After the two young men who stayed in the fight finished telling the rest of the group what had happened, the Kiman turned to them to thank them.
"Thank you for helping with the guardian problem! But now how will we be protected?"
They all looked back at each other at started thinking of a solution, to which Dreik said to everyone:
"Don't worry, when all this is fixed, I'm sure that all the monsters that guarded this place will return".
All the Kiman were happy to hear such words, to which the old Kiman said to the group:
-You can stay in this place for as long as you need before your departure, we will share food from surrounding nature, and you can sleep on the grass without problems.
Before they said words, Dreik accepted the old man's invitation and after thanking them said:
- We plan to stay for a while in this place -
Everyone was somewhat confused by his words and decided to ask why he has decided to stay.
-Lyn: Why do you suddenly decide that?
Dreik: Still questions? Our struggle has been a total disaster... Without that mysterious man we would have died, and I don't think you could have done much. We need to train, gain strength and learn to coordinate.
-Shiko: I hate to admit it... But despite having so much power in my hand I was too weak. Asuka fell asleep on the battlefield. Who brought her to safety?
-Zene: I'm the only person able to bring her in fast enough. She's still sleeping but I don't think she'll take long before waking up.
-Alba: I understand the point of staying but what about the rest of the guardians who remain? They can go crazy at any time.
-Dreik: If something happens, I'm sure we'll be able to hear about it.
-Zene: You sound too confident...
-Shiko: hmm... If you think it's the best, let's do that.
-Dreik: Okay... Mayla will be the one to train the girls, I will be the one to train Shiko since she needs to better control those newly acquired powers and his coordination with me.
-Zene: And what about me?
-Dreik: I know you can train on your own. Even if I had offered to train with you, you would have turned it down.
-Zene: I see.
They all agreed with Dreik, and then they decided to rest for a while, eat the fruits offered by the Kiman, and at the end of this, train.
In the middle of the training, Mayla taught the girls better magic control, in which it was more efficient not to use too much, teaching them fighting moves. While Dreik, practiced the ability to merge his magic power with Shiko, doing it repeatedly so that Shiko would get used to the level of power he acquired, making it less difficult for him to react and he could handle it better.
They spent each one practicing on their own until nightfall, once everyone had dinner they went to sleep except for Shiko, who decided to go to the lake before to relax. Once there, he met Lyn who explored at the time and found him as well. When they met, they decided to take off the boots they were wearing to dip their feet in the lake, sitting together.
-Lyn: Wow... So more than a week ago you were an ordinary boy and now you are able to wield the powers of a legendary hero who used dragon powers, wielded elements and killed demons.
-Shiko: Hahaha... I'm still the same, only now I'm a protagonist of those kinds of series that I love to watch.
-Lyn: Even at seventeen years old do you watch those series? I remember that you used to do poorly on your exams for looking at those tv shows late at night, hahahaha!
-Shiko: Hey! They're great!
-Lyn: Hahahaha! You haven't changed at all! … although that makes me feel happy, despite everything that happened...
-Shiko: Lyn... Did you already know?
-Lyn: He wasn't the only loved one I lost... After all, our sister decided to leave as well.
-Shiko: A single event... was able to unleash complete chaos in less than a week by then... Lyn... I...
Before Shiko continued talking, Lyn hugged him tightly and suddenly, tears began to flow from her eyes.
-Lin: First it was my sister... Then it was him, since then I've only been thinking a lot while I lived miles away from you "I just have to endure this... just when I finish studying, I will have the opportunity to see him again". But now that I've seen you again... I'm sure you're willing to break your promise, aren't you?
-Shiko: Lyn... I... I'm very sorry about that.
-Lyn: You don't need to say more... when you are with Asuka, I can see a lot of happiness and security... I don't want that to disappear from you, I've thought that since that happened you've had a bad time and now that you've met her you've been you again... so, I am not opposed... it just hurts a little.
-Shiko: Lyn... I may not keep that promise... But when we met, I promised never to leave you, so it's something I plan to keep going forever. Today I was about to die... and by leaving promises standing like that makes me feel frustrated, so I'm going to get stronger so I don't break my promises, our sister and he may have left... but I will always be by your side.
Shiko put his hand on Lyn's head and hugged her as well to comfort her without saying another word, then both got up, put on their boots again and decided to go to where the others were to sleep. When they left, Mayla and Dreik appeared behind some trees and observed the entire conversation of Shiko and Lyn.
-Mayla: It seems that all the members of the team who were in the other world already knew each other... or at least three of them except for Asuka.
-Dreik: You're right, Lisa, Ana and Alba were sisters who fell here together, which still makes me wonder how they fell a year earlier...
-Mayla: I guess these are doubts that will answer themselves with the passage of time... by the way, did you hear those words that Shiko said? "I want to be stronger to keep your promise standing and never leave you alone"... Those words remind me of a certain foolish guardian before he left me stranded.
-Dreik: Ehh! I didn't say something... like that... leave you behind!?
-Mayla: Calm down! Hahahaha! It was just a little joke... I know you give your best effort... we'll have our moments when this is over, for now you're just the great dominant dragon magic Dreik. Alright?
-Dreik: You little... While you're right, we can't take any of this lightly.
Once they finished talking, they continued following Shiko and Lyn without them noticing and then they went to sleep. The night passed and the first to wake up were Asuka and Alba who had some time alone. Asuka decided to take Alba to the same lake where the other young people had come to talk to her, so they both sat down submerging their feet in the water.
-Asuka: Alby... How do you feel?
-Alba: ...Is this why you brought me here?
-Asuka: ... Oh... you don't want to talk... I understand.
-Alba: ... I'm sorry, it's just that I'm frustrated. I couldn't save Lisa and now in this battle I've been useless.
-Asuka: Hey... We were all useless in this fight, he was too strong for us.
-Alba: ... I wonder why they decided to bring me.
Asuka hugged Alba making her friend's head lie on her chest.
-Asuka: Hey... I know you're a strong girl; we just weren't lucky this time, but when we've trained enough, you'll be able to show what you're made of... What I'm going to say is going to sound a bit stupid, but we're not in a moment to think about who we lose or how useless we are.
-Alba: I can't stop thinking about Lisa... she was my sister... I...
-Asuka: We have all been hurt by her loss Alby, Shiko and I for not being able to do anything to save her... to you and your sister for being one of the people they loved the most... and Mayla... I have no idea how he must feel about not being able to do anything at all because of her situation the tragedy occurred. But we must look forward, unfortunately we are not in a situation where we can hold on to our pains and problems, we must fight with everything we have.
-Alba: Asuka... How do you tell me all this with such confidence? You met me yesterday... and just yesterday you decided to play with me, have fun...
-Asuka: I just like you and I think you should have what you deserve, you deserve someone's trust necessary to become strong... and I'm willing to give you mine, you opened your heart for me, didn't you? So, let's become strong together.
-Alba: ... You're a good friend... we're friends, right?
-Asuka: Hahaha, that question is a bit silly since you asked me the same thing yesterday, I told you that you are my friend, my first friend.
-Alba: I see... then I will also give you all my trust as you give me yours and of course I will give my best!
-Asuka: Those are the words I wanted to hear! We are going to give all our effort today and every day we train.
Then Alba smiled next to Asuka, to which Zene appeared behind them and said:
"Listen! Everyone has already woken up and breakfast is served, once they finish, they will go straight to training so hurry up to where everyone is going to eat".
The two young women heard this and put on their boots and quickly left for where everyone was. Zene simply watched them leave quickly, thinking:
-Friendship... confidence... loyalty to another person... Do such feelings make a being so powerful? Maybe they're not as bad as I thought... Maybe I can learn a little more about these people in the time I spend with them.
Zene followed the two young women walking serenely as these thoughts flashed through his head and that's how the second day of training began...
To be continued…