After that, starting the very next day, they all trained relentlessly with their weapons. They practiced infusing their swords with magic to unlock their full potential and worked on integrating their fighting styles with combinations involving their familiars, spells, and blades, each in their own way.

They also sparred until they reached their limits, engaging in team battles and utilizing strategies to take down the opposing side. Their daily routine consisted of waking up, eating breakfast, training, taking a lunch break, training again, discussing the results of their practice, eating dinner, sleeping, and repeating it all the following day.

Not a single person complained about their routine; they did it all happily and without any sense of burden. Three months passed, and Ard and Eva were finally able to use their new powers. The two of them sparred with incredible skill using their weapons. Their movements looked like laser beams following one another, even flying through the air, with only the clashing of their swords echoing through the sky.

Meanwhile, Alicia, Adeline, Mirea, Pyria, Milia, Claudia, Beatrice, Rosalind, Geoffrey, Ainsley, and Irwin stopped their own practice for a moment to watch their battle.

"Wow... they're both equally strong," Ainsley remarked, observing the two of them while holding the frame of his glasses.

"They really are incredible... even though I feel like I've grown stronger, looking at them? I still feel like I'm nowhere near their level," Milia said.

"They are on a stage far above us. It makes sense; they were already extraordinary from the very beginning, weren't they?" Alicia replied casually.

"Can I ever be like big brother Ard and big sister Eva?" Adeline asked, her eyes fixed on the streaks of light clashing in the sky.

"Of course you can, that's why you have to keep training," Geoffrey answered, resting his sword on his shoulder.

"Hmm... how about we start practicing again?" Claudia suggested.

"Fine by me. Try taking me on, Claudia," Mirea replied, drawing her purple sword.

"By the way... why are you the only one who can use the lightning element, Mirea?" Pyria asked.

"Hmm... I don't know myself. I know my dad has the fire element and my mom has the wind element, but I've been able to use lightning since I was a kid. So if you ask me, I don't really understand it either," Mirea said, looking down at the purple blade of her sword.

"I can use holy and earth," Adeline said.

"Hmm... that's true, but they don't merge together like Mirea's, do they?" Beatrice remarked.

"Oh... you're right," Adeline replied.

"I'm actually curious too—is there a way to merge our elements?" Rosalind asked.

"Want me to ask my sister?" Irwin offered.

"She's inside with the Dragon God right now, isn't she? Don't bother, we can ask later," Rosalind answered.

Finally, they returned to their training as usual, beginning to ignore the battle between Ard and Eva, which still looked intense. Mirea took on five people at once: Geoffrey, Milia, Alicia, Pyria, and Ainsley. She leaped into the air, firing a ball of lightning from the tip of her sword. The lightning orb bounced from Geoffrey all the way to Ainsley, though they managed to parry it and remained completely unharmed.

When Geoffrey retaliated by scooping rocks from the ground with his greatsword and hurling them, Milia fired icy wind scythes, and Alicia launched dozens of fireballs with a flick of her blade. Pyria shot arrows of burning green light, and Ainsley threw both of his energy-wrapped daggers while gripping their chains. Mirea created a shield of lightning that deflected every single attack.

Meanwhile, Claudia fought against Adeline and Irwin at the same time, while Beatrice took on Rosalind. The entire field was filled with swirling dust, magical light, and the sound of booming explosions that echoed throughout the Dragon God's realm. That night, as they ate together while discussing their progress, Geoffrey spoke up.

"Do we really need to stay here for a full year, Ard?" Geoffrey asked.

"Well... we're just following orders, aren't we?" Ard answered.

"Hmm... if you think about it, our levels have definitely increased since before we came here, and we're obviously worlds away from where we were at the academy," Mirea added, observing the group.

"That's true, but to be honest... I still feel like I'm lacking. With my strength right now, if I had to go head-to-head with Malekh or Ophelia... it still wouldn't be enough," Eva replied.

"But didn't the Dragon God say you two could actually face them now?" Beatrice asked.

"Being able to face them doesn't mean winning. Matching them might be possible, but defeating them is another story," Ard answered.

"That... makes sense," Irwin replied.

They fell silent again, and the room became quiet once more. The only thing to be heard was the clinking of their utensils against their plates as they scooped up their food.

"I like it here, and I still want to keep training," Adeline said, breaking the silence.

Every head immediately turned to look at Adeline, who looked as relaxed as if she were casually mentioning that the weather was nice today. After that, everyone except Ard and Eva turned their gaze back to their own plates, as if the ceramic could reveal the secrets of the universe. Suddenly, "cling," Beatrice set her fork down on her plate.

"I like it here too. Everything is quiet, relaxed, and we can train tirelessly without any pressure, just like Adeline says... so I think a year here, or maybe even more, wouldn't bother me at all," Beatrice said.

"Huh? That's a first, hearing you talk like that, Princess. Usually, you're the one complaining," Rosalind said, shocked, staring at Beatrice as if she were possessed or had eaten something bad.

"Why are you reacting like that? Do I really complain that much?" Beatrice asked, clearly annoyed.

"Yep. That's why, hearing you say that, Princess, makes me worried the world is going to end tomorrow," Rosalind answered.

"Grr... you're always teasing me, you're so annoying," Beatrice replied, turning her head away to look in the opposite direction, pouting with a flushed face and her arms crossed over her chest.

Finally, they all burst out laughing after hearing the exchange between Beatrice and Rosalind, and the atmosphere grew light once again. They began chatting cheerfully with one another while enjoying their dinner. Afterward, they all headed into the outdoor baths, which were divided into male and female sections, to close out their day. Ard, Geoffrey, Ainsley, and Irwin could hear the noisy chatter of the girls in the adjacent pool, separated only by a tall bamboo fence meant to block any peepers. Geoffrey turned toward Ard beside him.

"Bro, how about we spar tomorrow? I've never actually fought you," Geoffrey suggested.

"Hmm... sure, I'm down," Ard replied casually.

"I want in too. My skills are way beyond what they used to be," Irwin added.

"I actually want to as well, but I still feel like I'm lacking. So tomorrow I'll just practice like usual until I'm ready," Ainsley replied calmly while pushing up his glasses.

Suddenly, a loud commotion erupted from the other side. The four of them turned to look at the tightly bound bamboo fence; then came the sound of a heavy splash in the pool, followed shortly by light radiating through the gaps in the bamboo. The four of them looked at one another, then sighed and shook their heads because they knew exactly what was happening in the pool next door.

"They're starting again... what is it this time?" Ard asked.

"No idea, and I don't want to know," Geoffrey answered, stretching out and sinking his body into the pool to lounge comfortably.

"True. It's better not to know and not to get involved at all," Ainsley added while pushing up his glasses.

"It's a mystery why every girl traveling with us is so hot-headed," Irwin remarked, shaking his head.

After that, they fell silent and simply looked back toward the fence without saying a word. From the other side, the clashing of swords began to ring out, and it seemed they were starting to get serious. But shortly after, a streak of black and red light shot out from the second floor of the house, followed by a massive "splash" as a huge amount of water sprayed upward. "Waaaaaa!" the girls screamed in shock.

"Hey... can you shut up? It's annoying listening to you, and I've been trying to sleep this whole time," Irina shouted from the pool next door. It seemed that flash of light was Irina leaping down from her room.

"Sorry, we won't be loud anymore," Eva, Alicia, Adeline, Milia, Mirea, Claudia, Beatrice, and Rosalind replied in unison.

Shortly after, a streak of black and red light shot back up to the second floor of the house. Ard, Geoffrey, Ainsley, and Irwin felt a bit relieved that nothing serious had happened, and they were glad that everything was finally quiet again so they could enjoy the hot water they were soaking in. But then, "splash," the four of them were suddenly drenched from above.

"This is all your fault, Ard!" Eva, Alicia, Milia, Mirea, Claudia, Beatrice, and Rosalind shouted all at once.

"Huh... what did I do?" Ard yelled back.

"Haa... turns out it's because of him again," Geoffrey, Ainsley, and Irwin muttered, shaking their heads and looking completely exhausted.

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