The soft hum of Kira's breath was the only sound in the stillness of her training chamber. Sweat dripped from her brow as she stood in the center of the room, her muscles humming with the tension of the final stretches of her grueling training. For weeks, she had pushed herself beyond her limits, sharpening her reflexes, honing her senses, and refining the unmatched speed she had gained from her evolution. Now, at last, her training was complete.
With a deep exhale, Kira straightened, her eyes glowing faintly with the sharpened perception that now allowed her to see and sense everything around her. She could feel the shift of the wind, the movement of the earth, and even the subtle vibrations of life in the distance. The world was clearer to her now, every detail magnified and under her control.
She rolled her shoulders, feeling the fluidity of her movements. Her training had been a success, but now it was time to ensure her rangers were ready. Tel-Nu wouldn't just be facing the Core Seven—he would face an entire army of elite warriors under her command.
Without hesitation, Kira made her way out of the training facility and into the third ring, where her rangers were stationed. As she approached the training grounds, the familiar sounds of battle drills and the twang of arrows filled the air. Her rangers, the finest marksmen and scouts in all of Corintopia, were hard at work preparing for the battles to come.
She stepped onto the field, her sharp eyes scanning the area for any sign of Varik, her head trainer. Kira spotted him near the center of the training grounds, his rough voice barking orders to a group of rangers as they practiced precision shots with their bows. Varik, a seasoned ranger himself, was a man of few words but endless skill. Kira trusted him with the training of her troops, and his expertise had made her rangers an unmatched force.
As Kira approached, Varik's attention shifted to her, and he gave a respectful nod. "Lady Kira," he greeted her, his tone formal but familiar. "You're finished with your training?"
Kira nodded. "Yes. Now it's time to see how the rangers are progressing. How are things here?"
Varik stepped aside, giving Kira a clear view of the field. "They're ready," he said simply. "We've been working on their accuracy, speed, and survival skills. You know as well as I do, they'll need more than just their arrows when Tel-Nu comes. They'll need to be fast, precise, and ready for anything."
Kira watched as the rangers moved through their drills, their arrows hitting the targets with deadly precision. Each movement was fluid, every action calculated and efficient. Varik had done well. Her rangers looked stronger, faster, and more prepared than ever before.
"They look good," Kira remarked, her voice carrying a note of approval. "But they need to be better. Tel-Nu isn't just a god-tier threat; he's unlike anything they've ever faced. We need to push them harder, faster, and get them ready for the worst."
Varik nodded in agreement. "Understood. I'll increase the difficulty of the drills and add more combat scenarios. The rangers will be ready, I promise you that."
Kira's gaze was hard, her mind already shifting toward the next phase of preparation. "Make sure they are. I don't want any hesitation when the time comes. Speed, precision, and adaptability—that's what's going to keep them alive."
She glanced back at the rangers, her senses tuned to their every movement. They had improved, but she wouldn't rest until they were unstoppable.
"I'll be overseeing their training from now on," Kira added, her voice firm. "We don't have much time left."
Varik gave a curt nod. "I'll inform the rangers, Lady Kira."
After ensuring her rangers were progressing as expected, Kira made her way back to her lodge, the hub of all operations in the third ring. Her lodge was modest compared to some of the others within the Core Seven, but it was functional, efficient—just like her. As she walked through the hallways, her sharp eyes caught every detail, every small shift, ensuring everything was as it should be.
Entering the main chamber, Kira was greeted by her aides, who had already gathered around the large central table. Stacks of reports lay in neat piles, waiting for her review. The past month had been a whirlwind of training for Kira, and while she had kept herself informed, she needed to fully catch up on the day-to-day operations.
Her lead aide, Talia, stepped forward, a sharp, no-nonsense woman who had managed the district in Kira's absence. Talia's efficiency was legendary, and Kira trusted her implicitly to handle the ring's logistics.
"Lady Kira," Talia greeted, bowing her head slightly. "We've compiled the reports from the last month. Overall, things have been running smoothly, but there are a few areas that need your attention."
Kira nodded, her gaze scanning the table. "Let's go over everything. Start with the trade reports. How's the flow of goods and resources in the ring?"
Talia gestured to the top stack of papers. "The merchants have been moving steadily through the ring, and we've seen a slight increase in both exports and imports. We've had no major disruptions, but we're seeing more requests for additional security on the trade routes. There have been a few rumors about rogue groups trying to take advantage of the rising tensions."
Kira's brow furrowed slightly as she flipped through the trade reports. "We need to make sure those routes stay secure. Send more scouts to the outlying areas. We can't afford any interruptions with the supply lines."
Talia made a quick note. "Understood. I'll have the scouts reassigned by the end of the day."
Next, Kira looked at the stack of reports related to the defense operations. "What about our defenses?"
"We've been maintaining a steady rotation of patrols along the outer perimeter," Talia said, her tone calm but focused. "There have been no breaches, but we've doubled the number of guards at key points, just in case. The rangers are prepared to respond to any threats immediately."
"Good," Kira replied, flipping through the defense reports. "Keep the patrols consistent, but make sure the rangers are well-rested between shifts. I don't want anyone getting sloppy."
Talia nodded, noting down Kira's instructions. "I'll make the adjustments."
Kira paused for a moment, her eyes narrowing slightly as she considered the larger picture. "What about Tel-Nu? Any signs of movement or reports from the surrounding areas?"
Talia's expression grew more serious. "Nothing concrete, but there's been an increase in strange activity near the outer reaches. We've had scouts reporting odd occurrences—shadows moving where they shouldn't be, small groups disappearing for days at a time and returning without memory of what happened. It's not enough to raise an alarm, but it's concerning."
Kira's jaw tightened. "It's him. Tel-Nu's influence is spreading. We need to be prepared. Double the patrols near those areas and send more scouts to investigate. I don't want any surprises."
"Of course, Lady Kira," Talia replied, her pen scratching across the paper as she wrote down Kira's orders.
Kira leaned back slightly, her mind already racing ahead to what was coming. The Core Seven had evolved, and soon they would train together, but Tel-Nu's threat loomed larger by the day. There was no room for error, no time to be unprepared.
After reviewing the last of the reports, Kira stood, her gaze hard. "We're entering the final stages of preparation. Make sure everything is in place. I'll be overseeing the rangers personally for the next few days, but I want a full update on any new developments as they happen."
Talia nodded, gathering the reports. "I'll ensure everything is in order."
Kira gave one last look around the room, her senses attuned to every movement, every sound. "Good. Let's be ready."
After ensuring everything in the third ring was in order and giving her final instructions to her aides, Kira felt the weight of exhaustion settle over her. The long weeks of training and constant vigilance had taken their toll, and though her body had evolved beyond the limits of an ordinary human, she still needed rest.
Stepping away from the meeting chamber, Kira made her way to her private quarters within the lodge. The walk was quiet, the evening casting a serene glow over the surroundings, but her sharp senses remained alert to the faintest sounds around her. Her mind, always calculating and focused, finally began to slow as she approached her room.
As she entered, she was greeted by the sight of a steaming bath prepared for her—exactly what she needed after the grueling training sessions and the weight of responsibility that came with overseeing the rangers. Without hesitation, Kira removed her gear and stepped into the hot water, the warmth enveloping her sore muscles.
The bath was soothing, allowing her a rare moment of peace. She leaned back, closing her eyes as the steam rose around her, and for a brief moment, she let herself relax completely. The worries of the day, the pressures of command, and even the looming threat of Tel-Nu seemed distant, if only for a little while.
Once the bath had eased the tension in her body, Kira dressed in a simple robe and returned to her room, where a hot meal had been laid out for her. The smell of roasted meat and fresh bread filled the air, and she sat down at the small table, savoring the moment of stillness.
For the first time in weeks, Kira allowed herself to relax. She ate slowly, enjoying the warmth of the food and the quiet solitude of her room. Tomorrow would bring more challenges, more preparations for the war that was fast approaching, but for tonight, she allowed herself a brief respite.
As she finished her meal, Kira stood by the window, looking out over the third ring. The city below was calm, the people unaware of the storm brewing on the horizon. Her sharp eyes scanned the streets, always vigilant, but her mind was quieter now, her body more at ease.
Tomorrow, the preparations would continue. But for now, Kira would take this moment of peace.