I left the mansion early in the morning.
The path to Scarlet's house wasn't long, but I walked slowly. I didn't want to get there and speak without thinking. I needed to choose my words carefully. Scarlet wasn't someone who accepted just anything, much less requests without meaning.
As I walked through the city, I noticed how people were already looking at me differently. Some whispered. Others simply watched in silence. The recognition was still strange to me. It hadn't been long since I was seen as the adventurer who failed at everything.
Now, they looked at me as someone who faced a General and came back alive.
But inside, I knew the truth.
I arrived in front of her house and stopped for a moment. I took a deep breath and knocked on the door.
Scarlet opened it a few seconds later.
She was already ready, as if she were always prepared for anything. Hair tied back, simple clothes, firm posture.
She analyzed me for a few seconds before speaking.
"You're better."
"I'm recovering."
She gestured with her head for me to come in.
The interior of the house was organized and quiet. A faint scent of herbs lingered in the air. I sat in the wooden chair at the table while she remained standing, leaning against the wall, watching me.
"So," she said. "What did you come here so early for?"
I didn't stall.
"I need you to train me."
She didn't respond right away.
She just kept looking at me, as if evaluating whether I was serious or not.
"Train you for what?"
"To truly fight."
She let out a small sigh.
"You already know how to fight, Takumi."
"Not the way I should."
She crossed her arms.
"You defeated a General."
"By too small a margin."
Scarlet remained silent for a few seconds.
"You're alive. That's already the result of knowing how to fight."
"I survived. It's not the same thing."
She looked away for a moment, thoughtful.
"You want to become stronger," she said.
"I need to."
She walked to the table and sat in front of me.
"I'm not anyone's mentor."
"I know."
"I don't give lessons."
"I know."
"I don't have patience to teach."
"I know."
She stared at me.
"Then why do you think I would do this?"
I had expected that question.
"Because you're the only person who can teach me what I truly need to learn."
She slightly raised an eyebrow.
"And what exactly do you think you need to learn?"
"Combat experience that I don't have."
She fell silent again.
"You want to learn not to depend on luck," she said.
I nodded.
"You realized that on your own?"
"Yes."
Scarlet watched me for a few seconds that felt too long.
Then she gently shook her head.
"No."
I didn't expect her to refuse so quickly.
"No?"
"You're already strong enough to survive whatever appears."
"I don't want to survive. I want to win."
She looked toward the window.
"You already won."
"I don't feel like I did."
Silence took over the room for a few moments.
I needed to insist.
"I'll pay."
She looked at me again.
"It's not about money."
"I'll pay ten thousand coins."
Scarlet slightly frowned.
"I don't need money, Takumi."
I took a deep breath.
"Then tell me what you want."
She stared at me for a few seconds, thoughtful.
"You don't understand."
"Then make me understand."
Scarlet rested her elbows on the table.
"If I accept this, it won't be ordinary training."
"That's exactly what I want."
"You're going to get hurt."
"I know."
"You'll get exhausted."
"I know."
"You'll hate some days."
"I know."
She narrowed her eyes.
"You don't."
"Then show me."
Silence returned.
She watched me as if deciding something important.
After a few seconds, Scarlet took a deep breath.
"I don't accept money."
I didn't say anything.
"If I accept to train you, it will be with one condition."
"What is it?"
She looked at me differently this time.
"A wish."
I blinked a few times, not understanding.
"A wish?"
"When the training ends, you will fulfill one wish of mine."
"What kind of wish?"
"I'll decide later."
I remained silent for a few seconds.
It was strange. Too vague.
"Are you serious?"
"Yes."
"Can it be anything?"
"It can."
I thought for a few moments.
Scarlet wasn't impulsive. She wasn't malicious. If she was proposing that, there was a reason.
And I needed that training.
"I accept."
She kept looking at me, as if analyzing whether I truly understood what I was saying.
"No complaining later."
"No complaining."
"No backing out."
"No backing out."
She stood up from the chair.
"Then we start tomorrow."
"Already?"
"You want to become stronger or do you want to postpone it?"
"I want to start."
She nodded.
"Prepare yourself. It won't be like you imagine."
I stood up as well.
"That's exactly what I expect."
Scarlet walked to the door with me.
Before I left, she spoke.
"Rest today. Tomorrow you'll need it."
I nodded.
I left her house with the feeling that something important had begun at that moment.
It wasn't just training.
It was the beginning of a real change.
And for the first time since the fight, I felt that I was doing the right thing.
I had finally taken the first step toward no longer depending on luck.