The following days were once again packed with training.


    Now having to train their teamwork along with the many other things they had to do, these days became pure horror for Amelia.


    Three days after they had started, on the way back to the village, late into the night.


    "I think we just about have what I was looking for."


    "The stance is fine, your stability is perfect, and our signals were chosen correctly. We can finally process to the final challenge."


    Orion was carrying Amelia in his arms like a princess. She was totally exhausted, to the point of not being able to walk.


    Three days of non-stop training with only two breaks to eat and only the night to rest. For Amelia, who didn''t possess the stamina he had, this was tough.


    The strength required just to stay straight at every change of direction Orion took while moving as fast as a running horse was beyond belief.


    Not many people were able to perfectly balance themselves on a horse with a weapon in their hands, so it was unsurprising that Amelia would struggle too.


    But, she made it in three days. Enough for Orion to recognize her efforts, which he rewarded in the form of a bridal carry.


    "You mean we''re going to fight Karteira? Don''t you think this is a bit too much for her to handle? I heard from the Queens that the fairies were not meant to fight."


    Opening her eyes tiredly, she spoke softly.


    "I heard from the tree that Karteira was the last child she created, made specifically to fight. She cannot be a weakling like the others."


    Amelia then basked in the atmosphere and enjoyed Orion''s warmth.


    "Well, if you say so, I wouldn''t mind having a definitive result on how we perform. Wasting so much energy for it not to work would just depress me."


    He stared at her and laughed when he saw her sigh depressingly.


    "Even if it doesn''t help immediately, this training wasn''t in vain. It would be useful occasionally, mainly if I have to protect you in case your magic stops working like it should."


    An unusually serious expression appeared on her face.


    "Like the underground tunnels we are supposed to go through? When are you going to enter it? There are only a few days remaining before the tree is expected to die, right?"


    Orion nodded with the same seriousness.


    "In two days. After the fight with Karteira, we''re going to save that tree and retrieve my father''s ring."


    He had already decided.


    There was really little time left. Four days was the limit for Tiohr-nam; any later would be too late, and the ring would fall to the corrupt beasts.


    "Alright, does that mean you''re taking me with you?"


    "Tomorrow''s fight will be your answer. Don''t let your guard down; we don''t know what she is capable of."


    Amelia nodded, bringing her fists close to her chest in a ready-to-go pose.


    "Who are you talking about, might I ask?"


    As they were walking past the entrance to the village, someone managed to hear the conversation and called them.


    "Oh, what a pleasant surprise, if it isn''t Karteira. We were talking about you just now."


    Grinning at Karteira for an unknown reason, Orion took her by surprise.


    "I see. Did you need something from me then?"


    She was feeling slightly uncomfortable, as if he knew something.


    ''Wait, does he know that I''ve been watching his training routine every day? There''s no way!''


    A dreadful thought appeared in her head. Her scorpion tail moved slightly down.


    "Yes, I was thinking that it would be a good time to have that fight we''d agreed upon when you visited me."


    Unauthorized duplication: this tale has been taken without consent. Report sightings.


    She perked up at the news. This was great for her, as she really wanted to fight him since the day he unleashed his full power.


    "This is great! So what are we waiting for?"


    "Slow down. I won''t be fighting you today, but tomorrow."


    "In the morning, preferably. And it''s going to be a two-versus-one. Though, I won''t attack you, Amelia will."


    He glanced at Amelia, who appeared confident in front of the fairy.


    ''I can feel it. She''s after him. I don''t mind it, but she won''t walk over me! I''ll teach her that I''m far stronger than her!''


    A bit disappointed by the fact that Orion wasn''t going to unleash his power upon her, she still agreed.


    "Well, it''s too bad I won''t be receiving those powerful arrows, but I''m also intrigued by her overall power."


    "You might have noticed, but I''ve been watching you train for the past few days. I know what you plan to do in our fight. I won''t go down easily; I''m not the strongest for nothing."


    She also displayed a great deal of confidence.


    "Well, then, it''s decided. We''ll come to the training area near the portal in the morning, an hour after sunrise."


    Orion nodded until she did the same.


    "It''s a deal! I''ll be waiting for you."


    Karteira turned away, her tail dancing from left to right.


    ''She''s definitely looking forward to it. I wasn''t wrong; she was the one watching us all this time. This was to be expected from a battle addict.''


    She was terrible at hiding her presence. Orion noticed her the first day they began training but ignored her as she wasn''t bothering them.


    "It was the first time I talked to someone carrying a girl like that. Rest well tonight; I don''t want any of you exhausted before the fight. See you later."


    She waved and left the place, leaving Amelia with a terrible emotion of shame, realizing she was still being carried even through the village.


    "You can let me down... Please."


    Amelia thrashed lightly while blushing.


    "No way! That''s not going to happen. I said I''d carry you home, so I''ll do it."


    Stopping her attempt to get down, she remained motionless in his arms, her mind cursing him as he walked further into the village.


    ''Stubborn as always! Why are you like that? Read the room, damn it!''


    And like that, they both got back to their rooms to rest.


    ~


    *CRACK*


    "Oh! Lord Elliott, another one of the seals broke, I see! That is great news!"


    A crazed Layla was seated at a desk inside the church building.


    "It is only a matter of time before you will freely walk this continent once again! And when it happens, we''ll finally bring all those unworthy to their graves!"


    A maniacal laugh came out of her mouth.


    "Anyway, there are still many seals left; until then, many matters have to be sorted out."


    She looked back at the papers on her desk.


    ...


    In the room behind the altar where the ceremony took place, a giant crystal with a blond man sealed inside was shaking.


    An evil voice leaked out from the few cracks on the crystal''s surface.


    "Not long, just you wait! I''ll correct my mistake soon enough."


    The remaining seals were now down to seven. These last seven being the strongest ones, it would take a long time for him to break free.


    But was it really that simple?


    ~


    Morning, the moment when the air was the most humid, where the sun''s rays gently caressed the skin, and when the sky showed the most beautiful cyan blue.


    The duo walked toward the training area in the village. They both enjoyed the morning the most, so they were in a great mood.


    "Are you ready? You''re not feeling ill or anything?"


    Orion looked at Amelia walking beside him.


    "Stop worrying every time. The training we do is not enough to hurt me anymore, you know. And yes, I''m ready."


    "I''m just asking. Before, you said I never asked you and that I was cold to you, and now I''m worrying too much."


    He shrugged. It was difficult to understand women every so often.


    "That was so long ago! I said that one time, and you entirely changed after that. I never expected you to truly care."


    They bantered as usual and arrived before long.


    "I see you are in a good mood. I''m glad to not be the only one looking forward to it."


    Karteira was already ready to go on the side of the training area. She was wearing a full-body outfit.


    She changed from her worn pants to more flexible jeans and took off her jacket, letting only her gray shirt be visible. Her cleavage was in plain sight, but Orion wasn''t interested enough to even look at it.


    "Well, hello. It is a good morning to have a friendly fight, so obviously we are in a good mood."


    "Have you forgotten? We have the stress of that day to unleash on you, too."


    Orion cracked his neck, and Amelia began to stretch her arms.


    "I remember you saying that. So, don''t you need some protection? I don''t think taking my stinger would be painless for you."


    Orion laughed at the sudden care.


    "If you can hit me, that is. I don''t need physical protection; just in case, I have Amelia''s wind barrier."


    He would rather not be hindered by weight, so they thought of another method, and the wind barrier won the prize of being the most resistant to piercing damages.


    Water was great against slashes, and earth was great against strikes.


    "Well, you''re prepared for it; I can clearly see that."


    Taking her advice back, Karteira crossed her arms with a smile on her face.


    "What about you? You don''t seem to be in an outfit to fight us."


    Amelia wondered if she was throwing the match before it began.


    "You''ll see. It is no fun if I reveal my secret already, right?"


    She moved toward the center of the arena and began to stretch, too. She forced her tail to move in different directions while spinning a few times.


    "I wonder what she is doing. I''ve never seen someone spin during stretches."


    She was totally intrigued by the person in front of her.


    For a battle addict, Karteira was quite normal right now. She was quite original too, showing plenty of moves Amelia wasn''t expecting to see.


    "I don''t know either, but that''s part of her routine, so it should have a positive effect on her."


    After preparing for five minutes, both sides stood in front of each other.


    "Alright, hop on my back."


    Orion pointed his thumb at his back before Amelia jumped on him. She locked her legs around his waist and took the fighting stance she worked so hard to perfect.


    "Dana, Ceres."


    Two of her daggers appeared in her hands. Her stance was now complete, ready to battle with the fairy commander.


    "Are you ready, Karteira? Because we are."


    "Wait a second."


    Karteira closed her eyes and activated her own ability.


    "Cerulean Aegis!"


    After saying that, her whole body began to show changes.