The roar of the crowd echoed in Seraphina's ears as she stepped off the arena floor, her breaths coming in steady but labored— she had grown much more tired than she expected.
The matches throughout the day had been grueling, and while some opponents were unremarkable, others tested her limits in ways she hadn't anticipated.
Fighting under pressure was forcing her aura to move and circulate naturally, strengthening her in ways she couldn't achieve through training alone.
Yet, even with her victories, she knew she was only scratching the surface of training her aura. While the fighting had allowed it to flow better, and allowed her to speed up forming her life seed, she was still far from completing it.
As the sun began to set, the arena's energy began to wind down. The spectators who lingered gave her nods of approval as she passed, a few whispering her alias, 'Pink Fox,' with admiration.
She paid them little attention, as she slipped away from the arena, going down multiple alleyways to avoid being followed— dropping her mask into her bag as she did.
The cool night air was a welcome relief against her warm, sweat-slicked skin.
Vesta had settled into its nocturnal activities, the bustling market transformed into a series of dimly lit stalls and quieter roads. The sound of distant chatter and the faint clinking of coins created a soothing backdrop as she navigated the familiar streets back to the inn.
When she entered, the warmth of the common room wrapped around her and she was met by the hum of quiet conversation and the scent of roasted meat reminded her that she hadn't eaten since breakfast.
Spotting Samuel and Edwin at their usual corner table, she made her way over to join them.
Samuel's grin widened as soon as he saw her approach.
"Well, if it isn't the Pink Fox herself. How many hearts did you steal, or break, today?"
Seraphina rolled her eyes, taking the seat across from him— she didn't expect to hide her fighting from them, she naturally knew they would be around the area, and finding out she was fighting wasn't hard.
Edwin, ever the serious one, set down his cup of tea and studied her carefully.
"You were at the arena, weren't you?"
Edwin asked, his sharp gaze flicking to the bag by her side where her mask was tucked away.
"Yes."
She didn't bother denying it, pouring herself a glass of water from the pitcher on the table.
"Careful with how much you push yourself."
Edwin cautioned.
"The arena isn't the safest place to train."
"Training in safety won't help me grow."
She replied, her voice calm but firm— she knew Edwin worried about her, but she couldn't allow him to limit her.
"I need the unpredictability of combat. It forces my aura to respond in ways it doesn't during practice."
Samuel leaned back in his chair, a loaf of bread in one hand as he gave her an approving nod.
"Can't argue with that. Experience is the best teacher, and the crowd loves you. You're practically a star there already."
Seraphina arched an eyebrow.
"It's not about fame."
"Oh, I know."
Samuel said, smirking.
"But it doesn't hurt, does it?"
Edwin shook his head, clearly unconvinced but unwilling to press further.
"Just don't overdo it. You won't gain anything if you wear yourself down to the point of injury."
They talked for a while longer, the conversation shifting to their own activities.
Samuel recounted a few amusing encounters they had at the guildhall, while Edwin shared his observations about the increasing tension among adventurers— and about the venture into the forest the guild had ordered.
"There's something going on."
Edwin said as he lowered his voice to speak.
"A lot of whispers about movement in the forest. Some people think it's just monsters, but others... they're less sure."
Seraphina nodded, storing the information away for later consideration. For now, her focus was on her own growth— whatever was happening in the forest would have to wait until she was strong enough to deal with it.
Nothing would come from trying to fight while weak, only death awaited a fool that does such a thing.
After conversing with the group, having some food, and taking a quick bath— she made her way to sleep without much thought.
Morning came swiftly, and Seraphina rose with the first light, her muscles still sore from the previous day but not enough to deter her. After a quick breakfast with Samuel and Edwin, she made her way back to the arena, her pace brisk with purpose.
The familiar sights and sounds greeted her as she approached.
Signing up for her first match of the day, Seraphina found herself eager to step into the ring again. The thrill of combat, the challenge of adapting to different opponents, and the undeniable growth she felt with each fight pulled her in like a siren's call.
This wasn't just training— she had no intentions of stopping just yet, something about the fighting made her feel alive.