"I wonder how long it'll be before the Young Miss finally wakes up?" Jennifer mused, her hands busy tidying up the residence.
"She's a Warlock chosen by a staff what did you expect?" Opal replied, folding linens beside her.
"Still, did it take the others this long to harmonize with their powers and staff?" Jennifer asked.
Opal shrugged. "Warlocks often take hours, sometimes days, to recover after their wand ceremony. But for council members? There's no specific information on them, but given their extraordinary powers, I'd assume they take a fair amount of time to stabilize before waking," she said, placing the last piece of linen in the closet and closing the doors.
Jennifer sighed, her worry evident. "It's been four days, Opal. She's been asleep, and I haven't seen any sign she's close to waking."
Finishing their tasks, they walked along the corridors, eventually coming upon one of the new staff members. She was a petite figure with a neatly tied-up bun and hazel eyes, looking to be in her early years.
"Clementine," Jennifer called as the young maid hurried past, seemingly intent on her destination.
The maid paused, walking over to them. "Yes, Madam?"
"Where are you headed in such a rush?" Opal asked.
"I'm on my way to the kitchen to help Mavis with meal prep," Clementine answered.
"Ah, well then, carry on," Jennifer said, giving her a nod. Clementine returned the nod and continued on her way, disappearing down the hall.
As they walked past a particular set of twin doors, Jennifer stopped, lingering there, which caught Opal's attention. Opal turned to her and asked, "Are you alright, Jennifer?"
Without taking her eyes off the doors, Jennifer asked, "Can we check on her, Opal?"
"Sure," Opal replied, setting her basket neatly beside the door. She moved to stand beside Jennifer, who placed her hands on both handles and slowly opened the doors. Sunlight filled the room, its drapes partially drawn and a window slightly ajar. The soft, warm glow revealed a bed on the left side, where a figure floated peacefully, her white hair and garments gently flowing as she breathed in a steady rhythm.
Opal and Jennifer approached the bedside, gazing at Cynthia's serene, sleeping face. "Would you like to care for the Young Miss tonight, or shall I?" Opal asked quietly.
"I'd like to do it today," Jennifer replied, fidgeting with her hands.
"Alright then. Let's keep everything pristine. I'm sure the Young Miss will appreciate knowing her residence has been well-kept," Opal said, nudging Jennifer toward the door. They left quietly, with Opal closing the doors behind them before retrieving her basket.
"Jennifer," Opal said as they continued down the corridor.
"Yes?" Jennifer responded.
"How about doing something to take your mind off the Young Miss?" Opal suggested.
Curious, Jennifer raised an eyebrow and turned to her. "What do you have in mind?"
"Let's have a sparring match when we finish up for the day," Opal proposed.
"Are you serious?" Jennifer exclaimed, her excitement barely contained.
"Yes! I haven't trained much since we arrived here, and you're clearly going stir-crazy with all this waiting. I think blowing off some steam would do you good," Opal reasoned, as they arrived at a door that led into the laundry room. Upon entering, they spotted another attendant inside.
"Charlotte, how much longer have you left?" Opal asked, placing her basket on one of the tables.
"It won't be much longer, Opal," Charlotte replied, diligently washing the rags used to clean the wooden pieces of furniture in the residence.
"Good to hear," Opal replied with a nod.
After confirming with Charlotte, Opal and Jennifer left the laundry room.
"What's left to be done? I'd usually be in charge of procuring food for the Young Miss, but here, all I have to do is give a list to the stewards, and they bring everything we need," Jennifer remarked as they walked.
"So, nothing else for today?" Opal asked.
"Only tending to the Young Miss this evening," Jennifer replied, then added, "What about you, Opal?"
Opal thought for a moment. "With the Young Miss still asleep, I've completed everything as well."
"Then is now the time for our sparring match?" Jennifer asked a spark of excitement in her eyes.
"I suppose so," Opal agreed with a smile.
With their schedules clear, they made their way to the open field behind the residence. Taking their positions at opposite ends, they faced each other, ready to begin.
"Ready, Jennifer!" Opal shouted.
"Anytime you are!" Jennifer replied with a grin.
"Alright, let's begin," Opal said, fastening the bracelet Cynthia had gifted her. At the same time, Jennifer reached inside her tunic and pulled out a chain with a silver ring hanging from it. The ring held a dark green gem etched into the silver. She slipped it off the chain and onto the index finger of her right hand.
With their preparations complete, they both settled into their fighting stances, eyes focused and anticipation thick in the air.
The field was quiet, save for the gentle rustling of leaves as Opal and Jennifer stood face-to-face, both poised and ready. With a single, swift motion, they launched themselves toward each other, meeting at the center of the field. Their feet collided, sending a shockwave rippling outward. Both fighters grinned, exhilarated. Their legs rebounded from the impact, forcing them back several feet. But neither gave the other a moment to rest they leaped forward again, immediately engaging in hand-to-hand combat.
Opal threw a series of quick, targeted punches, each one aimed with precision. Jennifer remained on the defense, expertly guarding her head and torso, redirecting the flow of Opal's attacks. When she realized her punches weren't landing effectively, Opal shifted tactics, delivering a swift roundhouse kick. Jennifer barely had time to react, crossing her arms to block it just in time. The impact tipped her off balance, sending her skidding backward.
Not wasting a second, Opal sprang forward, her palm glowing red with energy. Jennifer, sensing the impending danger, dropped flat and rolled aside as Opal's palm struck the ground, erupting with a loud explosion. Quickly, Jennifer slammed her right elbow into the ground to propel herself into the air, gracefully landing back on her feet.
"Well, look at you thinking on your feet!" Opal smirked, rising from the ground, a sizeable crater marking where her strike had landed. "Guess I need to focus more."
Opal blurred for a moment, then appeared right in front of Jennifer. Without hesitation, Jennifer swung a right hook, but Opal caught her fist in mid-air. Opal then aimed a low kick, which Jennifer dodged by leaping upward, using the opening to kick Opal back and gain some distance.
Jennifer's ring glowed, and with a flash of dark energy, a pair of sais materialized in her hands. She rushed forward, her weapons gleaming, as Opal's fists lit up with a crimson glow from wrist to elbow. They clashed, weapons meeting flesh, creating further shockwaves and charging the air with tension as they continued their fierce exchange.
Now, Opal found herself on the defensive, parrying Jennifer's precise stabs and slashes with her heightened awareness. Jennifer's blade work was relentless, each thrust and arc executed with precision, but Opal managed to evade with agility and control. Sensing herself being cornered, Opal moved with a series of rapid, diagonal steps that left after-images in her wake, confusing Jennifer as she tried to pinpoint Opal's position.
Spotting an opportunity, Jennifer flung one of her sais toward Opal, forcing her to focus on the flying weapon. In that brief moment of distraction, Jennifer closed the gap, grabbing hold of Opal's tunic and nearly pulling her off balance. Before Opal could stumble, a chilling aura radiated from her, causing Jennifer to instinctively leap back to avoid the encroaching energy.
Jennifer noticed a shift in Opal's stance, and she immediately materialized her thrown sai back into her hand, bracing herself. Opal's face took on a serious expression as red energy flared around her hands. "It seems you're ready, Jennifer," Opal intoned. "The time has come for you to experience aura force."
With a swift motion, Opal thrust her palm forward, sending a red, aura-infused palm-shaped force barreling toward Jennifer. Jennifer tried to leap aside, but as she moved, a sudden, invisible impact struck her squarely in the stomach. She stumbled backward, coughing and gasping for air as pain radiated through her core. Though Opal hadn't moved an inch, her clenched fist made it clear she'd launched the attack through sheer will.
Not willing to give up, Jennifer gathered herself and leaped into the air, crossing her hands in an X formation. Her sais began to glow red, intensifying with her own energy as she prepared her next move.
As the tension in the battle reached its peak, Opal steadied herself, bracing for Jennifer's next attack. But just as Jennifer prepared to strike, her eyes darted toward the residence, her expression shifting from intense focus to one of concern. Opal, ever perceptive, immediately followed Jennifer's gaze.
Standing at the doorway, watching them with an unreadable expression, was Cynthia now awake. Both Opal and Jennifer instinctively halted, prepared to end their match and rush to her side. But, to their surprise, Cynthia held up a hand, her calm voice carrying across the field. "Continue," she instructed, her tone firm yet encouraging.
Startled but obedient, the two fighters exchanged a quick glance, bowing slightly in acknowledgment. Then, with renewed vigor, they resumed their clash, each attack now sharpened by the presence of their awakened Young Miss.
With Cynthia watching, Opal and Jennifer approached the sparring with renewed intensity, their movements precise and deliberate, knowing that every detail was under the Young Miss's watchful gaze. Jennifer charged first, her sais flashing as she targeted Opal's defenses. In response, Opal's fists radiated with a red aura, meeting each strike in a fluid dance of momentum and skill.
Jennifer adjusted her strategy, infusing her sais with energy, which added a sharper edge to her strikes. Opal met the attack with steady focus, reading each move as she pivoted, ducked, and countered. Then, spotting an opening, she launched a quick strike that sent Jennifer skidding back. Jennifer exhaled, acknowledging the sharpness of Opal's attack.
"Impressive, Opal," she said with a grin, catching her breath.
"Same to you, but I'm not done yet," Opal replied with a smirk, summoning aura into her fists for a powerful punch aimed at Jennifer's center.
Jennifer twisted, narrowly dodging the blow, then pivoted to Opal's side. She crossed her sais in front of her and released a pulse of green energy, forcing Opal back a few feet. With renewed determination, she braced for one final push.
Noting Jennifer's improvements, Opal decided it was time to wrap up the match. With a subtle shift, her stance grew heavier, her aura radiating a quiet intensity. Sensing the change, Jennifer steeled herself, aware that Opal was now serious. Jennifer lunged with a series of sharp strikes, her sais glowing with faint energy, aiming to keep Opal on the defensive.
But this time, Opal's movements became almost effortless. She sidestepped a slash with such speed that Jennifer barely registered it, and then, with a gentle press of her palm to Jennifer's shoulder, sent her stumbling back, her balance disrupted by the surprising force of the move.
Recognizing Jennifer's resolve, Opal shifted into a teaching mode. A faint red shield of energy formed around her, and she allowed Jennifer to strike against it, the aura rippling with each impact, a reminder of the strength Jennifer still had yet to reach.
Breathing heavily, Jennifer dropped her stance, laughing as she raised her hands in playful surrender. "Fighting you in the ending felt almost as if I was facing off against head Maid Melinda just now."
Opal's warm smile softened her face as she lowered her aura. "Not even I can stand a minute against the head maid so that is just how the world of strong goes, my friend ." She extended a hand, helping Jennifer to her feet.
Together, they turned to Cynthia, who observed them with an approving, amused smile. Her presence made the sparring session feel all the more meaningful, the experience an important blend of training and bonding.
"Well done, both of you," Cynthia said, her voice warm with pride. "You've demonstrated skill, strength, and dedication. I'm fortunate to have such devoted attendants."
Jennifer and Opal lowered their weapons and bowed respectfully. Opal gave Jennifer a satisfied nod. "A good match, as always."
Jennifer nodded back, a grin lighting her face. "The Young Miss's approval is all I could ask for."