Kaiser is holding a scythe that looks far too large for him. Its curved blade gleams wickedly in the fading light, and its wooden shaft towers taller than Kaiser himself
The two face off once again. Zani, poised and balanced as always, stands in her ready stance. Kaiser hefts the scythe, its blade wobbling slightly as he tries to steady it
With a grunt, Kaiser charges, swinging the scythe in a wide, horizontal arc. The weapon's reach forces Zani to retreat rather than sidestep. She ducks low, allowing the blade to pass harmlessly overhead, and dashes forward, aiming a quick strike at his ribs
But Kaiser, as surprised as Zani, twists the scythe's shaft awkwardly, catching her blade on the handle and deflecting it. The deflection throws him off balance, and he stumbles back, nearly dropping the weapon
Zani doesn't miss a beat. She steps forward, her sword a blur as she strikes the shaft of the scythe with precision, forcing it downward. With a swift pivot, she sweeps her leg behind his knee, sending him sprawling to the ground
"Better" she remarks as Kaiser scrambles to his feet
"Your weapon's reach is an asset, but your movements are still clumsy"
Kaiser takes a deep breath, his grip on the scythe tightening. He swings again, this time in a diagonal slash. Zani dodges with ease, sliding past the blade and delivering a light tap to his shoulder. He spins clumsily, using the momentum to whip the scythe around in a wide, chaotic arc
Zani leans back "Unpredictable" she says, her voice steady but now tinged with caution
"That's good. But wild swings will leave you open."
Kaiser grins, sweat dripping down his face "Maybe… but you still have to dodge them"
Their movements quicken. The scythe cuts through the air in irregular patterns—overhead, sweeping low, then spinning unpredictably. Zani's elegant footwork keeps her just out of reach, her sword flashing out to deliver light, stinging blows to his arms and sides whenever she sees an opening
But then, as she steps in to land another counterstrike, Kaiser does something unexpected. Instead of pulling the scythe back for another swing, he lets its momentum carry it behind him and thrusts the blunt end of the shaft forward.
Zani's eyes widen slightly in surprise. She twists her body, but the wooden handle catches her thigh with a solid thump
She steps back, her expression unreadable as she glances down at the faint bruise forming on her leg. For a moment, silence hangs between them
"Did I… actually hit you?" Kaiser asks, his voice tinged with disbelief
Zani's lips curve into a small, approving smile "Yes, you did. Well done, you used the scythe's unique qualities to your advantage. But don't let that success go to your head. You're still far from mastering it"
Kaiser exhales, his shoulders relaxing as he lowers the scythe "I'll take what I can get" he mutters with a tired grin
"Now that this is over, let's move on to some physical training" Zani says, glancing at Kaiser, who is clearly exhausted "Your stamina is far too weak right now" she comments
Kaiser nods in agreement. He carefully places the wooden scythe back in the weapons rack before returning to Zani.
"Let's start by running around the training ground" she suggests.
"Alright, let's do it" he agrees
The two train together until sunset. By then, Kaiser is sprawled on the training ground floor, completely spent. Zani walks over, holding a water canteen, and hands it to him
He sits up, accepts the canteen, and drinks deeply. Once finished, he hands it back to Zani, who also takes a sip
As he watches her drink, a plan for the next day pops into Kaiser's mind
"Hey, Zani" Kaiser calls out
Zani stops drinking and wipes her mouth with her hand. A few drops of water trail down her chin and neck. Seeing this, Kaiser quickly looks away, avoiding eye contact.
"Would you be able to join me and Farah for a walk around the marketplace tomorrow morning?" he asks
"I could" she replies, tilting her head "Why the sudden invitation?"
"Well, I'm planning to hang out with my friend tomorrow, so Farah won't have anyone to go with. I thought I'd invite you so she doesn't feel lonely" Kaiser explains, scratching the back of his head
"So, you don't actually want me to join. You just need someone to keep Farah company" Zani says, pouting slightly
Kaiser finds her expression surprisingly endearing and quickly responds "I'm sorry! But I really do want you to come with us"
"Fine. Considering you're thoughtful enough to care about Farah's enjoyment, I'll let it slide this time" Zani says
"By the way, when did you make this new friend?" she asks
"I only met her this morning" Kaiser replies
"A girl huh?" Zani narrows her eyes at him
"Okay, let's not focus on that. Anyway, we're done here, so let's head inside" Zani says, brushing the subject aside
"Alright, I'll share the details of tomorrow's plan at dinner" Kaiser agrees
The two then return to the house and go to their respective rooms
—
Near Myreni's estate, a man with ember-colored eyes arrives