Sonya watched as the days passed. She kept an eye on them, her beloved heroes. She watched them ugh, she watched them fight, she watched them struggle, she watched them succeed, and she watched them fail. Her many eyes throughout the camp observed everything at every moment, it was a strain, but it was worth it. There were moments where she smiled, moments where she wept, and moments where she had to send someoo step in on a fight. Big personalities meant flict, thats just how it was. In the end, it was all about inspiring that sense of unity among them.

  As the days turned into weeks and her week-long trip to Europe grew ever closer, she kept a diligent eye on Lillian Landrey. Her merged iment, the sans, and the courses she had practically foisted on the girl, were all part of the pn. Even so, it all depended on Lillian stepping up and fag the mountain that had been pced down before her. There were dozens at the camp that would have stumbled and fell oh, there were many who would have colpsed to their knees and given up.

  Lillian thrived.

  She leaned on the baly and looked down with her resting on her palm, watg the practice field. Lillian jumped bato a handspring and threw herself into the air, a tuft of fme bursting from her palm that sent her ara few feet into the air. It wasn’t much, but the small projes were getting there. She turned in the air and drew her sword, fmes flickered and tried again to cat its surface as her free hand reached up to press against the ft of the bde. Beh her, the spunky one, Alex, darted forward with his friend Greg behind him.

  Greg spped the ground and shouted something, the dirt beh Alex’ feet began to lift off the ground as the young man kicked off the ground, his body stretg like one of those odd dolls. He threw his fist forward and it expanded, scale-like patterns f on his skin. He rocketed towards her, fist and sword cshed and Lillian was sent tumbling backwards. She nded and nearly lost her bearings when her feet didn’t follow the rules of gravity quite right, bounding a bit. She hurried to throw her on to the right and block again, Alex was already moving, swinging his leg and stretg it out like a club to crash against her.

  Sonya leaned forward a bit, a st of perfume grag her nose as Lillian smmed her feet down into the dirt with all her might and held fast against the powerful blow. She didn’t fall, but a whistle blew.

  “Two sequential hits! Match!” One of the new instructors that had arrived over the past few days shouted, holding his hand in the air. He was a burly guy wearing a tank top and dog tags. His hair was messy and long. The Hero, Axel, stepped forward and called the three of them over and began speaking in a low voice, giving them pointers.

  “You look so proud,” Car said, resting on the railio her and pressing her shoulder against Sonya.

  “Do I?” Sonya chuckled, “Maybe a little.”

  Off to the side, Bck Lotus was overseeing a match between John and the rocket-boy, Val. She frowned, what did he pick for his ame? Right, it yrolysis. Man after my ow, She thought with amusement as John swayed back at an impossible angle, his legs still pnted on the ground as his body tilted back to nearly twenty degrees. trated fmes ripped out from Pyrolysis’ heel, his foot ripping through the air where John’s torso had been. The blow would have ripped a normal person in half. He’s ruthless, if only he wasn’t so unfortable about using his powers to the fullest. He’d make a superb striker in a dungeon.

  Sonya g Bck Lotus and their eyes met. She looked away with a huff before looking down at her hands. Have I punished her enough yet? She thought miserably as a ha on her bad rubbed it.

  “You okay?” Car asked.

  “I’m trying to be,” Sonya said with a sigh, she gnced up at the pretty faext to her and down at the colr around her neck, “Car, about what happe the beginning of the camp-”

  Car snorted and shook her head, “You raised your voice a little a on a bit of a rant,” She ughed, “Is that what’s been b you?”

  “I’ve do a couple times,” Sonya said and hung her head.

  “But you’ve never id your hands on me, have you? Never. I talked you down, you were fine. You were upset, you know people are allowed to be upset, right? You are a human being as much as you pretend not to be,” Car said softly and gave her a squeeze. Sonya melted a bit, a small smile pying on her lips.

  “We still probably shouldn’t have messed around that night,” Sonya muttered.

  “I had fun,” Car ughed and pulled away, “e on,” Sonya turned and looked up at the woman whose shoulders helped her get through the past year. They were still straight even as her own sagged a little. Car raised her hand to the jewel at her throat, “I wouldn’t be wearing this if I felt like you were usio repeone else. You told me about Mikay. Our retionship is different. I’m not stupid,” She said and gowards the field. “You still love her too.”

  She said those st words with a whisper, barely audible, knowing that the woman might be listening in. Sonya let out a sigh and reached up to run her fihrough her hair, she didn’t speak, but she did nod.

  Car huffed with a ugh, “Was that so hard?” She said and turned away to start walking towards the doing baside, “Marta was looking for you, she’s got everything packed for Europe.”

  Sonya brightened and moved to catch up, “I’m so looking forward to it,” She said with a bit more energy, gd for the ge of topic.

  “Even though I won’t be there?” Car gave her a py-accusatory look.

  Sonya raised her hand to her heart, faux offense on her face, “Car!”

  Car burst into ughter, “Oh just go have fun you lech,” She teased, “Maybe get it out of your system so you aren’t teasing the poor aspirants. So far no pints but good grief. Yoing to be the cause of a whole lot of tension while you’re away.”

  Sonya scratched her nose, “Eh, maybe I have been over doing it a little.”

  “You think?” Car said and opehe door for her, a small bow, “For you.”

  Sonya tilted her head up with a smug grin, “Thank you dear.”

  “Anything for you.”

  –

  Lillian walked into the on area with a towel over her head and threw herself into the couch with a groan. She let her head fall bad the towel fell over her face. “Alex, you hit like a truck,” She pined, reag up to rub a little bit of heat into her arms. Even after the enter they were still sore despite the best efforts of her ability.

  Alex hopped into the chair o her with a smug grin, “Gotta get good!” He said, popping some boneless wings into his mouth. It opened a bit wider than should probably be natural to fit it all as he chewed.

  She looked up at him, “How are you hungry?”

  “I’m always hungry,” He mumbled between chews, “es with the territory.”

  “Maybe once we do some monster fighting he’ll finally be full,” Greg said as he walked over and sat down on the couext to Lillian.

  Alex tilted his head a bit thoughtfully and licked some sauce off his lips, “hought about it, I wonder what moastes like.”

  Lillian wrinkled her nose, “Whatever Miss ovna said to you, I wish she hadn’t, gross man,” She said.

  “It was just a pep talk,” Alex mumbled, popping another pie, “No big deal.”

  “Sure, sure,” Lillian grumbled.

  Val and John joihem shortly afterward. Val looked petunt but determined. He colpsed into his seat with a grunt and crossed his arms. There were tears in his sweater at the elbows and his shoes were burned slightly. He covered the spots on his shirt with his hands as he gred daggers at John. John just sat down with his usual stack of sandwiches and started eating. “Won.”

  “Fu’” Val grunted and looked away, “How do you move like that?”

  “Alex would say: Get good.” John mumbled.

  Val clicked his tongue and rolled his eyes, “At least Bck Lotus had some good advice,” He mumbled, “Still not okay with going shirtless until they make me something to wear.”

  “Are they going to?” Lillian asked.

  Val flushed and scratched his nose, “I had a pretty good interview with ASTA st night.”

  They all sat up at ond looked at him, “Really?” Alex asked.

  “Not bad, man!” Greg cpped him on the shoulder, “gratutions!”

  Val waved his hand, “Ehh, quit it, you’re embarrassing me,” He said hastily before looking around, “Where’s Ollie and Snow?”

  “Ollie is with Madame Rouge,” Lillian said, “She’s been practically fawning over him since she showed up from Chicago.”

  “Lucky bastard,” Greg bit out.

  “Snow’s still in the b,” Alex added, “Hasn’t e out for three days. She’s missed a lot of her csses but I don’t bme her. Doctor Carter showing up was a huge deal.”

  They all nodded before sending sneaky gnces in Lillian’s dire. She looked at them all and frowned, “What?”

  “You okay?” Alex asked with a grin.

  “ould I not be okay?” She asked nervously, knowing where this was going but really not wanting to have the versation. The others started grinning at one another only for an ao e from above and save her.

  “Good afternoon!” Sonya ovna chirped from behind Alex, suddenly hanging over him with a gri Lillian’s way. She wi Lillian before looking down at the rest who all jumped and stared up at her wide eyed. “Are we having fun?”

  “Normal versation,” John crified.

  “Mhm, sure,” Sonya teased and stood up straight, her hands behind her back, “Wao remind you all that I’ll be away for a week. I’m leaving in a few hours. So you should keep up on your basid to hand and review the lessons I gave you, uood?”

  They all nodded, “Yes ma’am!”

  She turowards Val, “Also, Amht some supplies with him and I’ve asked him to get started on some chest armor for you. That’s about all he dht now though, is that alright?”

  Val blinked, “I holy wasn’t expeg anything until much ter,” He said, actually smiling for ohank you.”

  She brandished her brightest smile, “I hope it helps!”

  Just as Sonya turo go talk to the other aspirants several of them rushed up and practically crowded her. “Miss ovna!” One said, “We have a request! Please? Before you leave?”

  Lillian watched as Sonya’s face turned frht fusion to a frown.

  –

  The forty-eight aspirants, two had already dipped out g Bck Lotus’ grueling ditioning training, all gathered within the dojo. They sat along the walls, pulling back as far as they could while still close enough to have a good view. Lillian sat down with her friends, gng at Snoas looking more than a little frustrated about being dragged out of the b and Doctor Carter’s assistahe girl kept her eyes on the middle of the room, though, as four of the instructors stood talking amongst themselves for a moment. One was the burly Axel, who was nodding along with something Sonya had to say before walking over to stand at one side of the room.

  The other new instruadame Rouge, was wearing somethiween robes and a gown. She had her hair done up in an audacious roll and her fingers ended iallic carently she used them to py string instruments. Madame Rouge ined her head to both Sonya and Bck Lotus who stood staring at one another.

  “An exhibition match,” Lilliahed.

  “I’m very curious about the oute,” Ollie said o her. She gnced his way, his clothing had ged signifitly from when she’d first met him. He was wearing a dress shirt with an open colr and fitted scks. Madame Rouge was extremely particur and wouldn’t even tolerate his presence if he wasn’t dressed up, but she’d practically taken him on as a protege so he’d been forced to shake things up.

  “I dunno, I’m a little worried for some reason,” Lillian said.

  “They have a very strong karmic thread between them, a deep bond,” Ollie whispered, “It goes both ways but it's also tense, I saw it on act a few days ago.”

  Lillian swallowed, That’s why I’m worried, I see it too.

  Sonya and Bck Lotus squared up against one another, standing face to faeither of them spoke as Sonya adjusted her gloves and tugged o the suspenders holding up her pants. Her hair had been pulled bato a ponytail. She was focused. Bck Lotus was in her full hero gear, including her armor. She didn’t have a practice sword out, nor did she have one of the simple metal ones. She was using her personal on. Sonya drew her k from behind her waist and spun it between her fingers, sliding bato her usual stance.

  “No abilities will be used! Two hits for the match! Begin!” Axel barked.

  Bck Lotus moved first, darting forward and bringing her on down at an angle. Sonya moved and brought her bde up and to the right, letting Bck Lotus’ sword slide against it. Bck Lotus followed through and brought her on back with a swipe that exploded into a rapid bination of strikes. Three quigs and a scraping sound followed as Sonya blocked them and slipped back a few feet before stepping to the right and closing her eyes. Bck Lotus’ sword went dht where she was standing and Sonya snapped her hand out, grabbing her oppo by the wrist. She pivoted and turned, kig out with that miraculous flexibility to strike Bck Lotus in the side of the head.

  Bck Lotus dipped low, dodging the kick before turning her on in her hand, twisting it to swing with just her wrist at Sonya’s waist. Sonya g the ining blow and raised her eyebrows a little, a small, very small, smile rose on her lips. She released Bck Lotus’ hand and pirouetted towards her on tip-toe, one hand swept up over her head like a ballerina, the ohat had been holding her knife. Lillian blinked, When did she ge hands? The knife came up in a fsh towards Bck Lotus’ and the woman took a step back, blog once as Sonya dove into a series of strikes, aiming for vital points.

  Are they trying to kill one another? Lillian balked.

  A series of gs rang out as Bck Lotus moved onto the backfoot, only for Sonya to use her momentum dip and slide, darting underh a fierce swing from Bck Lotus and ing up to swipe at her shoulder. Bck Lotus winced as the bde cut and she turned, snapping out a kick that caught Sonya in the waist a her back, stumbling.

  “O each!” Madame Rogue shouted. “ for the match!”

  The gathered aspirants were whispering to one aransfixed. “She’s been going easy on us,” Alex murmured, staring at Sonya.

  “No kidding,” Greg grunted.

  “I want to learn,” John murmured.

  Sonya was smiling, fully smiling, she grinned as she darted towards Bck Lotus and their exge grew even more ferocious. Sonya ged hands with her kh quick ss that were almost too fast to see. Lillian barely followed her as she danced, dipped, flipped and spun. Bck Lotus tered with martial prowess, blog, dug, pivoting and striking where Sonya appeared. They moved around one another like they’d seen each ht their entire lives. Lillia like she could watch this for forever.

  Then it came, Sonya slipped up. She struck low to draw Bck Lotus’ guard with a feint but the warrior didn’t fall for it. She swung her sword up and i moment, hesitated, not pleting the strike that was aimed for Sonya’s neck. Even a nick would have fihe match, but she still faltered. Sonya’s smile fell to a scowl and she bore her teeth, snapping her head to the right and driving forward. Her foot hooked behind Bck Lotus’ and pushed her to the ground. She was on top of the world’s number oh her knife poi her throat.

  Words were exged that Lillian couldn’t hear and Sonya got to her feet in a huff.

  “Match to Sonya ovna!” Axel shouted as Sonya stood, wiping her and breathing hard. She gnced down at Bck Lotus aated a moment before reag down to help her to her feet. Everyo in sileheir mouths hanging open. A few mutters spread through the crowd.

  “Is that even possible?” One kid asked.

  “Did she hold back?” Alex asked, “That’s the number one.”

  “Just a bit, at the end,” John muttered, “But still hard throughout.”

  “Holy shit,” Greg breathed.

  “God damn,” Val said, “ someohat fast without powers?”

  “Yes,” John said as the whispers tinued, no one moved as Sonya turo look at everyone, her head held high.

  “I hope this is a lesson for you all!” Sonya shouted, “Never uimate an oppo, no matter what. Anyone could be a deadly threat when you are w as a hero. Be mindful!” She said, her face flushed before f a smile on her face. “It’s time for me to go now,” She said, “Be good while I’m gone, and do well.”

  She turned away and started walking, stepping out of the dojo.

  Lillian watched her back, “What did I just watch?”

  –

  hua stood in the ter of the dojo, breathing hard, she watched Sonya’s bad felt her heart sink. She closed her eyes a Sonya’s words sink in. And that, my dear, is why I turn you away.

  She ched her fists and slid her sword bato her scabbard, her mind going back to that terrible day. The day she made the worst mistake of her life. I know.