Kuina looked at her reddened ankle but did not take off her shoe. Instead, she turned to Perona.
Perona sighed. "This is your first time wearing high heels, isn't it? That sword case of yours is too heavy. The moment you lose your balance, it gets pretty scary for a beginner. You need more practice, Kuina."
"Sorry," Kuina said helplessly. "These shoes are too hard to wear. Don't you have any flats I could change into?"
"Then try these little boots." Perona went out of her way to find an adorable pair of round-toed boots.
Kuina immediately took off the heels and changed into the boots. She could walk without trouble, but as someone used to cloth shoes, she still found them uncomfortable.
"These will do." Kuina moved her feet around.
Meng Zi asked again, "Are you sure you're all right now?"
"I'm fine. Let's go," Kuina said.
With that, she slung the Eight Desolations Sword Case onto her back and left the clothing store first.
Perona was about to follow when the shopkeeper stopped her. "Young lady, you haven't paid for those clothes yet."
To most people who knew nothing of its darker side, Totto Land was a delightful place to visit. Its islands welcomed plenty of tourists every day.
Lollipop Island was no exception.
Kuina and the two sisters found a quiet stretch of coast.
"Here should do." Kuina set the Eight Desolations Sword Case in front of her and rested a hand on it. "You wanted to fight one-on-one, right?"
"Yes. I'll go first." Qin Zi strode forward and drew her sword from its jet-black sheath.
Meng Zi moved aside.
"You can both come at me, actually," Kuina said.
As she spoke, Kuina tapped the Eight Desolations Sword Case. It opened two compartments with a mechanical whir,