"Stand up."
I quietly stared at Rachel Lan. She was panting, leaning on Belle, her body covered in wounds. I couldn't bear to watch her like this these past two days. Sparring with those Undying has improved her skills a little, but to me, it's still barely noticeable. She doesn't even understand the true meaning of coexistence, so I decided to spar with her myself. Unexpectedly, she agreed right away.
With my hands behind my back, I stood in a clearing in the woods, already cleaned up. All around us, the Undying watched. Rachel Lan was still sitting on the ground, tiredly wiping the sweat from her forehead.
"Wait, let me rest for a moment."
There was no need to rest any longer. As I spoke, I darted toward Rachel Lan with a swoosh, deliberately slowing my speed so she would have time to react. Now, it was me who felt a bit out of place with this pace.
With a clang, I blocked Belle in Rachel Lan's hand with my raised hand. She rolled once on the ground and glared at me, annoyed.
"Didn't I say I needed a break? I'm human, you know."
I stopped. Thinking about it, she was right—using a human body to fight for so long, especially so intensely, would only get Rachel Lan hurt. That would be a loss for everyone.
I quietly watched Rachel Lan. She never complained or cried out in pain. At first, I thought she wouldn't last through such intense training, but I smiled slightly and found a tree to sit against.
One of the Undying brought food and water to Rachel Lan, handing them over. She smiled and thanked them.