, Chapter 13: Why do I fight?

  A dry breeze caressed the sand while the relentless sun bathed the desert in a golden glow. Suddenly, a metallic rumble cut the silence: the sound of one sword colliding with another, vibrant and powerful.

  Alesha: "Come on, Elizabeth! A little more! You almost have it!"

  On the other side, Elizabeth, panting, maintained her posture. His sword vibrated from the constant blockages, his feet slid the sand. He struggled with everything he had. But then...

  THWACK!

  A shadow appeared from behind. Trisha! With millimeter precision, he hit Elizabeth in the ribs with a training spear. Elizabeth fell to her knees, moaning.

  Elizabeth: "That wasn't fair...!"

  Trisha and Alesha (in unison): "In battle, nothing is fair."

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  Without giving a break, Mimi threw herself from the side with a rotating kick that Elizabeth barely managed to dodge. For minutes, the four of them trained as if their lives depended on it, between sand, sweat and screams of effort. Finally, when Elizabeth fell to the ground, exhausted, Mimi approached and offered her hand.

  Mimi: "You did well... but it's still not enough."

  Alesha: "You're missing something, Elizabeth."

  Trisha: "You're good... but there's a fire that you still don't light."

  Elizabeth (panting): "A fire...?"

  Mimi: "Think about this... you're not fighting just for someone. You're protecting millions.”

  Trisha: "Sometimes you have to imagine that you have someone important behind you. Who would you protect without hesitation?"

  Mimi (serious): "What if they were your parents?"

  The atmosphere changed. Elizabeth lowered her head. His voice became barely a whisper.

  Elizabeth: "I couldn't protect my parents..."

  Silence.

  The maids looked at each other, uncomfortable. Mimi wanted to apologize, but Elizabeth raised her hand, still on the floor.

  Elizabeth: "It's okay. You didn't know. You couldn't know.”

  Trisha: "...If it's not a bother... how did they die?"

  Elizabeth looked up... and her eyes, for the first time that day, showed no tiredness, but determination. Something in her lit up. The fire they still didn't know was burning.

  End of Chapter 13.