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The clearing looked worse than before.
Cracked dirt, broken stone chunks, deep marks where the dummy had dragged its feet. It felt strange seeing the place they trained in so often torn up like that.
Vivi lay flat on her back, arms spread out. "I swear… if that thing took one more step, I was done."
Kaya sat nearby, hugging her knees. "My heart still won't slow down…"
Robin stood instead of sitting. She was quiet, eyes on the broken ground, replaying the fight in her head.
Rael watched them for a moment before speaking.
"You all made mistakes," he said.
Vivi groaned. "Wow. Thanks."
"But," Rael continued, "you corrected them."
That got their attention.
Kaya looked up. "We did?"
"Yes," Rael said simply. "That matters more than getting it right the first time."
Robin nodded slowly. "At first, I tried to stop it completely. That was wrong."
"You realized it fast," Rael replied. "That's why you didn't get hurt."
Vivi sat up. "I panicked at the start. I kept throwing without thinking."
"And then?" Rael asked.
She scratched her cheek. "I… waited. I felt when it was about to move."
Rael gave a small nod. "That's the skill working."
Kaya hesitated, then spoke. "I almost froze."
"But you didn't," Rael said. "You moved when it mattered."
That made her smile a little.
Rael stepped past them and crouched near one of the cracked stone chunks. He pressed his boot against it, breaking it apart.
"You're still slow," he said. "Your awareness is weak. And your coordination needs work."
Vivi sighed. "There it is."
"But," Rael added, standing back up, "you're no longer helpless."
That sentence landed heavier than any praise.
Robin glanced at Vivi and Kaya. They both heard it too.
Cleaning Up
They spent the next hour cleaning the clearing.
Vivi complained the entire time. "Why do we have to fix the ground? It's not like anyone lives here!"
Rael handed her another rock. "Because you train here. Respect the place."
She pouted but kept working.
Kaya tried to lift a large chunk and failed. Robin quietly helped her without saying anything. Kaya whispered a thank you.
Rael watched that too.
When they finished, the clearing wasn't perfect, but it was usable again.
"Good enough," Rael said.
A Quiet Moment
Later, they sat near the shore, washing dirt and sweat off their hands.
The ocean was calm today. Too calm.
Vivi dipped her feet into the water. "So… are we doing that again tomorrow?"
Rael didn't answer right away.
Robin noticed. "You're thinking."
"Yeah," he admitted.
Kaya tilted her head. "About what?"
Rael took out the map again, spreading it on the sand. "Where we go next."
Vivi leaned over his shoulder. "Still Long Ring Island?"
"We'll pass near it," Rael said. "But we won't stay long."
Robin studied the map. "You're avoiding something."
Rael smiled faintly. "Maybe."
Kaya hugged her cane closer. "Is it dangerous?"
"Yes," Rael said honestly.
There was a brief silence.
Then Vivi spoke. "But that's always the case, isn't it?"
Rael looked at her, surprised.
She shrugged. "Since we met you, at least."
Robin let out a quiet laugh. "She's not wrong."
Rael folded the map. "That's why you're training."
One More Lesson
Before they rested, Rael stopped them once more.
"One more thing," he said.
They turned toward him.
"When you fight," he continued, "don't think about winning. Think about lasting longer than the other side expects."
Vivi frowned. "That sounds depressing."
"It's realistic," Rael replied.
Kaya nodded slowly. "If we last long enough… we can escape."
"Or turn things around," Robin added.
Rael smiled. "Exactly."
Night Falls
That night, the island was quiet again.
Vivi fell asleep quickly, exhausted. Kaya wasn't far behind.
Robin sat near the dying fire, book in her hands, though she hadn't turned a page in a while.
Rael stood near the shore, staring out at the sea.
He felt it again.
That faint pressure.
Not close. Not clear.
But there.
He clenched his hand once, then relaxed it.
"Soon," he murmured.
Behind him, Robin glanced up. "Did you say something?"
Rael turned and smiled. "No. Go to sleep."
She studied him for a second longer, then nodded.
As the fire faded and the stars filled the sky, Rael remained awake.
The girls were improving. Slowly. Honestly.
But whatever waited ahead—
Stone dummies wouldn't be enough forever.
And he knew it.
---
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