"Again," Kazuya said, his voice low and steady. It wasn't a command, but it wasn't a request either. It was a statement, firm and unyielding.

  Valerie nodded, her lips pressing into a thin line. She raised her hands, and a faint, ethereal glow began to emanate from her fingertips. The air around her seemed to hum with energy as she channeled her Sacred Gear, Sephirath Graal. The glow intensified, spreading outward in a soft, golden light that illuminated the clearing. Kazuya watched intently, his expression unreadable.

  The light coalesced into a shimmering orb, hovering just above Valerie's palms. She closed her eyes, her brow furrowing in concentration, and the orb pulsed gently, like a heartbeat. Then, with a flick of her wrist, she sent the orb toward a nearby tree. It struck the bark, and for a moment, nothing happened. Then, slowly, the gash in the tree's trunk began to mend, the wood knitting itself back together as if time itself were being reversed.

  Kazuya's eyes narrowed slightly, his gaze flicking from the tree to Valerie. "Impressive," he said, his tone neutral. "But healing alone won't keep you alive in a fight."

  Valerie lowered her hands, the glow fading as she turned to face him. "I know," she said quietly. "But my combat skills are… limited. Sephirath Graal isn't meant for offense."

  Kazuya tilted his head, studying her. "Every tool has its uses. You just have to learn how to wield it." He stepped closer, his movements fluid and deliberate. "Show me what else you can do."

  Valerie hesitated, her gaze dropping to the ground. "I… I'm not sure. My brother—Marius—he never let me train properly. He only cared about my healing abilities. To him, I was just… a tool."

  There was a flicker of something in Kazuya's eyes—something that might have been sympathy, though it was gone as quickly as it appeared. "You're not a tool," he said, his voice firm. "And you're not his. Not anymore."

  Valerie looked up, surprise flickering across her features. For a moment, she seemed at a loss for words. Then, slowly, she nodded. "You're right. I'm not."

  Kazuya stepped back, giving her space. "Then prove it. Show me what you're capable of."

  Valerie took a deep breath, steeling herself. She raised her hands again, and this time, the glow that surrounded her was different—sharper, more focused. The air around her seemed to crackle with energy as she summoned her power. With a swift motion, she sent a burst of light toward a cluster of rocks nearby. The light struck the rocks with a force that sent them skittering across the ground, though the impact was far from devastating.

  Kazuya watched, his expression thoughtful. "Not bad," he said. "But you're holding back. Why?"

  Valerie frowned, her hands dropping to her sides. "I… I don't want to hurt anyone."

  "You won't," Kazuya said simply. "Not unless you mean to. Control is key. But you can't control what you don't understand." He stepped forward again, his gaze locking with hers. "Let me help you."

  Valerie blinked, caught off guard by the offer. "You… want to help me?"

  Kazuya nodded, his expression as stoic as ever. "You have potential. But potential means nothing if it's wasted."

  For a moment, Valerie just stared at him, unsure of how to respond. Then, slowly, a small smile tugged at the corners of her lips. "Thank you," she said softly.

  Kazuya didn't respond. Instead, he turned and walked to the center of the clearing, his movements smooth and unhurried. He raised a hand, and the air around him seemed to grow colder. A faint mist began to rise from the ground, swirling around his feet as his ice powers activated. Frost crept across the grass, spreading outward in intricate patterns. The temperature dropped sharply, and Valerie could see her breath in the air.

  "Watch closely," Kazuya said, his voice carrying a slight edge. He extended his hand, and a shard of ice formed in his palm, sharp and glistening. With a flick of his wrist, he sent it hurtling toward a tree, where it embedded itself deep into the bark. Then, with a subtle motion, he activated his Compress Quirk, and the shard vanished, only to reappear in his hand a moment ter.

  Valerie's eyes widened. "That's incredible," she said, her voice tinged with awe.

  Kazuya gnced at her, his expression unreadable. "It's about control," he said. "And precision. You have the power. You just need to learn how to use it."

  Valerie nodded, her determination renewed. "Show me."

  For the next hour, they trained together, Kazuya guiding Valerie through a series of exercises designed to hone her control and focus. He was a strict teacher, offering little in the way of praise, but his instructions were clear and precise. Valerie found herself pushing harder than she ever had before, driven by a desire to prove herself—not just to Kazuya, but to herself.

  As the sun began to dip lower in the sky, casting long shadows across the forest floor, Kazuya called for a break. Valerie sank to the ground, her chest rising and falling with exertion. She wiped a bead of sweat from her brow, her silver hair sticking to her skin.

  "You're improving," Kazuya said, his tone as neutral as ever. "But there's still work to be done."

  Valerie nodded, too tired to respond. She leaned back against a tree, closing her eyes for a moment. The forest was quiet, the only sound the distant rustle of leaves and the occasional chirp of a bird. But as she sat there, a strange feeling began to creep over her—a sense of unease that she couldn't quite pce.

  Kazuya seemed to feel it too. He straightened, his gaze sharpening as he scanned the trees. His hand moved instinctively to the hilt of Lostvayne, his body tense and ready.

  "What is it?" Valerie asked, her voice barely above a whisper.

  Kazuya didn't answer immediately. His eyes narrowed, and a faint frown tugged at his lips. Then, quietly, he said, "We're not alone."

  The words hung in the air, heavy and foreboding. Valerie's heart began to race, her earlier exhaustion forgotten. She rose to her feet, her senses on high alert. The forest, once so peaceful, now felt like a byrinth of shadows and secrets.

  Kazuya stepped in front of her, his stance protective. "Stay close," he said, his voice low and steady. "Whatever happens, don't hesitate