The door to the pink house swung open, revealing a fresh-faced, young person with striking purple hair and matg purple eyes. They had a girlish appearand wore a white shirt and pants adorned with green stripes, featuring a T-shaped symbol on the shirt's ter. Notably, a sheathed sword was slung behind their back.

  With a frontational yet nont look, they sized up the newers. Their purple eyes locked onto Aliana, Elena, and Gaiza. In a girlish tohey decred, "Hold everything! You're in my territory now, and I challenge all three of you to a battle. I'm Bee, by the way!”

  Aliana was unimpressed by Bee's bravado. She lowered her eyes and replied coldly, "If we ever fought, I'd freeze you solid."

  Bee looked genuinely surprised. They scratched their head and said, "Wait, do you have an ice affinity too? Well, that's a bit aeople with the ice affinity are actually quite rare...atleast that's what mom says."

  Aliana raised an eyebrow at Bee's respo decided not to press the matter further. Instead, she inquired, "We came here to meet Cassandra. Is she around?"

  Aliana's straightforwardness seemed to catch Bee off guard, and they hesitated before finally relenting. "Fine, I'll let you off this time, but don't expect a warm wele!"

  Aliana, Elena, and Gaiza ehe colorful living room. They noticed the vibrant atmosphere and numerous photos ad the walls. The pictures captured memories of Bee in their younger years, alongside their sister and a brother with striking blue hair and a stylish mohawk, who seemed to have some ess with sungsses perched on his face.

  Aliana's curiosity got the best of her. She gestured toward the photos. "Your family seems quite lively. Is that your brother with the blue hair?"

  Bee g the photos lining the walls with a hint of sadness fshing in their purple eyes. "Yeah, that's my brother, Dj. He's the cool oh the blue hair and shades. As for Misty..." They trailed off. "We don't talk about her. She's been gone for a long time."

  Aliana studied Bee's expression, noting the sadhat momentarily clouded their eyes, but then, Bee’s demeanor shifted. They pulled out a small guitar from behind their back, then began strumming it lightly.

  "Well now, let me tell ya a tale of yesteryear, sugar," Bee said with a cowgirl’s at. "‘Twas a time when Misty roamed these nds, bringin' her own brand of magid mischief. We all thought she'd be ba a week or so, but here we are, two millennia ter, still waitin'."

  Aliana blinked, caught off guard by the sudden shift. Bee tinued. "Yep, that's right. 2000 years and still no word. Might be she’s off gallivantin’ with them boyos dowreet, or maybe she's just takin' a really long nap. Either way, we don’t talk much bout her round these parts."

  It was then that the sound of heavy footsteps reached them from upstairs. Within seds, a provocative-looking girl with brightly colored purple hair, stylishly highlighted, came downstairs with an attitude.

  Misty strutted into the room in her head-turning outfit, living up to her reputation. With a body to match her fashion statement, she smiled pyfully and said, "Here I am, people! You didn't think you could have a party without me, did you?"

  She made a real entrance, ter of attention, and she reveled in it. Only for a beat, though; her eyes lit on Bee, and the pyful pose went frontational. "And what the hell is you telling them I'm missing for? I'm hardly missing!"

  Bee leaned ba a chair and nontly replied, "Well, Misty, your brain has this habit of taking ued vacations. You know, it's gone MIA a few times before."

  Misty's posure faltered. She looked flustered as she retorted, " Don’t you DARE talk about my brain like that you troll!"

  Alia a sense of awe and curiosity while looking at Bee. Their youthful appearand the fident aura were nothing short of impressive, but they also sehe immense power that surrouhem, Aliana couldn't resist asking the question that had been on her mind.

  With a respectful tone, she inquired, "I hope this isn't too impolite, but may I ask how old you are, Bee?"

  Bee, seemingly unbothered by the question, grinned and replied, "I'm thirteen."

  Aliana's eyes widened slightly. This aligned perfectly with what Okun had mentioned about a child of immense power associated with the Eastern Sword School. It seemed like this young prodigy might have been the very individual Okun had spoken of.

  Aliana exged a gh Elena and Gaiza, silently aowledging the significe of this discovery.

  Misty, in her provocative attire waved at them all. "Alright, time for my gig. Buh- bye guests!"

  Bee teased. "Just be sure not to choke on the spotlight."

  Misty rolled her eyes and made her dramatic exit through the door; however, to everyone's surprise, she returned moments ter, transformed into what she amusingly Excimed

  “Sunshine Misty!"

  She wore a vibrant rainbow dress that was noticeably shorter than regur girl’s length should be, and she g onto Bee.

  With an exaggerated dispy, Misty melodramatically excimed, "Oh, my dearest sibling, I ot bear to part from your side! Farewell, cruel world!" She then proceeded to hug Bee tightly ao the ground.

  Bee, struggling to break free from Misty's grip, muttered uheir breath, "She's always like this..."

  Bee mao break free from Misty’s hug, pushing her out the door with a powerful shove. With an amused yet exasperated expression, they muttered, "She never wants to let go of me..."

  As soon as Misty was oher side of the door, Bee swiftly locked it with a decisive click. They let out a sigh of relief,.

  Aliana, Elena, and Gaiza exged bemused gnces after witnessing the dispy by Bee and their sister Misty.

  Bee looked at Aliana, Elena, and Gaiza with an expression resembling, "._.”.”Yeah, it's like that”.

  Gaiza leaned in closer to Aliana, her whisper barely audible "This family seems crazy. Are you sure we’re in the right pce?"

  Aliana stifled a chuckle. "It seems like we’ve stumbled into quite the circus, but maybe we should not judge too quickly.”

  Aliana delved into discussion with Bee. Bee shared proudly, "I manipute ice, and I've mastered four ice teiques so far. And about Izuka, I swear she talks to me sometimes."

  Gaiza looked skeptical. "Talking swords sound a bit farfetched."

  Aliana, however, chimed in with a smile, "You know, I used to think the same about Tengoku. But over time, I learhat a sword is aension of your body, and sometimes, it feels like it has a mind of its own. Maybe Izuka is like that too."

  Bee nodded in agreement, "You sound like my mother, Cassandra. She always says the same thing."

  "So, what's the reason behind your interaining?" Aliana inquired. "You've already mastered four teiques, which is impressive. What's driving you? Do you wish to bee a Swod?"

  Bee hesitated for a moment. Finally, they spoke with a hint of frustration. "I want to travel the world. See new pces, meet different people, experience adventures... But my mother, Cassandra, she won't let me leave until I bee a Swod. She's always said that I 't go on such journeys until I've reached that level. But the problem is, I 't even use Sword Magic level 1 yet."

  Aliana sidered Bee's predit thoughtfully. "You are bouween your dreams and the expectation of your mother. That is a tough er."

  Bee nodded. "Yeah, it is. But I guess I'll just have to keep training hard. Maybe someday I’ll prove to her—and to myself—that I do more than just train here!"

  After a moment of thought, Aliana spoke, "I uand your desire to see the world. It's a powerful motivation. Perhaps I help you with your training. I've been a Swod for a while now, and I teach you some teiques and tips that might help yress faster."

  Bee's eyes lit up with excitement at the prospect of receiving guidance from an experienced Swod. "You'd really do that for me?"

  Aliana smiled warmly and nodded, "Of course. Besides, I have some time before the tour, and helping you improve could be mutually beneficial."

  Bee's eyes became starry. "Wow, you're entering the touroo?" Bee excimed. “That’s amazing! I hought I'd get the pete with a real Swod!"

  "Tours be incredibly challenging, and the petition be fierce. Are you sure you're ready for it, Bee, “Aliana questioned while tilting her head slightly.

  Bee replied with fists rising to the front of their face, "You doubt me? Test me, and you'll see what I'm capable of."

  Aliana was intrigued by Bee's fidence. She reized the fire in their eyes. It was the same kind of drive she had seen in many aspiring swordsmen and women duriime.

  "Alright, let's have a practice match," Aliana said, "Show me what you've got, and we'll see how you fare. Just remember, a tour is a whole different level of petition."

  Suddenly, a thought struck Aliana. "You mentioned earlier that you ’t use Sword Magic level 1 yet. But that would imply you 't use your sword magic at all…"

  Bee quickly shook their head. "Oh, no, no. I use it, but…" Bee’s eyes flickered with hesitation. "It's better if I show you."

  Without thinking about their surroundings, Bee drew their sword and sliced through the air. Aliana’s eyes widened in surprise. "Shouldn't we do this outside—"

  Bee interrupted her with a resolute shout, "Charge, Izuka!"

  When the and was given, an icy aura enveloped Bee, and the room tly affected by the sudden cold. The temperature dropped noticeably, and frost began to form on the edges of nearby objects. However, Bee’s sword remained unged. Despite the magical aura and enviroal shift, the bde itself did not exhibit any visible signs of the power being used.

  Aliana observed the se with intrigue." It seems yic doesn’t alter your sword itself. That’s quite unusual."

  Bee flushed slightly but nodded. "Yeah, it's nothing like how it's supposed to be. I'm still figuring things out…"

  Suddenly, someone shouted, "Hold it right there!"

  Both Aliana aurheir heads. A woman desded the stairs with an air of fidence. Her purple hair cascaded around her shoulders. She was adorned in a white shirt with green stripes and a notably short skirt.

  Bee's face became flushed. They muttered, "Uh oh. It’s Mom..."

  "How many times have I told you not to release your sword ihe house?" Cassandra shouted with rage. She cracked her knuckles with a menag grin. "I hope you're ready for your punishment."

  Bee, visibly shrinking uheir maze, quickly darted behind Aliana. They whispered, "Help me out here?"

  Cassandra’s eyes then fell upon Aliana, and her demeanor shifted instantly. "Well, well, well, if it isn't the prodigal Swod herself. I've been hearing rumors about your return from the dead."

  Alia Cassandra’s gaze. "I'm here to settle some unfinished business," she replied.

  "Years ago, we held your funeral," Cassandra stated. "Now, you return years ter. This is no time for mere words. I o be absolutely sure that you are who you cim to be."

  With that, Cassandra turo the others in the room. "Everyoep outside into the garden. The garden is protected by a powerful magical barrier. If this is truly Aliana, then she will pass the test."

  Aliana, Bee, Elena, and Gaiza exged ghey followed her lead and made their way out to the garden.

  There was a garden, so lush with greenery and flowers of all kinds ihat catapulted the beauty of the surrounding into real. A path of cobblestone wound its way through the garden, curving around very well-trimmed shrubs and flowerbeds. There was a sun-glinting pool filled with koi. Arees towered above, casting shade.

  Aliana was struck by the beauty of the garden, but there was no time to gaze leisurely, since Cassandra spoke in only seds, "Aliana, if you truly are who you cim to be, you'll reize the challe hand. Draw your sword."

  Aliana nodded. She uhed her owengoku, and held it at the ready. The two swordsmen stood face to fa the ented garden.