Envi beca Freya’s sparring partner. They showcased their swordsmanship to each other—Envi skillfully wielding the [Blackmore Katana Style] while Freya demonstrated her prowess with the [Flamore Swordsmanship].
The clash of their blades echoed throughout the training ground, sparks flying with every impact. Freya’s movents had beco sharper, more refined. Every swing of her sword carried the intensity of soone who had trained tirelessly, determined to prove her strength.
Envi activated [Future Sight], the new skill we had acquired, allowing him to read Freya’s movents with ease. He dodged and countered with precise strikes, his katana slicing through the air with elegance and deadly accuracy. Freya gritted her teeth, her competitive spirit igniting further.
Not willing to be outdone, Freya unleashed [Phoenix Ascension], causing her sword, [Ignis], to radiate intense phoenix flas. The surge of heat drastically increased the power of her fiery attacks, causing the air to waver from the sheer heat. The ground beneath her scorched with every step she took, her presence resembling that of an untad fla.
Envi and I were both taken aback—we hadn’t expected Freya to grow this strong. The intensity in her golden eyes was different from before. She wasn’t just fighting to prove herself; she was fighting to stand by my side.
Even so, Envi and I managed to defeat Freya effortlessly. Envi’s precision and agility overwheld her, and in a final exchange, he disard her with a swift, fluid motion. Freya stumbled back, panting heavily as her sword was knocked away.
Freya admitted that she had planned to challenge when I was exhausted, but in the end, she surrendered. "I thought I could catch you off guard... but even when you’re not at full strength, you’re still this strong..." She sighed in frustration but smiled nonetheless.
She confessed that even after I had fought the Dungeon Boss and was drained, I was still overwhelmingly strong. She hadn’t been able to land a single hit on . Her frustration was evident, but so was her admiration.
Her hands clenched into fists as she looked down at them, her expression a mix of frustration and longing. "I trained so hard... I thought I had gotten stronger, but compared to you, I’m still so far behind." Her voice trembled slightly, filled with both determination and self-doubt.
I opened my mouth to say sothing, but before I could, Envi took over. He stepped forward, his movents slow and deliberate, and without warning, he pulled Freya into his arms. Her eyes widened in shock, her entire body stiffening at the unexpected embrace. I could feel her heartbeat quicken against Envi’s chest.
"You’ve beco strong, Freya." His voice was calm, gentle yet firm. "You are more than worthy to stay with ."
Freya sucked in a sharp breath. Her fingers twitched as if she was debating whether to push him away or lean into his warmth. In the end, she did neither. She just stood there, frozen, her face burning with emotion.
"I... I still need to prove myself," she finally murmured, her voice barely above a whisper. "I need to show that I can stand beside you, that I deserve to be by your side."
Before she could say anything more, Envi silenced her in the most unexpected way.
He kissed her.
Her breath hitched, her entire body jolting as if struck by lightning. Her golden eyes widened in shock, her mind struggling to process what was happening. But then, slowly... ever so slowly... she began to relax. Her trembling fingers found their way to his chest, clutching at the fabric of his clothes as she leaned into the kiss.
At that mont, ti seed to stop. The cool evening breeze rustled the trees around them, the golden hues of the setting sun casting a warm glow over their figures. The distant sounds of the city faded into the background, leaving only the quiet beating of their hearts.
When Envi finally pulled away, he gazed into her dazed eyes and asked, "Is this not enough proof?"
Freya blinked, her breath uneven. She touched her lips with her fingertips, as if trying to confirm that the kiss had really happened. Then, with a shaky voice, she murmured, "This... this feels like a dream."
She looked down, her expression clouded with doubt. "I never thought you... that you would..." She took a deep breath before continuing. "I never believed I was worthy of you. Compared to Serena, Alia, and Lyra... I’m not elegant, I’m not soft. My hands are rough from training, my body is covered in scars... I’m not feminine like them."
Hearing this, Envi’s expression darkened. "Stop, Freya." His voice was uncharacteristically firm, his grip tightening slightly around her shoulders. "You are an amazing woman. Don’t compare yourself to others. You each have your own unique beauty."
Freya’s eyes widened slightly at his words, but he wasn’t done yet.
"I admire your perseverance, your unyielding will, and the way you always give your best. When everyone else loses hope, you are the first to rise and shatter despair. That is who you are, Freya. That is why you are incredible."
Her breath caught in her throat. No one had ever spoken to her like that before. No one had ever seen her in the way that he did. Her heart pounded painfully against her ribs, warmth spreading through her chest like wildfire.
As she opened her mouth to respond, Envi’s body suddenly wavered.
"Envi?" she gasped, reaching out instinctively, but it was too late.
His body gave out, his energy completely drained. He had pushed himself too far—using magic despite his dwindling mana had taken its toll. And just like that, our consciousness switched once more.
When I opened my eyes, I found myself on top of Freya, pinning her to the ground.
The quiet training ground, the golden hues of the evening sky... and then, it hit —my lips were still pressed against hers.
A wave of panic surged through . Damn it, Envi! He had put in yet another troubleso situation!
I froze, my mind going completely blank. I had no experience kissing a girl, let alone being in such a compromising position. My instincts scread at to move, but my body refused to obey.
Just as I was about to pull away, Freya’s arms suddenly wrapped around my neck.
And then, she deepened the kiss.
My entire body tensed. My heart pounded wildly, my face heating up to an unbearable degree. I could feel the warmth of her body against mine, the softness of her lips, the way she held onto as if afraid I’d disappear.
Before I knew it, a nosebleed started trickling down my face.
I never imagined my first kiss would happen like this. Worse yet, it wasn’t even intentional—it was all because of Envi! I barely managed to summon the courage to break the kiss, pulling away gently.
Freya’s face was flushed an adorable shade of red. Her lips, slightly swollen from the kiss, looked incredibly seductive. Beads of sweat clung to her skin, and her golden eyes shimred with sothing I couldn’t quite describe. Joy? Embarrassnt? Desire?
"Naoki-dono..." she whispered breathlessly. "Thank you... Thank you so much. This is the happiest day of my life."
Her words sent a jolt through my chest. I didn’t know how to respond. My instincts scread at to kiss her again, but my rational mind barely managed to hold back.
Instead, I reached out and helped her to her feet.
"Thank you too, Freya," I said after a mont. "Thank you for your feelings. I’m truly happy to hear them. But..." I hesitated, my expression turning serious. "I don’t think I’m in a place where I can return those feelings just yet."
Freya’s expression softened. She listened without interrupting, her golden eyes never leaving mine.
"I don’t want to make you sad, Freya," I admitted. "As an official hero, I might die on the battlefield. I don’t want you, Lyra, Alia, or Serena to suffer because of ..." My voice wavered slightly. Even I wasn’t sure where my heart truly lay.
For a mont, she was silent. Then, to my surprise, she chuckled softly.
"Hahaha... I knew you’d say that, Naoki-dono." Her lips curled into a gentle smile. "You always put others before yourself. You sacrifice so much to protect people. You prioritize everyone’s happiness over your own. I’ve been watching you for a long ti, so I understand."
She took a step closer, placing a hand on my chest. "You know, Naoki-dono... I will always fight by your side. I will always be your companion. And I will always love you. No matter how long it takes, I will wait for you."
Her words pierced straight into my heart. Her smile, so warm and filled with unwavering devotion, made it impossible for to hold back.
I pulled her into a tight embrace. "Thank you, Freya..."
She nodded, her arms wrapping around just as tightly.
After a while, I finally realized we were running late. "It’s almost ti for our eting with the others at Braveheart Kingdom’s graveyard."
With that, Freya and I hurried off to our destination, the warmth of her words lingering in my heart.
When we arrived there I t my friends, they had been waiting for with Freya. But there was sothing surprising, Cain was there, standing in front of Kael’s grave with a sharp gaze directed at .
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