Two days came and went. The group are all training their hardest in the field. All are attacking dummies, targets, and sandbags set up by Kubo to aid in their regiments.

  “I think I’m getting this down a bit now. What do you think, Angel?” Keiko asks. Angel stands beside her, aiding her.

  “You’ve come a long way in such a short amount of time. It’s highly admirable, Keiko.”

  “Yeah, yeah! Watch this. I can finally make a card zoom into a tree with more accuracy!” She flips a card and swipes it at a tree. It narrowly misses off to the side, but the power is definitely increased and closer now.

  “Your experience is showing. That was far closer now.” Angel grins.

  The training grounds are filled with sounds of swooshing, slashing, and battle-hardened combat, each of them learning through personal experience, including the girl without the combat abilities of the others, Takei.

  Takei sets herself down on the ground, her hands pressed against the dirt as she stares up at her target. Another one of her friends. She closes her eyes, singing herself a tune similar to that of a secluded sonnet, and attempts to transfer her abilities through the dirt. She can send it, a power that’s going down into the very earth, but it lacks heavily. It can not go further than five feet in front of her, no matter how hard she tries. Regardless, it’s a start to a new use of her healing, one that doesn’t require direct contact.

  “I do think I’m doing well. That’s good,” she says to herself. “But part of me, it feels lacking…” She makes her way over to Kubo. He is sipping jasmine tea under the shade of trees.

  “Takei, something you need?” he asks.

  “This is strange of me to ask. But. Can we talk, Kubo?” she questions.

  He raises an eyebrow, setting down his tea cup. He grabs the kettle, serves another cup for her, and offers her a seat. She takes it graciously.

  “I never tried this kind of tea before,” she says before drinking. “Wow, it’s wonderful. So calming to the mind.”

  “I’d thought it some help. Your mind seems to be speaking loudly. I do feel I know the reasoning, but I won’t assume it. So please, speak.”

  She takes a moment to stare at her reflection in the tea. “I am only a healer, aren’t I?” she asks solemnly.

  “Only a healer? You say it as if it’s a common thing, but I know what you’re getting at. You’re comparing yourself to everyone else, correct? Everyone else has offensive abilities, one that can be used to turn a fight, and you feel yours is more suited to after one, yes?”

  “I feel I don’t standout,” she answered.

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  “Standout? Never took you for a vain person, Takei.”

  “No, I don’t mean in the sense of vanity. In the sense that I’ll fade into the background and be useless.” She hesitates to continue. “Yes, they all have offensive abilities, abilities to actually fight, yet I myself am unable to find anything like that in my possession. I wish I could explain better, but I feel like that’s not in me or my charm,” she says.

  “I can’t be certain. Remnants have ways of surprising even themselves. I can’t guarantee that you’ll learn to be offensive, but regardless of that, you are vital for everyone’s survival. You have something they don’t have: reliable healing to prevent death. That is a massive ace up our sleeve.”

  “You’re right.” She smiles an empty smile. She knows she can’t find the answer to this, not now, but she will keep seeking. “I’ll do my best to hone the skills I have now.”

  “Guys, guys, did you see what I could do!?” Keiko comes running over, and Angel is close behind. “I’ve gotten so much better at using my Remnant, all thanks to Angel!” her words race out.

  “No, no, please, that’s all you,” she says.

  “No, you’re really amazing too! I’m so surprised you’re able to reach so well despite not having a Remnant yourself!” Keiko exclaims.

  “Well, I don’t find it a matter of having your gift. Instead, I see it as a state of mind,” she says eagerly. The revelation comes to Keiko, Angel seems to be a well-educated girl and perhaps got better schooling than the majority of the group. The way she holds herself up is almost like a monarch, a princess.

  “Are you a princess!? You’re so smart, and you hold yourself like an important person, knowing so much!” Her eyes lit up like the sun above.

  “Kind of you to say, but no. Unfortunately, I am not of royal blood. Perhaps I merely find the aesthetic of being so well-put together to be intriguing.” A soft air escapes her lips. Even her laugh has a helm of grace.

  “You’re right. If I hadn’t known that, I would have taken you for the head of a beauty estate and castle.” Takei lets out a genuine smile.

  The skies above have been cloudy, and it’s unlikely to rain again, which means they can train for longer. The day is settling down into the sunset, laying itself from the horizon. Everyone has now taken their seat at a wooden table and chairs Kubo set up. It gives the same appearance as an old tavern setup, a medieval type, and it isn’t lost on any of them.

  “Oi, you got us living like peasants after a long day in the crop fields with this setup, don’t you, Kubo?” Usagi rests her cheek in her prompted hand.

  “I can say this to be historically accurate besides the fact it’s outside. It isn’t common for them to be outside for multiple reasons,” Ishimoto adds.

  “Would one of those be that it’s cold out here, like freezing?” Shoji shields himself from the air, his clothes covered in water.

  “Wait a minute, what the hell? Why are you all covered in water, Shoji!?’ Okazaki asks.

  “Why aren’t you all? We’re going against… against a guy of water, so why aren’t any of you training in the in the lake!?” he says, shaking.

  “You know, just because he’s made of water doesn’t mean you have to drench your clothes.” Kubo sighs. “If you all are cold, I also set up a pile of wood over there and made a fire pit. We’ll have to sit on th—” Everyone immediately heads over, Okazaki and Usagi being the ones to throw logs in and start the fire. “Ground…” he finishes.

  “Yeah, this is more like it…. Nice and cozy, I can feel the icy touch of water fading away from my body.” Shoji leans close to the fire.

  “Ah, after all that time trying to learn to use my cards today, it’s nice to just kick back and relax in something warm. I only wish I had one of my plushies!” Keiko hypes.

  “An army of them,” Takei says. She hugs her knees, enjoying the silky wind, fresher from the added warmth.

  Angel is sitting between her two childhood friends. The last time they were all this close was years ago now. There is a spark between them, bringing back childhood memories.