Morning light spilled across the hills, warm and clear after five long days of travel.
The great rock tortoise lumbered forward, its shell scraping against low stones as it wound its way around the uneven ridges. Each step was steady, deliberate — the ancient creature's slow crawl carrying them a little closer to their destination.
Behind the tortoise's shell, in the open courtyard space they'd built on its back, a certain rabbit-eared girl was sweating through another brutal morning.
"One, two, one—come on, thirty more! Don't stop now!"
Luciel stood beside her, his voice sharp but encouraging, eyes narrowed with the seriousness of a drill instructor.
"O-Okay!" Mino gasped, pushing herself up with trembling arms.
Sweat poured down her face, dripping onto the wooden deck below and pooling beneath her chin. Her arms shook violently, but she gritted her teeth and lowered herself again, struggling through another push-up.
They'd kept this routine up for five days straight, and each morning, Luciel raised the number a little higher.
From the plantation nearby, Elara emerged quietly. Her silvery hair shimmered faintly in the sunlight, and her eyes carried the calm of someone who'd just finished tending to her "Angel Wings."
She walked over and leaned close to Luciel, her soft voice brushing against his ear. "She's been training all morning. Don't you think she should rest a little?"
Elara had developed the habit of checking the plantation several times a day — either to admire the glowing Angel Wings or to simply sit beneath the tea tree and lose herself in thought.
Luciel didn't take his eyes off Mino. "She can rest once she finishes thirty." His tone was firm, but not unkind.
As a former special soldier, Luciel knew the limits of the human body — and how to push just to the edge of them. Mino still had strength left; she just didn't know it yet.
Elara sighed softly. "You really think this kind of training helps?"
It wasn't the first time she'd asked. Compared to the combat drills she remembered from her tribe, Luciel's training looked almost… gentle.
"Yes," Luciel replied, his voice calm as always. "I'm helping her build a foundation."
He'd noticed certain details — the way Elara unconsciously used perfect, measured movements when walking or even stretching. The way she sometimes cried out certain commands in her sleep. All of it told him she had endured a childhood shaped by something harsh — perhaps too harsh.
He didn't want that for Mino.
"There's time," he added quietly. "No need to rush."
Elara blinked, then gave a faint, guilty smile. "You're right… sorry. I've been too anxious lately."
Luciel tilted his head. "Speaking of anxious — did the Angel Wings finally condense a drop of Angel's Tears?"
Her face brightened instantly. "Yes! I still can't believe it — only ten days, and it produced a full drop. It's incredible!"
Her excitement bubbled over as she spoke. She'd run countless tests and calculations, but even so, the result defied expectation. The Angel Wings had recovered in just seven days — and now, after only a little more time, they'd produced something so precious.
Luciel smiled faintly. "Probably the effect of the Starlight Tea Tree."
The Starlight Realm had subtly accelerated the plant's recovery and allowed the Tears to condense three days early.
Elara nodded thoughtfully. "I suppose you're right. Every night when I see that tree glowing, it still feels magical."
Her expression shifted, though, and a hint of frustration crept in. "It's just… I don't have anything to store it in. 'Angel's Tears' can't be kept in normal containers — the energy dissipates too quickly."
Luciel folded his arms. "When we reach the Moon Lake Tribe, we'll look for something suitable. Maybe they'll have a special vessel."
He didn't have a better solution himself. Wood and stone wouldn't work, and while he knew glass came from melted sand, experimenting to make it would take too long — time they didn't have right now.
Elara sighed but nodded. "That's our best option for now."
Luciel smiled faintly. "We're close, right? You said the Moon Lake Tribe should be nearby."
Elara gazed toward the horizon, her silver eyes distant. "At this pace, we should reach the mountains near their territory by tomorrow morning."
She hesitated before adding softly, "I still think it's risky, but… you never listen, do you?"
Luciel's grin was small but confident. "Don't worry. I'll handle whatever comes."
He crouched down beside Mino, who was shaking with exhaustion. "Twenty-nine, twenty-nine… and thirty!"
Mino collapsed flat on the ground with a groan.
Luciel sighed. "Don't lie there. Sit up."
He reached down, grabbed the back of her collar, and lifted her like a misbehaving kitten.
"Ow… okay, okay!" she panted, sitting upright with flushed cheeks and twitching ears.
Luciel began massaging her arms, pressing along the tension points. "Your stamina's still too low. You'll need at least a few dozen more days of this."
Mino nodded weakly. "I'll keep trying." Her rabbit ears drooped over her shoulders.
Luciel's tone softened. "Do you remember the lessons from yesterday? The key points I told you about the body?"
Over the past few days, in addition to physical training, Luciel had been teaching Mino about anatomy — where the vital points were, how to disable or kill an enemy with precision.
"Yes!" Mino perked up a little, raising her sore arm enthusiastically. "Throat, heart, spine—"
"Ow!" She winced mid-gesture and grabbed her arm again.
Luciel gave her an exasperated look. "See what happens when you move too soon?"
He continued massaging until her trembling eased, then said evenly, "After breakfast, you'll practice those assassination forms again."
"Yes, sir!" Mino chirped. Despite the effort, she didn't seem unhappy. In fact, she found it fun — far more satisfying than her previous aimless days.
Luciel had patience with her, even when she fumbled. That alone made her eager to learn.
"Alright, up you go," he said, tugging lightly on one of her ears. "Go wash up and get ready for breakfast."
"Ah! My ears, don't pull—" Mino yelped, ducking away with surprising speed.
This had become their daily game. Every morning, Luciel would tease her, and every morning she'd try — and fail — to avoid getting her ears tugged.
"Stop struggling and I won't pull hard," he warned with a grin.
"Hmph! I'll dodge you one of these days," she said, puffing her cheeks in mock anger.
"Then I'll admit you've graduated," Luciel replied dryly.
"Just wait and see!" she huffed, staggering to her feet and stumbling toward the washroom.
"Use warm water!" Luciel called after her.
"Got it!" came the cheerful answer.
Elara, watching from the side, couldn't help the faint smile that tugged at her lips. "You two seem to get along well," she said, her tone cool but laced with something else — a trace of envy she didn't quite recognize.
Luciel turned to her with a mischievous grin. "Want to join in? I can train you too. Push-ups, massages… or should I just tug your ears instead?"
Elara's pale cheeks flushed instantly. "D-Don't you dare!" she snapped, glaring as she turned away. "I'll… I'll make breakfast."
She hurried off toward the small kitchen space, her long hair swaying like moonlight behind her.
"How about a thigh massage, then?" Luciel called after her, laughter in his voice.
"You—!" She spun halfway around, nearly tripping on the step. "You're impossible!"
Luciel's laughter echoed warmly through the courtyard.
Teasing Elara had become one of his daily pleasures. Beneath her cold exterior, she was still human — easily flustered, quietly kind, and oddly endearing when embarrassed.
He leaned against the railing, watching the tortoise's slow crawl across the hills. The sun rose higher, gilding the horizon in gold.
Five days since the trap. Five days since they'd left behind that blood-soaked canyon.
Luciel's smile faded slightly as he gazed into the distance. Somewhere far behind them, a certain blood-streaked madman was likely still alive — and very, very angry.
But for now, the morning was peaceful. The tortoise moved with patient strength, the girls were safe, and the air smelled faintly of tea and sunlight.
Luciel exhaled and murmured to himself, "Let's just make it to the Moon Lake Tribe first."
He turned toward the kitchen where Elara was clattering dishes and Mino's laughter could already be heard.
For this brief, fleeting morning — things almost felt normal.