She arrived once more at the blacksmith shop, feeling out of place and alone. She had time to sleep on it, and the feeling of getting beaten was not pleasant, as it was mentally taking its toll.
she saw her brother earlier that day, but he seemed distracted with his own life while she dropped Nina off there to do this training… She wished Arlin or Coby were here to offer her a new perspective… Terra was nice but emotionally distant, and she did not want Nina worried looking for a fight… feeling dejected knowing she was just delaying entering and facing that pain once more…
The door was open, inviting her inside, promising more of the same as before... the man was a beast… Despite the sadness she saw in his eyes when he watched her, he held nothing back... she was grateful in a sense, as that is how a monster would treat her, but it felt isolating knowing she had to learn through pain and keep coming back for more... she was seeing why Terra wanted no part of it even as she embraced it so openly before…
She pulled the warmth of the light within her, calming her mind and wanting this, reminding herself even as the few passersby stopped to stare at the glowing girl who stared at a shop, and as she stood, it felt less like a shop and more like entering the maw to face the beast…
Yet as she did, she found Terra was tending the counter, and shockingly, someone bought something which amazed her: for one, how they could afford the price, and two, she made a sale! She wanted to congratulate her friend, but Terra was impassive about it as if it was no big deal…
which soured her mood a bit for her friend’s good fortune. Terra saw her annoyed look and smiled, confusing her and annoying her more.
“Da in back If Ur redee” she was almost boastful about it, as if looking forward to it... Yet she wanted to remind her friend that yes, your dad may smack me around, but I beat you easily in that last spar… but relented; she didn’t want to be petty; she truthfully was a little scared to face more of that training….
She went to the back, and the blood drained from her face; the dad was practising with two hammers… The training with the flat, dull swords broke her enough yesterday. Smashing into her flesh, how much easier could a blunt hammer do damage to her now… He was in the middle of swings and saw her stopping with a stern face, watching her carefully, almost as if passing judgement…
So she stood, straightening her form, proving she wasn’t broken and could fight. He gave a nod in acknowledgement and walked to the middle. “We go sluw “was the only thing he said.
she brought her sword and shield more out of comfort than knowing she would use them and set her sword to the side and went for a dull blade in the sand near the dummies when he spoke, surprising her: “NU blede"
No weapon? Why… she thought. He saw her look and unasked question and spoke slowly, “U must leern how to bluck, not attack.”
“I go sluw U defund nuthing mure” Nodding slowly, I did not trust him fully but relented. He never threatened her life to the point she could not recover with her light blessing, so she faced him, taking a stance, but he did not move, surprising her and annoying her. What was he trying to prove…
Yet, as if reading her mind, he walked to her slowly... it created a tension she did not know was possible, as she knew what he really could do as he stared at her with the burning red eyes which were usually sad with regret but now filled with indifference, hunting her…
When less than a few feet away, he stopped raising the right hammer in a deliberately slow strike as she braced, forgetting to use the earth blessing, as it was throwing her off how slow his movements were, but the strike itself was not slow; it was a thundering smash into her shield, slamming her down…
She lost her balance hitting the ground as she looked in panic as he was already arching with the other in a follow-up swing so slow… easy to see, yet her panicked mind could barely focus as she threw up the shield in a panic once more as the strike slammed at a new angle, knocking the shield from her hand, stinging as it was pulled from her grip…
Lost in a daze at how it ended like this and unsure how to act, his voice broke her confusion. “Ur ded “She looked to see a hammer an inch from her face and flinched back into the ground, trying to escape its reach … He watched her carefully and then went and sat down, beckoning her to join him. she was shamed and did not want to go and just sit... but relented…
She wasn’t sure what he could say to make her feel anything other than shame, but she listened, all the same, seeking some solace. It wasn’t just her weakness. “Terra's mum hated me trainin are duaghter. “he looked lost in thought. “She tuld me just cuss U fight don’t meen U gut to hurt our daughter…”
“I… wus mad su I went looking for other things to fught,”
“Fund a nice big beest and smash it, gud…”
“But I wus blind; there were mure,”
“Four more ull big as me,“ she panicked at the thought of any single beast as big as him. How were there so many? He chuckled, seeing her face. “Buck then mure stuff to hunt before hunter thin em out.”
“Wull they return the favur and hunted me…“
“I killed three before the fourth gut me bled me good.“
“I wuld ben ded with nun the wiser if nut for mu wife “
“She secretly followed me with a speer surprised buth me thut wus dying and the beest thut wus killing me when she stubbed it's back.“
“A good hit frum her but beest was ready to kill steel mit gut her too."
"But I wus mad it wanted to hurt hur, and it turned it buck on me... so I smashed it good whun it was facing hur and passed out after.”
“We hud no pution cust too much, but she stuyed wrup me bust she culd in hur turn cloth and wept beside me.“
“The gods let me live, su I kept the scur to remember.“ He looked at my weapon on the table, stroking it gently. “I stup wunting to hunt after that, knowing what she munt about killing fur fun vs need…”
"It was thun she hud me forge that swurd she never wanted to fught...."
"She luved all and thought we culd live with the beest...."
“She pa-ssed a few yeers ago frum a snake bite was a rare monster that fund hur while she wus gathering hurbs. I mude a belt out of that beest but still….” He trailed off. I felt bad for him. I knew anything could happen at any time, but this felt wrong… He reflected for a bit, then spoke once more.
“I dun'r want to hurt U “
“But when I almost ded to thut beast so lung ago I knew thus...."
"that tu fight U must be the best….”
“U or Thuy will die…” She knew his logic was flawed least to a point, but it still made sense. If she wanted this life, she would have to face things like what happened to him... things like what happened to his wife, her brother, and even her sister, and still keep going…
She patted his massive leg. Being this close, she could almost see the age line that came from time lived and knew he was getting old but still tried to teach her “thank you."
“I promise your wife's blade will save lives. I will never use it just to kill.”
“And your teaching for me now? Will save me and others later…” He laughed at that and stood once more, showing just how much of a massive beast of a man he was. How did he win against three monsters like him at once and almost a fourth?
Training, she thought… It is why he pushed her. He knew why he won and why he almost died. It’s the little things we did that will be who gets the last strike and wins vs dying wondering how it happened…
A few hours passed with the slow, drawn-out slams. Terra ended up closing the shop and watching, giving her a boost in moral support. She was getting a false sense of security, and she did not like it....
He always gave her time to act but swung hard. She learnt to use her Earth’s blessing in the shield and was unmovable more than not, even knocking him back a few times….
She was about to voice her complaint that this was pointless when he spoke first once more with that insight that seemed to see beyond her…
“O-K “
“I muv faster nuw same patturn…” she reflected on his words. There were about seven styles he mimicked over and over. He mixed them up. But now that she thought about it, she was sure it was eight… or ten… maybe?
She wanted to review them one last time, but unlike before, this time he did not wait for her to get in a stance, shocking her. She barely pulled up her shield as he rushed, reinforcing her shield with magic. she braced for an overhand swing slammed into her and was easily blocked, but he spun, following up and circling around her shield. she was too rigid to move with Earth Blessing, her body stiffened, and she was still stuck in place as he smashed into her back…
The pain was dulled thanks to the earth blessing, but as she had to release the blessing to move, he was already following up with more strikes. she risked not reinforcing the shield with magic to allow movement, but the angle of the smash forced the shield down and away, exposing her as the next strike smashed her chest, throwing her back…
The pain came in waves and left the same way – an odd mix of feeling such things that should leave others broken being healed so easily by her light blessing. she expected him to smash her while down to hammer home the point… she must be delirious to be making stupid jokes…
“Well, git up!” Terra's voice spoke in the distance, surprising her. she was quiet, observing for a while. she forgot she was there. She raised up mildly disoriented, and the dad was waiting in the distance. As she slowly picked herself up, ready for the rush once more, he instead slowly walked to her, confusing her…
“Are you mocking me?“She blurted out at the absurdity of the change in training. He stopped staring at her before speaking.
“Nu… I was tryin to rush tu much tu soon “
“Ned pratice paturn mure “
“NO!” she shouted in a mix of panic and rage. She refused to be seen as weak or going backwards regardless of how much she was rushing training…
“I dun wunt to brek u... but teech “
“THEN TEACH! “She was irrational, she knew, but she wanted to learn fast and hard, not slow and easy… she heard a bellow of a sigh as he nodded and walked back to his side and spoke once more.
“Till u fall pattern the sume nu rundom tuday “She thought about the first few forms; she knew them well… As she was ready, her shield, she used this time to learn to pull the earth blessing in the shield in and out faster…
To her surprise, Terra left. She guessed she did not want to watch her willingly get beaten even if she told me to get up…. Guess this was a bit much for her; whatever, I can stand alone.
Between those musing thoughts, she saw him harden his resolve, and true to his words, he followed his strikes in a pattern she remembered up to pattern five, and her block shifted her weight, handling them well enough, but she was second-guessing herself after that and was getting beaten down every time past the fifth pattern…
He did not relent after each reset; he did not change his strikes, as time blurred by with her getting better, surprising them both when she could handle all ten patterns. It was a painful reminder of that number each time she assumed it would cycle back to the first, and a new form was stuck on here…
But it also was a good lesson never to assume and helped her adjust to counter different forms. They broke for an afternoon meal; her mind was mentally exhausted, and he was covered in sweat from constant beating hammers into her. Taking her down, she was surprised she was feeling better than him when he was talking – no hits…
Then she remembered her gift healed her flesh as long as she ate or drank in time. She could go forever well, besides the mental drain that was killing her…. “Were dun fur today “
“What you train me all day yesterday? And the day before…” He looked at her with a calm that defied his frame and flaming eyes. She felt she should be the one looking like a beast, not him…
“I huve my own lufe “
“I like wurking my smith nut u “
“So we train mure tomurrow…” She understood she had been selfish and not just trying to push herself, but using others wasn't the way she thanked him for his time, and as she passed Terra in the shop, she was surprised to see Leena leaving, so Terra asked, “Giving up?” she laughed a bitter laugh at those words.
“No, your dad wants to rest, so I'm going to rest my mind…” Terra frowned, not agreeing with her or her dad. She wasn't sure till she spoke.
“He agree tu trun U, su he should train U…” She genuinely laughed at that, getting a glare from Terra.
“Sorry,“she replied, composing herself.
“Thank you, but I’m fine. I need that.” Terra was watching her confused as she explained, “I felt I wasn’t getting trained enough either and wanted more now…” she trailed off, unsure what to say as Terra gave her a hug. Engulfing her with her big, warm body.
‘Ur doing gud better thun me.”
“Da push me to much why we fught mure nuw su he don’t wunt push U tu much either.“She was happy to hear it wasn’t personal, but she still did not want to wear out her welcome; they already were giving her a lot.
“Thank you. I promise to keep that in mind, and I think I do need a break. My mind is a bit exhausted, even if my body is fine.”
“I’ll see you tomorrow, ok? “Terra did not look happy when she pulled away but nodded in agreement as she left. She did not want to bother her brother, so she wandered a bit, dropping her weapons off at home, as she felt a bit out of place just wandering with them…
Still listless, needing something, she was unsure and so went to the guildhall instead, hoping maybe Arlin was there just to have someone to confide in for a bit.
The place was still busy with random guests coming and going; it seemed new people were at the counter. she did not recognise them and felt out of place and was going to leave, not wanting to draw attention, when a female voice drew her attention, making her jerk to look at the sudden sound.
“Brother, not going to be happy knowing he missed you.“ She focused and saw it was Ziala. She was flustered and feeling out of place, so she spoke quickly.
“Sorry, just wanted to talk. Is he not here? I’ll go…” That surprised Ziala, and she showed concern.
“I’m willing to listen… Brother probably would try something lewd anyway,“she said with a face of annoyance. I could not help but laugh and covered my mouth. I knew Arlin would never… He was always a gentleman… weird, but a gentleman. I looked around, wondering if my outburst drew attention. Mildly embarrassed, Ziala smiled, happy she got her in a better mood.
“We can go to my room if you want to visit for a bit, brother on guard duty, though.” Ziala said passively she was lost in her own thoughts, conflicted; she did just want to talk, and Nina was with her brother, and she did not want to involve either of them… so nodded as they went upstairs.
It was a bit exciting to see the building from a different view, making it feel different from the imposing wall that could not be passed. Now she could see it was also a home, like how her brother's place was a shop and a home in one.
Her room was well made and smelt pleasant, as she kept random plants and flowers, making her wish she did the same. she missed the herb smell from her brother's room, but maybe she just needed her own thing like Ziala did, and honestly, it was nicer than herbs. The room was filled with various things taking up the space.
Beyond the bed, there was a desk full of random pages, bookshelves with books, a couple of small tables with miscellaneous things, and a random series of plants near the window sill and hanging near the light shining upon them. Now, as she thought about it, she wasn’t sure where to sit, as there was just the bed or the desk chair, so she chose the chair…
“Give me a second; I’ll bring us some drinks.“ She nodded in reply as she waited, looking around once more to pass the time.
Beyond the papers scattered on the desk, she noticed a lovely black and white flower catching her eye; she had never seen that before on the desk in a corner. When Ziala came back, she asked about it, wondering how she got such a rare find.
“This is a lovely flower. Where did you find it?” Ziala was just moving past her with a tray. Setting it on a small table before turning and smiling at the flower.
“The day you guys adventured to get the rare herb, my brother got it for me as a gift from the adventure.” she was amazed that it did not wilt after being so long ago. So I asked.
“How did it not wilt?“Hoping she knew.
“It’s a magic flower. It will never wilt, though it is rare to see, as it has more value as magic ink vs decor… “She wasn't sure why magic ink was better.
“What’s so good about magic in ink? We don’t cast spells with scrolls?” Ziala shrugged before responding.
“Some records need better preserving; some ancient texts are still fresh as the day they were written because of that ink, and non-magic texts are illegible or crumbling to the touch from the normal paper after so much time has passed.”
“So they rewrite what they can to keep it, and other people want documents that can not be altered or burned to stay fresh, as they tend to combine it with magical paper.”
“Also, if you sign with magic ink, it shows more of a commitment to a contract vs the less formal contracts…”
“Though that is rarer, anyone feels the need to go that far.“I nodded, not knowing those matters existed. She looked at me, smiling.
“It is more between kingdoms or very specific things like old records for most things involving magic ink. Normal ink works just fine for daily affairs. She explained all that as she poured us both a drink. I smiled, happy to not be facing fighting, yelling or just anything but a happy, simple moment…
The drink was a nice pleasant tea that smelt of honey, which made her feel warm inside, the same warmth that light brought her, as Ziala chose then to speak, ruining the bit of joy she found, reminding her why she even had a sour mood. “So, are you going to say why you wanted to talk?
“I’m happy we are friends, but we’re not that close.” She studied the wolf girl. She seemed neutral and meant nothing major with that response, and it was her once more pushing herself on others…
She breathed in slowly and then slowly spoke all the things that broke her a little more each time: her mom's sickness and not being able to do anything, her brother’s injury at the hands of a monster, her desperate desire for a blessing from the gods and the weight of that choice when they gave it…
The depths of the dungeon and despair of the monster she had no way of facing, the running from a powerful beast, the desire to lead, almost losing her adopted sister to her ignorance of battle, her breaking in training, her desire to have someone to talk to and not be misunderstood…
All those things poured from her mix with tears, and that wasn't what she wanted... she just wanted to talk; she wasn’t weak… Yet Ziala held her till she felt better; that, combined with the warmth of the light blessing, calmed her once more. Before anyone spoke…
“I understand,” Ziala said solemnly…
“I lost everything, having no magic, and Arlin wanting to be a family was a lifeline I wanted badly…”
“Even as my other brother, Rock, said he was just using us to escape his own life, I did not care… for me, it was hope.”
“Yet even then, I would have lost everything if I did nothing.”
“Even now… I fear my knowledge is not enough. “Ziala watched me as she said that, as if wanting confirmation she wasn’t wrong, or so I thought…
“I would’ve broken many times over facing half of what you or my brother did, face… So don’t feel bad; you can’t handle more... but you're not alone…”
“Even if we’re not close… I promise I’ll listen…” That made me smile, and I felt I could once more go on. I wasn’t sure how far I wanted to push this, but I now felt I could keep going.
“You know he’s lucky to have you,“Leena said, feeling loved by her friend.
“HA,“Ziala barked, surprising Leena, and Ziala waved her hand.
“Sorry, you must not get my brother's moody side as much. He fought me anytime I showed him too much affection, so I doubt he feels the same as you…” That saddened me.
“Do you want me to talk to him?”
“Gods NO!” Ziala eyes going wide and face full of shock surprised me. I could not help but laugh while asking.
“Why? Do you not trust me?” more teasing than anything. She gave me a dirty look…
“You need to hang out with my brother more… You would know he doesn’t like us talking about him. “Ziala looked over at me with concern. “Second thought, don’t hang out with him…”
“I like you how you are now; even with your brooding, it’s much less than my brother…”
“I’m not brooding… I’m troubled. “Leena tried to defy her with a little dignity, causing Ziala to laugh, followed by her… This was nice. Maybe we all needed a little change…
“Sorry, I came to you with only problems, but you helped me…” She waved it off.
“I dealt with it my whole life; it’s fine.”
“But thank you for caring; it means a lot.” We hug, sharing a moment, and the rest of the day was more casual girl talk. I left before Arlin got back, feeling emotionally drained and not wanting to share more with him, selfish as that may be. There will be other times we can visit.
Also, the mirth in Ziala's eyes knowing she could tease her brother was something I wanted to be a part of, so… I agreed to not wait for him to show up…
13Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfI9rQAvEyE
The next day leading to the training was uneventful as everyone was going to their places of routine, even her, once more seeking a truth of getting better…. Trial by fire, she thought as she faced the blacksmith entrance, clutching her sword and shield tight …
The smith was open and inviting, promising pain and madness, but today? She welcomed it once more, feeling fresh. If this was the worst that could happen, she would not break… and the day it was an actual monster? They would…
As she made her way inside, Terra was waiting at the counter, still imposing and beautiful. Her hair was brown in a new braid, and she wore a lovely blue dress, making her red eyes stand out as she watched me enter and spoke.
“Ur looking better, sunshine.“ leena smiled at that, happy terra was in a good mood.
“You're getting better at our tongue. Have you been practising?” terra bellowed a laugh.
“NU I talk sluw I sound better. If not, I tulk funny again.”
“But thunk U thut sweet tu say. “She came around and gave me a powerful hug full of warmth.
“I missed you too,“ leena said, even though only a day passed. It felt like a lifetime, and she was happy to see her friend...
“U won’t say thut when da breaks U… Will U be ok?” Leena stiffen, not realising she would be called out so soon and so easily…
“You are not very subtle…” Leena said with venom as Terra soured her good mood and Leena pulled out her embrace...
“Ha, U wanted tu train hurd but crying, I culling U out for having a bud duy?” Leena was still annoyed, but Terra had a point; Leena needed to toughen up if she wanted to lead….
“Sorry, you're right…”
“And thank you, I’m better now. I was able to talk about it yesterday. It helped.” Terra got a disapproving look…
“Could not talk with me? “Terra said slowly, so I heard her clearly…
“Don’t act like that. I trust you and love you as a sister, too.” Leena retorted with a glare
“But I need an outside perspective; I was kind of losing myself to the beatings and need an escape…” she could see Terra was still smouldering a bit but relented. Leena felt she would have to make more time for Terra, she thought. Leena can’t say Terra special, but only when she need something…
“Maybe we can go to the cake shop again before we hunt dungeons," Leena tried to assure her.
"I’ll even try to get Arlin to come, or we can just make it just me and you...” she thought about it and added, “Or add Nina; she'd be mad if we don’t include her…” Terra kept glaring at me as if I had withheld some great secrets but relented, nodding in agreement, knowing she was being petty now, much like how Leena was moments before... that she did not make Terra her first pick to talk.
The backyard was how we left it, and her dad was already there messing with stuff in the shed. Looking inside, it seemed they stored extra weapons and armour there, and he was storing some more extras they made in the pile. When he saw her, he nodded and went to the table where his hammers lay already waiting for her…
“U gud?” He asked even as he grabbed the weapons, waiting for her reply. She nodded, not trusting her voice…
“Ur forms gud but U lack focus…”
“U let me hit U tu much…” She did not agree with letting…
“Ned to learn to bluck and move.” she felt he was mocking her now more than helping... When Terra Voice interjected before she could say something… not nice.
“He’s saying, ‘Ur to focused on blocking U ned to loosen up.” She nodded, still not understanding. “The shield makes you a wall, but your nut U can muve…” Terra tried to explain better.
That helped a little more. She was too focused on only blocking the hits and letting him hit... so now she needed to move and defend… “I understand, thank you.”
Even as he sized her up, she felt less fear. She was used to all the times she faced him; now it was learning… she already knew the pain; all that was left was stopping it…
Leaving her sword on the table, mourning its loss, but this was learning to block, not strike… and went to her spot. As she got in her form, he was slowly walking toward her, which felt like a mockery. Leena wanted the hard lesson, fast... not the baby steps…
So she rushed him, seeing the surprise on his face. she was worried he would not strike. she had no counterplan if he just watched….
But he recovered quickly as she moved in, rushing him as he entering one of his stances, the first stance.
knowing it well even as he slammed down on my shield and the weight pushing me, forcing me to shift it, trying to push him back and keep rushing him as best she could when he backed up to strike again,
forcing him to keep rebalancing, but he recovered quickly, as did she, and he countered once more, slamming into her…
The dance spun us around in a blur, a stalemate of an unmovable object vs an unstoppable force, yet his experience won in the end as she shifted too much, and he knocked me down with the weight of the strikes and followed with shattering of bones, reminding me of the price of failure as she went down…
The healing mended her body quickly, but the shame was still there, it seems. Even as she made progress, she still fell behind… Terra's voice rang out from the side, mocking me… “Thut was great!” followed by her claps and whistles to add to her jeer.
“Please don’t mock me,” leena said as calmly as she could. “I know I lost…” Terra got quiet at that but spoke one more, surprising her.
“Whut? Girl, U daft? “ leena looked at her, confused, unsure if that was a new swear word or a new insult just for her… “Ur doing gud…” Terra relented when she saw I really did not understand.
“I lost…” leena said solemnly. Terra looked at me as if I had slapped her…
“U train… whut? Less thun two weeks? Frum field hunting till nuw…huw gud U think U be?” leena wasn’t sure; she never had anything to compare it to. she just hated this feeling of loss…
“Ur gud child,“the dad spoke, breaking her thought, and knew then she was expecting a miracle too soon…. Maybe that is why people lost to monsters, rushing to be heroes, vs. training and getting better…
“Thank you both..."
"Sorry, I just want to make progress…”
“U are I prumise or I nut train U” the dad said with a booming voice. warmth from the light and bit joy enter her face at that before they got back in their stance to train once more…
An endless cycle of patterns swam in her head, and she was noticing as time went on he wasn’t following patterns anymore.
she had to watch for subtle shifts in his form to keep from being broken, even then he shifted more, increasing speed and lowering his speed to mess with her timing…
Even as she mastered those things, she tried using the earth blessing more to stop him from pushing her so easily, mastering how much power to feed it to help release faster and remove its hold on her sooner so she could move, and he adjusted even for that…
Some strikes lightly to counter her form, and others heavy to test her and break her form…
Still, we went on in a blur of moves, with time passing lost to us both, exhaustion mentally catching up, but before we stopped, she needed to know: could she counter with a pulse? She had no weapon, but the shield could be both…
So after a shift between strikes and a small opening, she slams into him with a lucky strike with her shield, leaving her open, and he was about to smash her back when she pulsed the earth blessing in the shield, and he slammed back into a wall, smashing into it and breaking it, stunning her…
After the shock of seeing the beast of a man go down for the first time, she rushed to heal him, yet, shocking her more, besides a few bruises, he was fine! She remembered belatedly he had an earth blessing and must use it to dampen the blow, as she knew for a fact that pulse attack could shatter bones…
It took him a moment, but he recovered, and she feared seeing his red eyes full of hate, but instead he laughed, full of joy?! “NUW THAT IS GUD” he said and started laughing. Terra grabbed her from behind, making her scream as Terra spun leena around...
“U DID IT, GURL !” just as happy as her dad confusing her. This family was crazier than her!
And with that, Leena couldn’t help but laugh, too. Now she felt herself making progress and learning…
“Um… sorry about the wall.” she felt bad. He waved it off.
“Bah, it’s nuthing, “and he used his earth magic to help shift and mend the wall with rock magic as she watched him. The mentally fatigued was eating at her. It seemed she was using her gift a lot more than she knew. Terra noticed and spoke.
“Food should be dune “
“I wus making it while U were pluying” Leena laughed, thankful she had Terra and her dad in her life.
“Thank you, let’s eat!” They enjoyed the meal, making small talk and focusing on where she improved. He wanted to mix it up and have her work more on forms. He said I was getting sloppy, but each day we would do something new. she was happy; this was a nice change.
This might not be the life she wanted… but it is much closer to it… with training to be something more… So the day ends with the promise of something new to come.
