"I went to the Magic University."
"Don't interrupt my training."
"Not even for news about Cain?"
Eris paused and glanced at Nina beside her, then kept swinging her sword.
"Then hurry up and tell me."
"Don't look at me like that. If you're thinking of apologizing, I won't accept it."
Nina spoke as she swung her sword.
"Then don't tell me."
The corners of Nina's mouth lifted as she watched Eris puff out her cheeks.
"He misses you. Roxy's waiting for you to come back too. They said not to let yourself get distracted. They'll keep waiting until the day you return."
"Though judging by the look on your face, I'd say you're already distracted from today's training."
"Really... Thanks."
A faint smile appeared on Eris's face.
"You're welcome."
Nina resumed her practice swings in earnest. Her father was now the person she aimed to surpass.
But her first target was Eris, right beside her.
"And please take a proper bath."
"Why?"
"Because if you smell too bad, even someone who likes you might be put off by it."
Eris glanced at Nina, then lifted her sleeve and sniffed it. Her eye twitched, and her face scrunched up. The smell really was overpowering...
"Right... If I'm too filthy, Cain might hate me too..."
Eris went back to her practice swings. She had taken Nina's words to heart and planned to bathe and get a good night's sleep once she was done.
The two continued practicing beneath the night sky without another word. For a moment, Nina's lips curved upward of their own accord.
Know yourself and your enemy, and you could win every battle. If Nina wanted to surpass Eris, she needed to understand her completely—even better than Eris understood herself.
Nina would become Eris's closest friend! Then she would