Aliana stared at the rundown remains of her once-majestie. She sighed heavily, realizing that her pn had fallen apart before her eyes.

  "Well, it seems we're in a bit of a jam," Aliana admitted with frustration. She gnced up at the sky, noting that they still had some daylight left, but it was getting te.

  After a moment of ption, Aliana's eyes settled on a possible solution. She turo Gaiza and Elena, determination in her gaze.

  "There's one pce we go where we might fiable people," Aliana suggested. "The Eastern Swod School. It's not too far from here. I used to train there before I ended up on the Mystical Isnd. Perhaps they offer us assistance or information."

  Aliana and her panions approached the Eastern Swod School. They could see people training outside, practig their martial skills with precision and dediemories of her time here flooded back to Aliana. She then came upon a familiar sight: a stack of unscious students piled up to the side. These were individuals who had challehe Eastern Swod Master and had beeed, just as she had been multiple times.

  Aliana decided to make her approad s upon the practitioners. She was searg for the Master, but to her surprise, it wasn't him who stepped forward to front her. Instead, a tall and muscur man with long bck hair tied in a thick ponytail, casg down to his shoulder bdes, emerged from the group. His small, dark eyes and promi eyebrows gave him an intimidating presence.

  He wore white trousers with tattered waist and ankles, held up by a bck belt, and a white shirt paired with bck wristbands on his wrists.

  Reition flickered in his gaze. "You! I remember you. You were one of those who challehe Eastern Swod Master. Draw your sword."

  Aliana's eyes widened. She remembered this guy from her past. Her past enters with this man had been far from pleasant. Aliana sighed deeply and drew her bde, 'Tengoku,' the name slipped from her lips while uhing it. The man responded by drawing his own sword, 'Lapis.' Their auras briefly fred around them, creating a striking dispy of colors – the man’s aura was a deep, ominous purple, while Aliana's was a cool, calming blue.

  Without warning, the man lunged forward with a powerful overhead strike. Aliana nimbly sidestepped. She tered with a swift, precise ssh aimed at his side, but he blocked it with his thick bde.

  The man grinned. "You're quick, but you hahis?" He swung Lapis in a wide arc, aiming to overpower Aliana with sheer force. She danced baarrowly avoiding the deadly swing.

  Aliana darted in and out, delivering quick, precise strikes that kept the man on his toes. Each of her attacks was met with a powerful block despite his ck of speed pared to her.He brought Lapis down in a crushiical ssh. The force of the blow was enough to shatter the grouh their feet. Aliana twisted to the side with her bde flig out to tap his wrist, f him to try aaliate. She took advantage of the opening, her bde fshing towards his exposed shoulder.

  The man recovered quickly. "Not bad, but…”

  In an instant, his stance shifted. His movements became lighter, quicker, and mile. Aliana's eyes widened in surprise. "He ged so fast," she thought to herself, barely managing to adjust her own stan response.

  The man's yle was a whirlwind of rapid strikes as. Aliana struggled to keep up. She parried and dodged as best as she could, but his speed and precision began to push her to her limit.

  Beads of sweat formed on Aliana's brow. Each of his strikes seemed to e from nowhere. He lu her with a series of rapid thrusts, f her to backpedal. Aliana's breaths came faster and faster.

  In a desperate bid tain trol, she feigned a stumble, drawing the man's attack. Just when he moved in for what he thought was the finishing blow, Aliana spun on her heel, Tengoku fshing in a wide arc.

  Their bdes cshed in a shower of sparks. For a moment, both fighters were locked in a fierce struggle. Then, with a final, decisive push, they broke apart, ending up on opposite sides.

  Aliao her knees. She clutched Tengoku tightly.

  The Man’s fierce face softened while he looked back at Aliana. “I am Okun. It seem’s you have fotten that, but you've alsotten many things," he stated with disappoi. "One of them being the teags of the Master. The sword and the Master must be in sync. If they're not, even the most skilled fighter is just a beginner."

  Aliana's gaze fell to her bde, 'Tengoku,' and her hand trembled slightly.

  Okun's gaze remained on Aliana. "Your Master would be very disappoio see you in this state," he remarked solemnly. "You're lucky he's in North Jancito at the moment."

  "What's he doing all the there?" Aliana asked with curiousity.

  However, Okun didn't answer her question. Instead, he turned his attention to Aliana's friends. He observed them for a moment and noticed the gring fa the oh blue hair. Okun called her over.

  Gaiza was somewhat intimidated by Okun's presence, but she gathered the ce to approach him. He simply said “wait here”.

  Okun disappeared into the sword school building for a brief moment, and wheurned, he pced a sheathed sword in Gaiza's hands. She was suprised and stammered, "I-I 't accept this, sir. What are you doing?"

  Okun looked at her with a slight smile. "I see your i in Sword Magic," he replied. “I’m temporarily in charge while our master, Gustavian, is up in the North. sider this a token of encement. If you're serious about it, you'll find your way here."

  Okuurned his attention back to Aliana. "The other Swods have been looking for you for a while now," he began. "Many assumed you had died, given how many years have passed since your disappearahey believed that your overfident attitude had finally gotten you killed. Now that you're back, you should meet with the other six Swods."

  Aliana remained posed, but inwardly, she struggled with the idea of fag the other Swods. She realized that she had disgraced them by following every and of the headmaster on the mystical isnd, even if it was under duress. However, she couldn't let Okun see her hesitation. She replied swiftly, "Of course, I'll pay them a visit soon. It's good to know they still remember me."

  "Actually, I came here for another reason," Aliana said

  Okun, however, simply shook his head. "o say it," he responded calmly. "I already know. An enter with the sword is more than just a csh between two souls; there are those who feel the emotions of others withirikes."

  Aliana's eyes widened slightly.

  "I sehat you're uress, not just in bat but also financially. You have no mohough I don't know why. You used to walk around like a princess, funting your tires so casually every day, attrag a lot of attention. Now, this is what you've been reduced to. It's a lesson we all have to learn at some point."

  Aliahe feeling of embarrassment ing upon her.

  Okun looked at Aliana with a ster passionate gaze. “Aliana, financial situations ge, just like the flow of a battle. The sword is a refle of one's inner self, and so is your ability to manage your life."

  With a measured tone, he cluded, "Train your mind, body, and soul, just as the Master would put it. In the end, it's not the wealth you possess, but the strength of character and the wisdom to navigate life's trials that truly matter."

  Okun's stern face softened further while looking at Aliana. "Despite the weakness in your heart, you made the right choiot to run away from battle," he said with a small smile ing to his face. "You’ve shown ce, and for that, I will extend a generous offer to you and your panions. You stay at one of my mansions for as long as you need."

  His words triggered a fshba Aliana's mind.

  Years ago, a teenage Aliana fidently defeated a younger Okun in a simir duel. She stood over him with an air of superiority, her luxurious attire gleaming in the sunlight. Okun, then a young boy with nothing but a dream, y on the ground breathing heavily.

  "You fought well," teen Aliana had said while ughing. "But why did y a wooden stick to a sword fight? You were just asking to get hurt!"

  "What was this, attempt 147?" Teen Aliana said with a smirk. "At this rate, you won't have a shot at me."

  The young Okun looked up at her. Tears welled up in his eyes. "My parents threw me out," he said. "I have o go. I 't afford a real sword. The sword is all I know. I... I have nothing else..."

  Past Alia a twinge of annoyance. Okun started to walk away while adding, "I don't expect you to pity me, and I don't expeything from you. But I want you to know why I fight. I want to survive, just like everyone else."

  Hearing his goals, past Aliana’s face softened slightly. "Wait," she called out, stopping him. She extended a hand, surprising both herself and Okun. "You live at our mansion. Someone of your talent deserves to rise to the top."

  Momentarily, their hands locked. Young Okun looked shocked, while past Aliana blushed and turned her head to the side. "This doesn't mean we have aionship," she added quickly.

  Ba the present, Aliana stood with Okun with their hands locked together. The memory of her past as, both arrogant and passionate, mingled in her mind. "Times have truly ged, Okun. You're the rie now, and I'm the one in need."

  Okun chuckled softly. "This wealth I've gained, Aliana, it came from my own struggles as a swordsman. I've faced many near enters and run-ins with the 'Western Scum,' as they call them. Fending them off art of my duties, even though the Sword Magic Academy doesn't officially work for the Kingdom's army. We provide the ons, armor, and sometimes are called upon to protect the kingdom."

  He tinued, "One’s circumstances ge in the blink of an eye. Never uimate the value of support from friends and allies during tough times."

  Okun led Aliana, Gaiza, and Elena through the vibrant streets of the tour distri Eastern Jancito. The area was alive with the hustle and bustle of people preparing for the uping matches. Brightly colored stalls lihe streets which had an array of souvenirs, snacks, and even special tourhemed merdise.

  Okun expined, "I usually stay he a during the tour season. This pce is ve for me. However, the guards around here be quite strict, and they might get suspicious if they see unfamiliar faces. So, I'll give you a hat grants you a pass to stay here without any trouble."

  He hahem a ly folded piece of part with an official-looking seal on it. "This will keep you out of any unnecessary frontations with the guards. Just show it if they question you."

  Aliana nodded appreciatively, taking the hank you, Okun. This is a big help."

  Okun gave her a nod. "Before you go in, though, I should let you know that this arra is irely free. I'll need you to do me a favor, but we discuss the details tomorrow m. Get some rest for now."

  With that, he led them to a grand mansioled among the bustling activity of the tour district.

  The grand mansion stood as a building adorned with intricate carvings and elegant architectural details. Twin marble staircases led up to a massive double-door entrahe mansion was surrounded by lush, well-maintained gardens filled with vibrant flowers and sereer features.

  Okun led Aliana, Gaiza, and Elena to the entrand instructed, "Go on in. You'll find everything you need for a fortable stay. I'll be heading to my main residenow."

  They ehe mansion, and Okun took a step back, preparing to leave. He gave them a respectful nod. "Take care, a a good night's rest. We'll talk about the favor tomorrow m."

  With those parting words, Okun turned and made his way down the marble steps, disappearing into the night.

  A sense of grandeur and eleganveloped the group. Crystal deliers hung from the high ceilings. The floors were adorned with rugs that felt plush underfoot. The living room was also adorned with more artwork, depig ses of a battles and heroien.

  "All of this is very ve, Aliana. It's like you have some kind of 'princess luck' or something,” Elena said with her jaw dropping to the ground.

  Aliana gave a faint smile and replied, "There's no such thing as 'princess luck,' Elena. Sometimes, life presents us with ued opportunities, and we must make the most of them."

  Aliana took a seat down with a smirk. “Now the's make ourselves at home, girls."