up.

Weird, right?

Okay, I won't torture you any more. Here's the next chapter!

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Thera stared at Laura, surprised. She hadn’t thought that Laura would do something so bold…and rather reckless.

After all, while it was true that the two men before her did not exceed her in rank, she was most likely unused to dealing with multiple enemies at once.

But, Thera herself did not move. She preferred to observe for the time being. If things started to get out of hand, then she would intervene.

The message that Black-cloak had read aloud clearly meant: ‘Good try, now reach for the sky.”

That obviously meant that the box was not below where the men had stood. In fact, it was hidden above where the men had stood. It was too similar. It made Thera recall that Italian plumber game even more-so…with the question mark boxes.

Anyways, it seemed knowing English really turned to her own benefit this time! The edge of her mouth curled up into a smile. But now was not the time to reap those benefits, not yet, at any rate.

The two men stared blankly for a few moments. Then Black-cloak’s head jerked in recognition. “Bro! It’s one of the two brats Master Thales brought with him!”

Laura laughed darkly. “Yes. It is I!”

“Bro, I just remembered! One of the kids that Master Thales is training defeated over thirty emperor-class vampire spiders, and even received a title! You don’t think…” The hood turned in Laura’s direction.

Laura definitely picked up on what Black cloak was thinking. She laughed with her knowing grin.

“Fu fu fu~I know what you’re thinking~. You think that I am the one who defeat the spiders and received the title, didn’t you?” She asked.

The two men tensed up. A child who was able to defeat monsters that neither would willingly go up against was definitely formidable.

“The thing is….you’re wrong!” She said cheerfully, while forming an ‘x’ with her arms.

“I’m Master Thales’s other student: Laura Murlough~! Nice to meet you!” She said, raising a hand in greeting.

Another awkward silence ensued as the two men wondered if the girl in front of them was crazy. Thera, off to the side, was wondering what Laura was up to. 

Whenever she was up to mischief, Laura would start acting really cheerful and angelic. This time was no different.

“Just when I was starting to get bored, what wonderful luck I have!” Laura said, reveling in her mischief.

Leather-clad reacted. “Oy! Just because you found us doesn’t mean we’re here to entertain you! Why should we have to entertain some kid!?”

“Oh, then should I tell Master Thales about his new visitors?” Laura asked.

“Impossible! I personally confirmed that Master Thales left with my own eyes!” Leather-clad shook his head. “You’re just bluffing!”

Laura posed, with a quizzical hand placed under her chin. “So you came here while knowing that Master Thales was out, huh? Then that must mean….ah! You must be here to meet Thera, then!” She smacked her fist on her hand as the words popped out of her mouth.

“W.R.O.N.G!” Leather-clad replied, exasperated.

“Well, if you aren’t here to see Master Thales, or Thera, then the only person left is….possibly…you came here to see me~?” She smiled her angelic smile.

“There’s no way-” Leather-clad was about to retort, when suddenly, Black Cloak grabbed Leather-clad’s arm. A meaningful glance passed between them.

 Laura seemed to be an innocent girl of only twelve years. If Master Thales returned to find his student had been killed or kidnapped, he would probably track them down to the ends of the earth and kill them mercilessly.

If Master Thales came back and found that they had stolen something from his cultivation treasure, thanks to Laura’s witness, then he would still probably track them down to the ends of the earth and kill them.

But, if they tricked a twelve year old into believing they were there to see her, then perhaps they could get her to be quiet about it by having her keep their visit a secret. The plan was hatched in moments.

The poor men did not even realize that they were playing right into Laura's hands.

“Pardon me, ‘There’s no way’ what?” Laura asked, still smiling her angelic smile.

“There’s no way…that we could pass by without taking a look at the very well-known disciple of Master Thales, Laura Murlough, of course!” Leather-clad finished, breaking out into a somewhat ‘shy’ smile. 

“You must have some talent to be able to catch that Master Thales’s eye! After all, it’s said that, before you, Master Thales accepted no one as his students, ever!”

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“Y-yeah!” Black Cloak added. “To meet with someone as talented as you is such an honor!”

“Well, well! Thank you, thank you~.” Laura curtsied. “I didn’t realize I had so many fans~. Ah, perhaps, are you two martial practitioners!?” She exclaimed, looking rather interested.

“Yeah! We’re both pretty good! My younger brother is even stronger than I am, though.” Leather-clad said, proudly.

“How nice~! How perfectly wonderful! I would dearly love to see the martial arts of one who is so experienced in martial techniques~!” Laura said, putting her hands on her cheeks. 

Thera smiled, sarcastically. You’re putting it on pretty thick, Laura. Then Thera pulled out a book. She already knew the end results of this scenario. Black Cloak and Leather-clad never even had a chance.

Leather-clad hesitated. “Well… hasn’t Master Thales been teaching you his own techniques?”

“Oh no! He hasn’t taught me anything yet! He’s got me doing things like running, jumping, climbing, then there’s squats, dodging, and the art of falling down safely.” 

Laura enumerated the many parts of ‘basic’ training that Master Thales was putting her through. While it was a training regimen, it had no true martial techniques inside it at all.

Leather-clad nodded sympathetically. Of course Master Thales wouldn’t easily give away his techniques. But, still, it was obvious that a child who only did such repetitive actions would get bored of such things.

“Surely, I can’t be as amazing as Master Thales, but perhaps I can give you a few pointers.” Leather-clad said. His pride as a martial practitioner would not allow him to take back his words.

“Yes! Please go easy on me~!” Laura said, jumping down from the hillock she stood on, and taking a fighting pose.

“Er...yes?” Leather-clad was confused. He was actually only intending to show Laura the technique. He wasn’t actually intending to fight her. But now he felt a bit alarmed, since now it seemed that he had to fight her.

“Bro…you better go easy on her.” Black Cloak said in warning. If Master Thales found out that one of his students had been injured, there’s no telling what he would do.

“You don’t need to tell me twice!” Leather-clad answered with a growl. He faced Laura. “If I could be allowed, might I ask what your rank and class is, Miss Murlough?” 

He used the most polite language he could recall, which was a very stiff form from an old tale of the adventures of a roaming noble.

“Well…let’s say it’s just a bit below yours.” Laura replied. 

“…overconfidence will get you hurt, you know.” (Leather-clad)

“What? There’s absolutely no way that my class could be above yours, right? I’ll be fine if I just dodge it, right?” Laura played on Leather-clad’s pride.

He sighed. It seemed that she would simply have to learn the hard way. “Very well. Shall we start?”

“I’m ready when you are!” Laura said, her eyes sparkling.

Leather-clad released one of his signature moves: [Tornado fist]. Air wrapped around his arm, as he aimed for Laura’s side. 

Laura’s eyes went wide and she dodged off to the side. But she landed on one of the piles of dirt that were around the hole. The dirt shifted under her feet. “Ah!” She yelled as she fell behind the pile.

“Are you all right, Miss Murlough!?” Leather-clad asked as he moved around the pile to look.

Laura held up her hands. “I’m all right. I just lost my footing.” She started to get up, but then suddenly sat back down. “Ow!” Her eyes began tearing up.

Leather-clad was stiff with dread as he confirmed the situation.“ ‘Ow’? As in, you aren’t all right?” 

Laura nodded.

“You got hurt!?” Black Cloak asked.

Laura nodded. 

The two men looked at each other, horrified. We’re dead! Was written all over their faces.

Thera wasn’t fooled, however, since she knew it was all just an act on Laura’s side.

She supposed it was time for her entrance, though.

Thera stealthed her way around to the same direction Laura had come from, then she began calling.

“Laura? Laura where are you? ….Where did you go, Laura? Laura-”

At that point, Thera stepped into the clearing, clearly witnessing the two men, Laura hurt on the ground, and the big hole in the middle of it all.

“WHAT ARE YOU TRYING TO DO TO LAURA?!!!” Thera roared. “SHE’S NOT DEAD YET, SO YOU CAN’T BURY HER, YOU MURDERERS!!”

She leapt across the clearing, aiming for Leather-clad, who was closest to Laura.

“Wait! It’s all a misunderstand-” Leather-clad tried to say, but Thera kicked him in the gut before he had a chance to finish, and tipped him into the hole he had dug.

“That’s one!”(Thera)

Then she placed herself between Laura and Black Cloak, glaring at him.

Of course, this was also just an act. 

But, just as she was about to pounce on Black Cloak, Laura grabbed her arm. “THERA, STOP! It’s not like that!"