"We aren't here to spar, Leonardo," Anna said firmly as they made their way towards the training area. The sounds of blasts and clashing metal filled the air.

  Leonardo's expression shifted to one of dismay. "But—"

  "Studying is best," Anna interrupted, her tone leaving no room for argument.

  Leonardo hesitated, his brow furrowing in confusion. In Volnia, there were schools and institutions for studying, but he had never aimed to join them.

  Ronald, on the other hand, had expressed a desire to attend the institution that focused on studying Volnia and its capabilities.

  Though Leonardo considered himself smarter overall, Ronald had his own strengths.

  The barracks at the end of town occasionally hosted tournaments. Leonardo had planned to participate, thinking that observing the creators in the cave would give him an edge.

  He admired the way they crawled along walls and blended into their surroundings.

  A shiver ran down his spine as he remembered the unsettling feeling of watching them.

  Kaelan had removed his sweater and sweatpants, revealing only his armor without its helm. His hair floated in the air as he tried to strike Astraea.

  Astraea, using just one arm to steady her staff, struggled to maintain her stability. The blasts from her staff seemed to diminish with each use, indicating that she couldn't sustain the same level of power for long.

  "He's dumb," Anna sighed, her purple cloth contrasting sharply with the light from the floor. "He's tired, yet he keeps fighting."

  Elara watched the ongoing fight with a hint of frustration. "It's been 30 minutes now. The fight was supposed to last only a minute. He came, beat us up, and let us trap him."

  Kaelan continued to strike with heavy blows despite his fatigue. His build didn't match his fighting style, yet he managed to hold his own.

  He summoned his shield, which he seemed to be trying to hold down. It launched towards Astraea, who used her staff to deflect it.

  Her breathing grew labored as she tried to stay focused.

  Astraea pulled off her hat, hoping to let some air through. Her black veil was still visible, and her outfit restricted her movements. She only moved when necessary, staying back to shoot.

  When she approached, she channeled Rasvian Energy to unleash a more powerful blast. However, as she reached farther, she struggled to maintain the potency of her skill.

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  Kaelan's face was rugged and resolute, His curly hair framed his face, giving him a youthful yet determined appearance.

  His eyes held a steely resolve, and his features were marked by a sense of noble heritage. Despite his exhaustion, he carried himself with an air of unyielding determination.

  Kaelan somehow managed to close the distance, entering Astraea's range where it was too close for her to fire a blast without risking her own safety. With a slow, roaring swing, Kaelan aimed his sword.

  "Are they going all out?" Leonardo asked in shock as he watched the scene unfold. Just as Kaelan was about to strike, he suddenly dropped his long sword.

  "Okay, I'm tired now. I don't think I can spawn another shield," he said with a sigh, starting to walk off. His breathing was heavy, and the weight of his armor was clearly taking its toll.

  Astraea, his guide, followed him, and they headed towards a section of the training ground with chairs similar to those inside the mansion.

  "Yo, you ready to go to the Grand Bibliotheca?" Kaelan asked, sitting on the couch opposite them. He lay his head back, turning his gaze to look at them from behind.

  Anna's eyes widened in shock. "You're going to go like that?" Sweat was dripping from Kaelan's temple, and his curly hair was disheveled.

  Kaelan shrugged nonchalantly. "I mean, why not? They won't mind, will they?"

  Elara raised an eyebrow. "Oh, Hi elara and Leonardo," Kaelan continued, addressing him directly.

  "Hey!" Elara responded.

  Leonardo, not even acknowledging the greeting, asked flatly, "Do you have a sword?"

  "Uh, yeah—" Kaelan began to reply before Anna slapped Leonardo on the head, causing his brown mop of hair to shake slightly.

  "Ouch! That pain thing didn't help one bit," Leonardo muttered, rubbing his head.

  "We aren't here to train, just to watch until Dad's back," Anna said commandingly.

  "Okay, okay," Leonardo responded, resigned.

  "Is my dad back?" Kaelan asked, pulling his hand into what seemed like a fridge and pulling out a bottle of cold water. The cold breeze from the bottle sent shivers down his hands. "Finally," he muttered.

  "No, they won't be here for a while. The sage is, uh, holding them," Anna explained.

  Kaelan looked towards the spot where he had dropped his longsword. "You aren't going to take your longsword?" Elara asked.

  "It'll stay there," Kaelan replied casually. He took a long swig from the bottle, the cold water refreshing him. "I'm sure it'll be fine."

  "You should go take a bath; I know that armor is leaking with stink," Anna said as they reached the area with the couch.

  Kaelan glanced at her, his expression a mix of surprise and confusion. "Not really—" he began, but his gaze shifted to meet Elara's.

  Elara raised an eyebrow, and Kaelan's face froze for a moment. He then looked at Astraea, who was using her veil to shield herself from the unpleasant odor emanating from him. Her face was a picture of suppressed discomfort.

  "Oh, look at the time," Kaelan said, tapping his body as if checking for something. "Oh no, it seems I have to do something. Let's go, Astraea." He stood up abruptly, his movement harsh and sudden.

  Without another word, Kaelan sprinted past both Anna and Elara, heading straight for the door they had come through. the a spiral staircase leading upwards.

  "Later, Elara!" he called over his shoulder. "Also, clean that stain, maybe?" He gestured towards the stain on the floor—the one from when he had removed a bleeding Leonardo's hand—before disappearing through the door.

  Astraea followed closely, closing the door behind her.

  "Yeah..." Astraea replied, her voice trailing off as the door shut.

  Anna turned to Leonardo, who had not followed them. "Let's go back. We'll show Leonardo the mansion," she said, only to notice that Leonardo was missing.

  "Where is that dude now!" she exclaimed, her frustration evident as she turned around, scanning the area.