"How did it come to this?" Cyrus sighed as his eyes looked out the back of the wagon at the colourful fields. "Because of that living forest, you'd never guess it was already autumn," the wagon's wheel hit a small rock, jolting Cyrus forward. "You sure you can drive?" Cyrus asked, looking upfront at Angela.
Angela laughed, "blame the road unless you want to drive," in front of her were a couple more wagons sent by the church.
Beside Angela sat Ezra, who had to keep an eye on them, "I can't wait to celebrate the harvest festival this. It's always a wonderful time." Ezra smiled, happily looking at the beautiful fields.
"I don't want to spend it in the capital again. I rather spend it back at the town," Angela complains. Her shoulders sagging from the constant sighs
"What's wrong with the Captial harvest festival?" Cyrus asked.
"You can't enjoy it. Instead, you're spending the entire time assisting with the celebration," Angela whined, remembering her last festival time.
"Wouldn't you be forced to assist back at the town?" Cyrus questioned.
"Yes, but there aren't that many people. After helping, I'll have plenty of time to enjoy the festival," Angela explained.
"Helping others during the festival gives us a sense of fulfillment," Ezra spoke, beginning to lecture her friend.
"not more lectures," Angela begged, unable to escape since she was the driver.
"Serves you right, bringing me along on this boring trip. I still can't believe you convinced that Maxwell guy," Cyrus stated.
"Someone else would need to keep an eye on you while we're gone, so it's better to bring you along instead," Angela giggled to herself.
"That wasn't funny, Angela. You still have no idea what you caused," Ezra glared.
"You worry too much. Anyway, it's your turn to drive," Angela turned the reigns over to Ezra and leaned back, falling into the wagon.
Laying on her back, she sighed and stared at the canopy covering the wagon before turning over and crawling to the back of the wagon, sticking her head out. She slowly lost herself in her thoughts as she watched the world go by.
"How about I toss the rest of you out, and you can escape," Cyrus joked.
Angela laughed a little as she leaned up and looked at Cyrus, "when we stop for the night, would you be up for some sparring?" she asked.
"Sparring? What are you, a child who needs to burn off their energy before bed?" Cyrus mocked, but Angela slowly shook her head.
"I need to get stronger; my fight with the gnoll has been bothering me. I know I beat it, and it felt great for a while, but knowing I couldn't overpower it worries me for the future," Angela brought up a hand and grabbed her other arm.
"If you couldn't overpower it, then how will you fare against stronger monsters, is that it?" Cyrus asked.
"Yea..." Angela trails off as she thinks to herself.
"This is why you should take the church's teachings seriously. You wouldn't face this problem if you were more dutiful and held your faith close to your heart," Ezra preached, overhearing their conversation.
"I don't understand how believing in pretty words can be better than practical training," Angela argued.
Eventually, the sun would begin its descent over the horizon as the wagons slowly pulled over, "we'll stop here for the evening," one of the church soldiers stated. Everyone formed into small groups around a fire, taking out preserved meats and slowly roasting them.
Cyrus looked around and noticed Ezra and the soldiers saying a small prayer to themselves. Angela sat there, eyeing the meat and waited. Despite all her impatience, she wasn't about to eat since no one else was. Was the soldiers said their prayer, everyone began eating.
As the meal ended, the guards began to keep watch in shifts. Their group wasn't a part of it, as they wouldn't trust a demon-kin, as Angela and Ezra were there to keep an eye on Cyrus.
"Alright, let's go," Angela spoke, eagerly pulling on Cyrus' arm.
"Where are you two going?" Ezra asked.
"To spar, didn't you overhear us earlier?" Angela responded.
"Fine, whatever," Ezra yawned and sighed. "You better be back before they start questioning where he is," She stated, pointing to Cyrus.
"We'll be back," Cyrus confirmed and walked a little ways away from the camp.
"I just realized; we won't get attacked by monsters while we spar, right?" Angela questioned, not thinking her actions through again.
"We should be fine," Cyrus stated as he created a few small glowing flames. "We should be able to see better like this."
Angela nodded, then took a deep breath; she pulled out her claymore and charged. Cyrus' ability activated perceiving her attacks in slow motion as he decided to deflect each strike this time. Bringing her sword down upon him, Cyrus knocked the claymore aside and brought the sword to her neck.
"That's one."
"Already," Angela stated, a bit angry at herself as she took a step back and tried to approach from the side.
Cyrus knocked the sword away again and tapped her arm with the flat of his sword.
"That makes two."
"I'm not done!" Angela gritted her teeth,
"You might have a better chance if you use skills," Cyrus suggested.
"I need to strengthen myself, not the skills," Angela thrusts forward, but Cyrus sidestepped it at the last moment and grabbed Angela's hair, pulling her forward and tripping her as she fell onto the ground.
"I didn't think I was this weak," Angela bitterly stated as she stood up.
"Yes, you are, but do you know why?" Cyrus asked.
"Why? You make it sound like I should be a lot stronger than I am now," Angela points out.
"Your skills are a part of your strength, and you should be using them," Cyrus repeated.
"But you've already blocked them before even the gnoll stopped them," Angela argued, starting to feel frustrated from being beaten so easily.
"If it doesn't work, then be creative with them. Someone like you should just mix skills together. Just because it didn't work once doesn't mean it won't work later," Cyrus lectured.
"Using skills too quickly, even mixing them would be quite draining," Angela stated.
"That's just making an excuse, try everything, learn what your limits are, then break them. So get up and show me what you can do," Cyrus demanded, pointing his sword at Angela.
Angela started with the skill blitz to increase her speed as she quickly moved to the side and swung her blade. Cyrus lifted his blade to block, but Angela activated the skill flurry, prompting Cyrus to counter every swing. However, Angela adds the holy skill smite, having each strike create shockwaves through his blade.
"Now, this is what I mean," Cyrus smirked as Angela began sweating.
Her arms were already feeling heavy, but as Cyrus moved his sword towards her neck, Angela used blitz to fall back. "Not...yet," She pants.
"You've done quite well, but you're almost at your limit, so let's see you go out with a bang," Cyrus praised.
"If it didn't work before doesn't mean it won't work now," Angela repeats to herself, utilizing flurry, blitz, and smite as she charged forward again. However, before her attack struck, Cyrus side-stepped it.
Angela's body soon collapsed, having used up all her energy as she gave a bitter smile. She was still naive to fighting.
"Just because a skill didn't work now doesn't mean it won't work later; A person who blocked one attack might dodge that same attack later. You shouldn't think so much when fighting and go nuts. You'll start to develop experience and get a better feel of what to do. And if I happen to be around, I'll help you when you collapse," Cyrus leaned down and picked up Angela off the ground, carrying her over his shoulder, taking her back to the camp.
"Thanks..." Angela muttered.