The training field lay quiet and empty at the edge of town. No students, no spectators, just rolling grass and scattered stone outcroppings under the late afternoon sun. Kara had insisted on a private space, and Serina had readily agreed, she'd wanted a fair chance to see her potential teammate fight without distractions anyway.
"This spot work for you?" Serina called out, setting her greatsword upright in the grass a few paces away.
The weapon was nearly as tall as she was, its polished steel catching the light but she made no move to draw it, keeping her hands loose at her sides.
Kara nodded, her silver eyes scanning the open area as she unslung the crimson firearm behind her waist pouch. The moment the weapon cleared, Serina's head tilted, blue eyes fixing on it with clear fascination.
"Whoa—hold on a second," the blonde said, taking a step closer. "Is that… a gun?"
Kara paused, fingers brushing over the glowing edges of the weapon. "Yeah. I know it's not exactly standard for Arcanists."
"No kidding!" Serina's face lit up with curiosity, circling the brunette slowly to get a better look. "I've only ever seen firearms with hunters, everyone uses blades these days. How does it even work with your Arcana?"
"It draws power from [Phantom Lilet], absorbing my Arcana's energy," Kara explained, settling into a loose stance. "The red light you see comes from the source of a mana crystal. It can fire elemental bullets too, if you switch this lever..." She glanced around the field once more, ensuring they truly were alone. "Are we good to start then?"
Serina backed away to her end of the field, a playful grin spreading across her face. But her eyes were sharp, already studying Kara's posture and her unusual weapon.
"Alright! Rules are simple, tap out or can't keep fighting, and the other wins," she said, rolling her shoulders as she got into position. "And hey, if I get to see what that gun can do up close? I'd call that a win already."
The brunette took a deep breath, her focus narrowing to the space between them. No Yuki at her side, no red haze clouding her judgment. Just her, her weapon, and her Arcana.
"Ready when you are."
The moment the words left Kara's lips, Serina lunged, not with her sword, but with bare hands, closing the distance in three quick, fluid steps.
She moved low to the ground, feinting left before darting right, testing Kara's reflexes first.
Kara blocked, but didn't draw her gun yet. Instead, she pivoted back, her foot brushing the grass as she whispered a single word.
"[Lycoris Radiata]."
A burst of crimson light sprung from the spot she'd touched, and a cluster of spider lilies bloomed at her feet. Serina skidded to a halt a few feet away, her eyes widening as she took in the elegant, curling petals.
"Teleportation flowers, right?" She grinned, circling again. "Show me how they work."
Kara didn't respond, she raised her firearm, the crimson glow intensifying as she aimed.
Click-click-click. The weapon charged, and she fired three rapid shots. They sliced through the air, aimed not at Serina, but at three different stone outcroppings across the field.
Thunk-thunk-thunk!
Each bullet embedded itself in rock, and within seconds, spider lilies burst forth from each impact site, their red blooms stark against gray stone.
Serina's brows shot up, darting toward the brunette to deliver a kick. "So that's how you plant them—smart!"
Before it could connect, Kara vanished in a swirl of petals from her starting spot. Serina spun around just as the brunette reappeared atop one of the stone formations, gun already aimed her way.
"Got you," Kara said quietly, firing a shot straight at her.
But Serina was already moving, she dove forward, rolling across the grass as the bullet whistled overhead and planted another lily in the earth behind her. As she popped back to her feet, grinning.
"Fast, but I can still follow you!" She held up one hand, and a faint silver light began to glow there. "[Mimicry]—oh wait…" Her glow flickered and died. "Huh.. can't copy it unless I see the whole thing in action. Lucky you for my limits!"
Kara didn't waste the opportunity. She teleported again, this time to the outcropping on Serina's left, firing two more shots. One aimed wide to force the blonde to move, the other striking the ground at her feet, another lily blooming there in an instant.
Serina leaped backward, using the momentum to kick off a nearby rock and launch herself into the air. Mid-flip, she grabbed her greatsword from where it stood planted in the grass, spinning it to use as a shield as Kara fired again.
Clang! The bullet bounced off the steel blade, and Serina swing the blade again, creating momentum as she stood in a low stance.
"Nice shot!" she called out, panting her feet at the dirt as she charges. "But let's see if you can keep up when I copy you properly!"
She swung up just as Kara teleported from her position to a new lily spot a few yards away, Serina's eyes locked on the swirling crimson petals. Her hand blazed to life, not silver this time, but bright, clean white.
[Mimicry]
.
.
.
"Phantom Lilet"
Brilliant white lilies identical in shape burst from the ground where Serina stood. In a flash of pure petals, she reappeared right beside Kara, her copied ability now steady and clear.
Blending in her blood red bloomed.
The brunette steps back, barely had time to raise her gun before Serina swept her legs out from under her, mirroring the move she'd used on the senior. But Kara was ready, she touched the ground as she fell, and another burst of red petals carried her away, landing a few yards back.
"That's my trick," Kara said, a hint of a smile on her face as she took aim again.
"Fair game when I see it done right!" Serina shot back, teleporting to one of the stone outcroppings herself. This time her white petals held strong, replacing the red with white.
Kara fired a volley of shots, some at Serina, others at new spots around the field to plant more points and trap.
Serina teleported between positions to dodge, her white blooms a sharp opposed to Kara's red. Each copy was as fast and smooth as the original now that she'd gotten the hang of it.
"Your gun's not just for planting, is it?" Serina called out, teleporting to avoid another shot. "Let me see what it can really do!"
Kara's finger hovered over the limiter lever. She'd promised herself she wouldn't enter her trigger state again, but she could still unlock a fraction of the weapon's power. With a quick pull, the crimson glow flared hot and bright.
"This is as far as I'll go!" she warned, aiming directly at Serina's position.
The shot that rang out was nothing like the others, it tore through the air with a low hum, leaving a trail of ash in its wake. Serina didn't try to teleport this time.
Instead, she focused her white-glowing hand, and a shield of condensed white lilies energy rippled out around her. An imitation from the defensive stance she'd saw Kara take before when protecting her, now amplified and shaped to her own style.
BOOOOM!
The impact sent shockwaves across the empty field, flattening grass in a wide circle. When the dust cleared, both girls were still standing, but Kara's gun was smoking slightly, and Serina's energy shield had shattered into shimmering white specks that faded into the air.
The brunette teleported to the last remaining lily spot she'd planted at the edge of the field. Serina responded instantly, teleporting forward as she intend to slam the flat of her blade at the brunette.
Kara aimed at her, then switch at the ground.
BANG!
The bullet struck that spot just in time. Red and white petals exploded outward in a blinding flash, throwing both girls backward a few feet. They landed hard on the grass, breathing heavily but unhurt.
Kara pushed herself up first, her silver eyes meeting Serina's blue ones across the cratered ground between them. Neither moved to attack.
"You set that one up, huh?" Serina said, a wide grin spreading across her face as she stood up.
Kara nodded, "It didn't come out as I'd hope.."
Hesitantly, she draw back her gun into its holster as the crimson glow faded. "So.. i guess it's a tie?"
The blonde chuckled, "That makes us even then."
Serina walked forward, her expression shifting from playful to determined. She stopped just a few feet away, looking at the brunette with new intensity.
"Kara. I was already set on asking you to be my partner, but now I know for sure." She clasped their hands together, the cool residual energy still tingled around her fingers. "Please. I just knew we could be incredible together!"
Kara looked out at the field, littered with red and white flowers that had sprung up during their fight. A small smile touched her lips.
"I still don't know if I'm the partner type," she said, turning to her. "But… I'm willing to try it. I'll be in your care.. Sena."
Serina's eyes went wide, her smile freezing for a split second before she leaned forward slightly, as if she hadn't heard right. "Wait—really? You mean it? You're agreeing to be partners?"
Kara nodded, a small but genuine smile on her face. "Yeah. Although it's more of a try out. If it doesn't work out, you're free to find someon—"
A squeal of pure joy burst from Serina's lips before she could stop it. She launched forward and threw her arms around Kara's shoulders, pulling her into a tight hug.
"S-Serina. . .?"
Before Kara could even process what was happening, the blonde hooked her hands around her waist, lifted her feet off the grass, and spun her lightly in a quick circle.
"YES!" she cheered as she twirled them around once, then set the girl back down gently before loosening the hug.
Serina's face was lit up with the biggest smile Kara had ever seen, her blue eyes sparkling with pure excitement.
"This is amazing! We're going to be the best team Soulbound Academy has ever seen—I just know it!" She bounced on her toes, her grin never fading.
Kara reached out to brush a stray tip of her bangs from her face, her cheeks slightly pink from the blonde's bold excitement.
"Rwaf!" Yuri barked and came bounding across the grass to their side, his tail wagging as he nudged at the brunette's leg.
Serina glance at him with a smile, then back at Kara. "Shall we head back?" She asked, linking their arms together without hesitation.
As they made their way back toward town, the sun was beginning to dip low, painting the sky in shades of pink and yellow. The field behind them was still dotted with red and white lilies, faint traces of their duel that would fade by morning.
Serina walked a half-step ahead, chattering excitedly about potential training routines they could try once they officially started as partners. Kara didn't say much, just kept pace beside her, occasionally nodding or humming in agreement.
When they reached the edge of the main street, Serina suddenly stopped short. "Oh—look! Hot meat buns are on sale today!"
The brunette follow her gaze. "I heard there's one meat bun stall here that sells good stuff."
"The best stuff," Serina corrected with a grin, already turning back toward the shop. "And I owe you—you totally held back on me, didn't you?"
Kara's lips twitched into a small smile. "You held back too. That sword could've done more damage than just slamming it flat at your opponent.."
Serina didn't deny it, she walked toward the seller inside the counter. "Three of your steaming hot meat buns, please!"
Then turned to Kara. "One for you and me, and of course i can't forget about this cutie." She patting Yuri's head curled up on the brunette's shoulder. "We'll need to recharge our energy after that excitement, I'm sure you've gotten hungry now."
The seller handed them their loaves wrapped in paper, and they continue on their road. They walked in comfortable silence for a while, softly blowing and feeding themselves on the steaming food.
When they rounded the corner to the bakery, the scent of fresh bread and sugar hit them before they even saw the building. Aunt Greta was standing just outside the open door, her arms crossed over her chest but the usual stern set of her jaw had softened a little.
Serina beamed, bumping her shoulder lightly against the brunette. "Looks like we've got some explaining to do. Want me to take the blame for dragging you out?"
Kara shook her head, shoulders straightened "No. We'll tell her together."
Greta's eyes swept over them once, her gaze pausing at the sight of her niece tugging Kara forward by the hand, half-dragging her in their rush to reach the door. After a moment, her features settled back into their usual serious set.
"You two took long enough," She said in a steady tone, stepping aside to let them approach. "Sena, there's someone waiting for you inside. Just got here a few minutes ago."