Chapter 249: Sparks of Progress
On the third day of the hero training, I decided to change things up a little. Instead of drills or lectures, we were going to spar.
Serena, Cain, Theresia, and Freya would face off against me in short one-on-one matches—with their familiars summoned. To even the odds, I summoned Runa to fight alongside me.
The first to step forward was Theresia.
She called out to her familiar, Byakko, but it was still incomplete. Only the lower half of its body had fully materialized in three dimensions. The upper half... remained flat—two-dimensional, like a drawing floating in space.
I chuckled a little at the sight but quickly offered her some encouragement.
Theresia looked like she was on the verge of tears, but she clenched her fists and drew both of her daggers without hesitation.
I hadn’t expected her to still want to spar.
"Take this! [Stormheim Dagger Skill: Ten Lightning Stab]!"
She lunged at me with surprising speed. Her lightning-infused magic made her movements wild—agile, but unpredictable.
But before her blades could reach me, Runa stepped in and blocked her with a swift swipe of her claw.
Theresia faltered, her eyes filling with frustration as she stared at Runa—my familiar—protecting me so easily. She looked like she might cry again.
"This isn’t fair! Help me, Byakko!"