While the ship rested at the outer harbor like a damaged vessel awaiting repair, Kassie and I stood in the Nave. Magdalene lingered somewhere near the columns with her arms folded and a small frown on her face.
To be honest, was it really a frown, or was this simply who she was? Perhaps both. Either way, she was hardly a sight for sore eyes.
But that wasn't what I could afford to focus on right now.
I stood before Kassie. She had changed out of her dress and was now wearing her black lustrous armor. Her helmet had yet to form, and her red eyes were sharp — bloody sharp, as though she beheld the face of someone who had taken the world from her.
"Goodness! Do you intend to carve out my bones? Didn't you say this was a mock battle?"
Kassie's gaze didn't waver. Not even for a second.
"I happen to give every single thing my best regardless of its nature. It'd be unfair to you if I was to treat this like it didn't matter."
