I arrived at the hill with the sun already high in the sky.
The wind was constant up there. The grass moved in gentle waves, and the city in the distance seemed far enough to not exist.
Scarlet was already waiting for me.
This time, she wasn't relaxed like the previous morning. Firm stance. Feet planted firmly on the ground. Alert gaze.
No conversation.
No comments.
Just a slight nod of the head.
I drew my sword.
She did the same.
The silence before the first move was heavier than any sound.
I advanced.
Scarlet responded instantly.
The clash of blades was stronger than the day before. The impact shot up my arm like a clear warning that this would not be a light training session.
She spun her body quickly and tried to strike under my guard. I stepped back and blocked at the exact moment.
She gave no space.
Kept pressing.
Fast, precise attacks, without wasted movement.
I felt the difference.
Scarlet wasn't testing me.
She was fighting.
I increased the pace.
I started responding not just defensively, but by creating openings. Short, direct, controlled movements.
She tried to force me into a more uneven area of the hill, where loose stones could disrupt footing.
I allowed it.
Used the terrain for support, not as an obstacle.
The fight became more intense.
The sound of metal echoed openly in the air.
Firm steps on the grass.
Controlled breaths.
Scarlet tried something different. A fake side strike, followed by a direct thrust to my center.
I already knew that pattern.
I twisted my body before the strike finished and dodged by a few centimeters. Entered her guard and tried to close the distance.
She stepped back at the exact moment.
Smiled lightly.
"You've improved a lot."
I didn't respond.
Kept advancing.
Scarlet accelerated even more.
The strikes became hard to follow with sight alone. It was reading intention. Observing the body. Anticipation.
She tried to pressure me with strength.
I didn't engage in the contest.
Dodged.
Waited.
Observed.
When she raised her blade too high for a vertical strike, I took advantage of the smallest opening and hit the side of her sword, deflecting the attack's axis.
The blade passed by my side.
I was already inside her guard.
Placed the tip of my sword against her chest.
We stopped.
The wind blew between us.
Scarlet looked at the blade, then at me.
Slowly moved her sword away from my chest.
"Again."
We restarted.
This time, she came more aggressive.
Faster movements, less predictable.
She alternated height, direction, and rhythm with every strike.
I felt fatigue starting to appear in my legs, but maintained my stance.
No rush.
No desperation.
Only focus.
Scarlet tried to force me into my old mistake of responding too quickly.
I waited for the right moment.
When she spun her body for a strong side cut, I didn't block.
I stepped back half a pace and let the strike pass through the empty air.
Her imbalance was minimal.
Sufficient.
I advanced.
The tip of my sword stopped at her neck.
This time, it wasn't by slow approach.
It was by complete reading of the movement.
We stood still.
Scarlet breathed harder.
I did too.
She lowered her sword first.
And laughed.
A short, satisfied laugh.
"Now yes."
I sheathed my sword.
She did the same.
We stayed silent for a few seconds, feeling only the wind and our own fatigue.
Scarlet walked to a stone and sat.
"Two months ago, I would have knocked you down in less than a minute."
"I know."
"Today, if this were a real fight, I would have lost."
I said nothing.
She looked at me attentively.
"You no longer depend on your sword."
I frowned.
"What do you mean?"
"Before, you fought trusting that your weapon would compensate for your mistakes. Now, your weapon only follows your decisions."
I sat on the stone in front.
Sweat ran lightly down my face. My arm still tingled from the constant impact of the blows.
Scarlet continued.
"You've learned to fight with your head before your body."
Silence settled again.
The city in the distance seemed small from up here.
"I have nothing more to teach you," she said.
That sentence lingered in the air for a few seconds.
I simply nodded.
She stood up.
"That doesn't mean you've reached your limit. It means your growth now depends only on you."
We started descending the hill together, walking slowly.
No rush.
Not much talking.
Halfway down, Scarlet broke the silence.
"Your companions evolved as much as you did."
"I noticed."
"The demi-dragon sorceress was impressed."
That made me smile slightly.
"So it was worth it."
"It was."
When we reached the foot of the hill, she stopped.
"This is where I say goodbye as your mentor."
"And as a friend?"
She smiled.
"That doesn't change."
We stood still for a few seconds.
No formality.
No ceremony.
Just understanding.
Scarlet went down a side street.
I stayed watching until she disappeared.
Then I started walking back to the mansion.
The body was tired.
But the mind was light.
I no longer felt that constant need to keep proving I was strong.
I simply knew.
And that was different from anything I had ever felt before.
When the mansion appeared at the end of the street, I realized the cycle had truly closed.
The training was over.
The fight was over.
The preparation was over.
Now, it was only a matter of living the next days.
Until something new appeared on the horizon.