After Lily Eastwood left, Sam stood still, his emotions calming as he rested his hand on the hilt of his sword. He narrowed his eyes, focusing intently.
An unknown amount of time passed before a gentle breeze rustled the leaves overhead. Sam, who had been standing like a stone statue, suddenly stirred. He stepped forward, unsheathed his sword, and a chilling light flashed across the air, finally releasing the energy he had been concentrating.
"Ding, congratulations, host! You've completed a sword draw! Draw count +1!" A mechanical voice echoed as the sword swung forth. A smile crossed Sam's lips at this.
After a brief rest, Sam resumed his sword practice.
"Ding, congratulations, host! You've completed a sword draw! Draw count +1."
"Ding, congratulations, host! You've completed a sword draw..."
"Ding, congratulations, host..."
Time slipped by unnoticed as he practiced, and the number of sword draws slowly increased. Only after the sun set and the moon rose, casting a soft light, did Sam sheath his sword. After a day of practice, he felt soreness all over, but the character panel in his mind brought him joy.
Name: Sam
Age: 18
Skills: Fire Draw, Fire Control, Sword Slash
Strength: Foundation Establishment Realm
Number of Sword Draws: (1042/10000)
After a day's practice, the number of sword draws increased by forty-two. It wasn't much, but it was far beyond his usual pace. At this rate, completing ten thousand sword draws would take just a little over two hundred days. Smiling, Sam packed up and, under the soft moonlight, headed home.
In a quiet little room, in front of the dressing table, Daisy Eastwood sat quietly, not drawing her eyebrows or dressing like other girls. Daisy preferred going bare-faced, yet the flickering light on the mirror and her delicate reflection instantly brightened the room. On the table sat a simple bamboo flute, her chosen magical instrument.
"Click..." The door burst open. Daisy looked up to see her younger sister barging in without knocking. Usually, Lily would throw herself into Daisy's arms, but today, she flopped onto the bed, burying her head in the pillows.
Though Daisy noticed her sister's unusual behavior, she continued to play with the bamboo flute. After some time, Lily finally raised her head. Daisy saw her sister's blushing face through the mirror and became concerned.
"Lily, why is your face so red?" Daisy asked, her voice filled with worry.
"It's nothing, sis," Lily shook her head, her big eyes blinking.
Knowing her sister well, Daisy could tell Lily was lying. But since she didn't seem to be bullied, Daisy didn't press further. As the second lady of Foxfire Mountain Lodge, Lily was more likely to be the one doing the bullying.
"Sis..." Lily suddenly rushed into Daisy's arms, nuzzling her head. "What's wrong?" Daisy asked softly.
Lily, acting differently, pulled her head out of Daisy's arms. "I want to ask you a question."
"What is it?" Daisy was surprised.
"Do you know what it feels like to like someone?"
"Like someone?" Daisy echoed, surprised by the question. "Why do you ask?"
"I just wanted to know," Lily said, her eyes wide with curiosity. "You're so capable, you must know."
Though used to her sister's questions, this one left Daisy at a loss for words. She wanted to tease Lily but saw her earnest eyes and reconsidered. She turned to gaze out the window, the gentle breeze lifting her hair.
"What's it like to like someone?" Daisy murmured. Turning back to her sister, she brushed hair from Lily's forehead. "I don't know what it's like to like someone either."
Hearing this, Lily lowered her head, disappointed.
"But I think if you like someone, you feel happy seeing them, enjoy being around them, or feel comfortable with them. In short, you always find them good."
Lily listened intently and suddenly asked, "Do you have anyone you like?"
"Of course not," Daisy shook her head.
"Will you have someone you like in the future?" Lily pressed.
"Will I ever find someone I like?" Daisy murmured, her thoughts swirling. At her age, girls often fantasized about the future, imagining their crush.
Suddenly, her heart was in turmoil.