The sky was a clear sapphire blue, painted with streaks of drifting clouds that resembled brushstrokes across a tranquil canvas. The cries of mountain hawks echoed faintly in the distance as Alex and Saeko walked along the narrow trail winding through the forest behind the mountain. Shafts of sunlight filtered through the leaves, scattering golden light upon the moss-covered ground.
They had spent hours sparring earlier that day, their blades clashing like lightning and thunder—metal ringing, dust swirling, the air trembling with power. Now, silence replaced the storm.
Alex walked ahead, his cloak swaying lightly, the faint sound of his boots pressing into the grass blending with the whisper of wind. Saeko followed a few steps behind, her breathing calm yet faintly uneven from the strain of their earlier battle.
"You've gotten stronger," Alex said suddenly, his voice steady and warm.
Saeko smiled faintly. "Not strong enough to make you take me seriously."
