Strax let out a long sigh, running his hand over his sweaty face.
He was absolutely exhausted after more than twelve hours of intense sparring with Bela, who had completely dominated him in every way when it came to fencing. It felt like fighting Xenovia, his ruthless and brutal sister with the sword.
The flashes of memory of training with Xenovia kept coming back to him as he watched Bela. The firm stance, the precise movements, the overwhelming strength. She was just as tireless.
"If Bela is like this... I don't even want to imagine how Scarlet fights..." thought Strax, wiping the sweat dripping from his forehead with his arm.
Discouragement began to weigh heavily on his chest. Ever since he'd arrived in this place, he'd felt that all his efforts had seemed pointless. No matter how hard he tried, it seemed impossible to overcome those vampires. It was as if each one was an insurmountable obstacle, a wall he could never climb.
