Hylo stood incredibly still, glaring right at Hitirus as Ether explained what was going on. She kept a hand on her knife, which was tucked inside her back pocket.
"... So she's not a love interest. You know I'm still holding out hope for Pearl, Azir, and Etherna to come home. I've sent hundreds of Shoras out to find them," Ether concluded.
Despite trying her hardest not to think about Ether's sitatuon, Htirius pondered about the odds. If he really did send so many Shoras out with none coming back alongside his family, what if they weren't alive?
By the end of the explanation, Hylo sighed. Frowning deeply before looking down at the purple rug.
"I'm sorry, Neddy. There's just... regret. I am devastated that I left them on the Sky Beast to speed away, sometimes I wonder if things would've been different if I stayed with them."
Ether shook his head. "Don't think about it that way. I'm beyond happy to see you're achieving your goal of becoming a warrior. Losing you that day would've left me with nothing to be happy for."
Hitirus approached Hylo, keeping her eyes fixed on the arm tucked behind her back. Both Variants exchanged a look of sympathy.
"O - okay, thank you, Neddy. And uh.." Hylo awkwardly stared at Hitirus. "Thanks, stranger."
"My name is Hitirus," she clarified.
Upon hearing who she was, Hylo jumped back. She gritted her teeth and narrowed her eyes, ready to cut her open.
It was because of her the war began. If it wasn't for Hitirus being alive, she would've probably be hanging out with her siblings. Yet they were missing.
Perhaps if she killed Hitirus now, it would revert all the oddities in their lives. And bring them back home to Imbushko where they belonged.
"Hylo! Control yourself. Have some time to refresh yourself and accept what's happening." Ether ordered her. "Hitirus was sent out on a mission, and she needs to complete that mission."
Despite the urge to kill her there, Hylo listened. It was part of her training, sometimes the way she wants won't be the way she gets.
So it was crucial to keep her head somewhere else instead of focusing on the things holding her back.
"All right. But Hitirus, if I see you doing anything weird with my Neddy, I'll tie you up and torture you relentlessly," Hylo warned.
With that, Hylo left the room. Leaning against the door after closing it, head fixed on her boots. She wasn't sure what just happened, nor wanted to accept who Ether was talking to.
In her world, Hitirus was the one that kicked off so many battles that led to neither side getting any meaningful victories. Because the leaders would always desperately aim to fix them.
However, that was in the past. Now was the time to push forward and continue fighting until the opportunity to put an end to Hitirus comes through.
"What's the matter now, Hylo?" Fruzzy asked.
"I - I... uh... s - stepped on one of my Neddy's flower crowns.. yeah! I'm sad that he's sad," Hylo lied.
Fruzzy was too smart for that kind of trickery. She had endured enough hardship to understand a conflict.
"Right. Come with me, we need to train your straights," Fruzzy responded.
Both warriors walked out of the home, into the lively street. Troopers and cubs ran around, tagging each other and watching the older Variants train.
They found an empty pool off to the side, where not many Variants were looking. Hylo stripped herself clean of any armor, weapons, heavy clothing, and boots.
Leaving her with only her underclothes. She stepped inside, feeling the refreshing water up to her knees.
Fruzzy joined her, except she was working on a reinforcement field to protect Hylo. In time, the water quickly felt better. Twice as refreshing, cold, and tranquil.
"Here we are, Hylo. Remember what I taught you last time. Lean into the swing, keep your feet light, and eyes open. Don't let me catch that left hand off guard, as well," Fruzzy ordered.
In response, Hylo brought her arms up. Locking onto her trainer as they eyed each other down. Then she crept closer, sending tiny jabs at her.
Fruzzy held a hand out to keep Hylo's in check, only for Hylo to quickly switch stances. Tricking Fruzzy into lowering the guard on her right arm.
Hylo fired a powerful straight towards Fruzzy's cheek, however, Fruzzy checked it with her shoulder. She countered by thrusting a knee into her stomach.
"Good try, bad defense. I like that switch you did, but you should've swung a jab to secure my attention away from your right hand." Fruzzy explained.
"Yes, lady Fruzzy," Hylo agreed.
She brought her arms up again, ready to try again. Her attention was solely on Fruzzy's seemingly defenseless posture, implying she was using her Code.
Hylo came in, hoping to lure out the first hit. Which she successfully did. Fruzzy ducked and lunged at her, bringing forward her own straight towards her stomach.
Yet Hylo's kick stepping allowed her to step aside, then grab onto Fruzzy's wrist. She anchored herself beside her teacher, before delivering her own series of straights to her forehead and cranium.
Each landed perfectly, staggering and Fruzzy repeatedly. Yet she wasn't going to let Hylo have this one so easily.
She swept her off her feet with her left arm, then held her underwater. A firm foot pressed against her breasts kept Hylo down.
"Always bend your knees. They'll keep you from being toppled so easily during an encounter with a ground-focused Code," Fruzzy explained.
After holding Hylo down for several minutes, she let go. Helping the young warrior back up to her feet. She swept the wet hair off Hylo's face.
Looking into the eyes of her student after a good effort. It was a courtesy, she thought. To look into the eyes of somebody else after they did a good push against their teacher.
Hylo nodded, showing she was ready to continue. "I'm going to try harder this time, I promise."