The sound of splintering wood echoed through the room as Asuka's wooden sword shattered against Kopika's.
"Too much anima. Not enough control. Again," the woman said calmly.
Asuka was on her hands and knees, sweat pouring from her brow. She heaved for air but there never seemed to be enough.
Kopika looked down at the girl, her white porcelain mask concealing all emotions. Asuka hated that look. Even if she wasn't going all out, it had been many hours since they started. Not even Ichigo trained her for this long. She was poorly controlling her anima on purpose, but not even she could fight for this long. Her legs and arms felt very heavy, and her anima reserves were running thin.
"Maybe we should end it here today," Kopika said suddenly, "Take rest and come back tomorrow."
A small fire ignited in the girl once she heard those words. Carefully using her anima she slowly stood up. Kopika eyed her with interest watching what she would do. Asuka trudged through the sand, each step sending fire up her leg. She made it to the extra practice weapons and grabbed one.
Standing back in front of the sister, she got into her ready stance and took a deep breath.
"One more time," was all she mustered.
A small laugh came from under the mask and Kopika also lowered herself.
Both of them stood still for just a moment before Asuka exploded forward with a piercing strike. Kopika swatted it to the side but Asuka used that momentum and made a cutting motion towards her torso but found only air.
The woman shifted back one step and pounced forward thrusting her wooden blade. Asuka met it with her forearm, barely pushing it to the side. But she forgot to bring her sword arm back to protect her stomach letting in a vicious kick.
She crumpled to the ground while gasping for air.
"Never forget your guard," Kopika instructed.
Asuka couldn't muster a response for a few minutes. In that time, questions she had been asking herself about the woman flowed through her mind.
"No matter how much I try to make sense of it, her strength and stamina make no sense. No one should be able to fight for this long and not even have a wrinkle in her clothing," thought Asuka.
"That's not necessarily true," Annie suddenly spoke.
"What do you mean?"
"Most soldiers are able to fight battles for many hours or even days."
"Days? How is that even possible?"
"It takes a very precise level of control of their contra or anima. A level that takes years to practice."
"So, are you saying that Kopika was a soldier?"
Annie took a moment to ponder Asuka's question.
"It makes the most sense. There's no other explanation I can think of. But how could she have gone from that to working for a cult? Not to mention where she's from. Santaraj takes religion very seriously. So, something terrible must have happened for such a dramatic change in profession."
Before Asuka realized, Kopika stood over her.
"I don't think here is an ideal place for a nap," she said.
Asuka opened her eyes wide, startled.
"Oh… uh… yeah. You're probably right."
Asuka managed to get to her feet and dust off her clothes. Looking down, she saw Kopika had something in her hand. Something wrapped in cloth.
"I thought you might be hungry after training. It's not much, but it should fill you enough," Kopika said.
She unwrapped the object but instead of one, there were six cylindrical shaped wraps in her hand. Asuka took a bite into it. Flavor exploded into her mouth with an intense but not overwhelming heat.
"It's a traditional food from my home country. I apologize if they're a bit too spicy."
"On the contrary," Asuka said with a mouth full, "This is amazing."
She swallowed before continuing.
"I'm hurt you've never shared this with me before."
She wasn't really hurt, but Kopika didn't seem to notice her sarcasm.
"Sorry. I just wasn't sure you would have liked it."
Kopika stretched out her hands to give Asuka as she finished the first wrap. Asuka only picked up two of them.
"I meant for you to take all of them."
Asuka looked at the sister with a confused expression as she was already halfway through her second wrap.
"But you also must be hungry too. You've been here with me the whole time, right?"
"Your concern is appreciated but not needed. I assure you, I am fine."
Her stomach seemed to beg to differ as it groaned in protest. Asuka did her best not to laugh at the timing.
"Fine. But I'll only eat two. You may have a fourth."
"Thank you very much," Asuka replied with a smile.
For a second, Kopika stared at Asuka.
"Is something wrong?" The Trinity asked.
The sister did not reply immediately.
"No. Just… remembering."
She walked away from the girl before she could question her further and sat down in the sand next to the practice weapons. Asuka followed her and sat a few steps away from her. She looked over at the woman as she turned her head away and lifted her mask to take a bite out of the wrap. Then she took another and another until the entire wrap was gone.
"You have questions for me," Kopika suddenly said.
Asuka's back straightened at the words, but she quickly relaxed and averted her gaze.
"Was I that obvious?"
"Yes."
They remained silent for a moment before Kopika said something that shocked Asuka.
"You may ask me one question to answer."
She looked towards the girl who almost tragically dropped her wrap.
"Really? Any question?"
"I did not say that. I can still refuse to answer if the one you ask is too personal. But if not, I will answer to best of my ability."
Many questions ran through Asuka's head. But they were all either personal or could bring suspicion to her. Then, Annie spoke up and gave her some advice.
"Instead of asking something specific, ask something broad. Broad questions won't give you away as easily and she might even let something slip by accident."
So, she sat quietly eating her wrap pondering on what she should ask. Then, it hit her and she chastised herself for not asking such an obvious question.
"What was life like in Santaraj?"
In that moment, despite not being able to see her face, Asuka saw her mind wander away to a different time. She felt her anima brighten and warmth cover her body. But then that warmth got hotter and began to blaze into something uncontrollable. Kopika turned away and looked down.
"Beauty and ugliness. It was the most beautiful and most ugly."