Sylvie and Bane watched the exchange between Mia and Lora with critical eyes. They didn't know if Lora and her group planned to stop them altogether or if this was just a test. The mission had a time limit, and they couldn't afford to waste time, but something about this encounter felt significant. Both sensed that Mia needed this confrontation to truly understand the weight of her role.
Lora sheathed her katana and glared at Mia. "You call yourself a leader? You're pathetic. Wide open, predictable moves, relaxing your guard—this is what Warlords have come down to? Wet-behind-the-ears brats who can't even fathom the responsibility they carry?"
Mia lay on the ground, gritting her teeth in frustration. She had no retort; Lora's words cut deep because she knew they were true. She had lost, and not just in the duel. She was losing in her own self-confidence. But why was Lora so harsh? It felt personal.
Before the tension could escalate further, Lora's companion, Jorgo, stepped forward. "Leader, that is enough. You've made your point."
Sylvie began to see that there was more to this than Lora was letting on. It seemed personal, as if Lora was projecting something onto Mia. Bane, too, watched closely, sensing that they hadn't been fully informed about the nature of this encounter.
Lora blinked, snapping out of her intense focus. "Tch, let this be a lesson to you." She turned abruptly and walked off into the woods, leaving Jorgo to explain.
Jorgo approached Mia and offered her a hand. "Don't take it personally. Lora's best friend was a Warlord, killed recently in an Ifrit attack because of the incompetence of their team leader. She was supposed to take the initiation with her but became extremely ill two days beforehand. She's been shouldering the blame ever since. When she sees a leader who she thinks isn't fit, she takes it personally."
Bane's eyes darkened with understanding. "I know of this attack," he murmured. Sylvie looked at him, clearly puzzled, as if asking him to elaborate. Reading her silent question, Bane explained, "I was debriefed some time ago by the King himself. A recon team was wiped out. They were only supposed to gather intelligence. Instead of retreating after achieving their goal, the leader, who was from GoldenAge, decided to push their luck. He got his entire team wiped out. I understand her more than probably anyone."
Mia listened, regret washing over her. For the first time, she questioned if she was really fit for this mission, or if she was simply playing a role she wasn't prepared for.
"If you doubt yourself now, you have already failed. You accepted this mission. You will own up to it. Do you understand?" Lora's voice cut through Mia's thoughts. Mia was surprised to see Lora back with the group after seemingly walking away. Lora had clearly calmed down but was still firm. "We're moving. Jorgo, we're out of here." With that, Lora and her companions disappeared back into the trees, leaving the trio to process what had just happened.
For a few minutes, the trio stood in silence. Surprisingly, it was Mia who broke it. "Do either of you think I'm not fit to lead?" She didn't turn around, but Sylvie could see her shoulders shaking lightly, and she assumed Mia was crying. Lora's words had struck a deeper chord than they initially realized.
"It's not about what we think," Sylvie replied gently. "Do you believe you are fit? You were selected, and as I see it, you have two choices. You can own up to your responsibility or return as a failure. You haven't failed us yet. But if we're going to be on this mission together, you need to trust us just as we will have to trust you. It's the only way this will work." Sylvie spoke with conviction, and Bane nodded in agreement.
Mia turned to face them, her eyes red and puffy from tears. She had expected them to leave her after her embarrassing defeat, but they still stood by her. "Even after I got my ass handed to me on a platter?" she asked, a small, self-deprecating smile tugging at her lips.
"Oh, she soundly defeated you," Bane replied with a chuckle, "but use that loss as a moment to grow. You're no longer in the safety of your guild, and the world is full of dangerous things and individuals. Lora wanted you to take your role seriously."
Bane's words carried a weight that resonated with Mia. For a fleeting moment, she felt a strange connection to Bane, something almost familiar. She couldn't place it, but the feeling gave her a sense of comfort. She dusted herself off, determined to move forward. "Let's keep going," she said, her voice steadier than before.
In the trees, Lora and her group moved silently, gliding from branch to branch.
"You felt it too, didn't you, Lora? Why didn't you say anything?" Jorgo asked as they paused on a high branch.
Lora stopped and looked back at Jorgo before turning her gaze to the sky. "Although we crossed blades, that is a matter for someone else. They may share blood, but it is not my place or ours to interfere. If they do not know, it is for a good reason. Let's continue. I sense a Kinker Pack nearby." Jorgo nodded in understanding, and the group vanished into the tree canopy.
The trio continued their journey without further incident. As they approached a deep gorge that stretched for miles, Mia felt a sense of relief. "We're here," she announced. "This is the Valley of Day."