"When she heard the plight of all these people, she knew what needed to be done. She said that it was our job to train them and prepare them, that you deserved your time off after everything you've done. That it can be one less thing off your already overflowing plate.

Was it wrong for us to do this without asking?"

"Wrong? No... You're just... carrying out my will. Doing what you'd know I'd actually want..."

Seth couldn't help but let out a soft laugh as he remembered those particular words. Before they felt like a knife in his back, the mad ramblings of an even madder woman. Yet here he was, witnessing the truth of it.

Someone who truly did know what he would do and what was on his mind, and simply did it as he would. If he hadn't come here today, would he have even known that she had done this? Astra didn't exactly talk to him about her day, didn't come seeking reward or praise. She simply... did it, because that was her job. Because she wanted to give him less to worry about.

What else had she done in that same regard? What other issues cropped up and she solved without it ever becoming clear to him that there was a problem to begin with?

As his mind drifted, and as he spoke to Carnifex, Seth's eyes never left Astra even for a second, almost like he was scared that if he blinked that she would simply disappear. He stared at her, and even though her appearance was a complete and utter mess, he was truly enchanted.

Every movement she made, every hot breath escaping from her lips, every slight change in her serious looking face. He memorized it all, every single frame, as if he was preparing to describe it in the most piercing detail to the worlds greatest artist, in order to enshrine it's beauty for all of time.

"Carnifex, I'm wondering if I could get your help with something."

Carnifex tilted his head in curiosity as Seth gestured for him to come closer. The behemoth knight had to get down on one knee to get close to Seth's height, before his Father leaned close and began to whisper into his ear.

The knight nodded softly as he listened to the whispers, bobbing his head eagerly and letting out grunts of acknowledgement.

Seth leaned back, patting Carnifex's shoulder, "Think you can do this for me big guy?"

"Of course Father, I think it is a truly wonderful idea."

Seth gave him another pat on the shoulder before taking one last look at the angel in the middle of the battlefield. He shook his head, laughing softly at his own thoughts.

'Like a stupid, inexperienced kid with his first crush.'

The billowing smoke of Corvus' cloak wrapped around his figure, lifting him into the air before he rapidly flew away, off to carry out his part in the grand plan.

***

Astra whipped her head to the side, her soaking wet hair slapping against her forehead and sticking there as she looked up the shadow retreating into the sky, a trail of black smoke carving out its path through the sky like a rocket.

She brushed her hair from her face as she breathed heavily, watching the figure retreat out of sight with a slightly disappointed look in her eyes.

'Hmph... He could have at least come to say hello. I mean... I don't need praise or anything, I'm not a puppy. But acknowledgement is still nice.

He's probably just busy, He's always so busy. Plus... He'd probably rather spend time with the pretty pink haired girl than a mess like me.'

She flicked her wrist, swinging her sword up to casually bat away a weak strike from one of her multiple sparring partners, but for some reason accidently put a little too much power into it and ended up shattering the wooden sword of her opponent.

All eyes in their little group moved to the shards of wood as they scattered across the ground, a few audible gulps being heard.

"Sorry I uh..."

"N-no No! It's alright. It's probably my fault! I should be the one that's sorry. In fact, I am. I'm sorry. I'm really really sorry Ma'am! I'll go get a new one right away!"

She tried to apologise, but the sparring partner practically jumped out of his skin at her gaze and quickly apologised to her instead before scampering off as quickly as his feet could carry him. So much so that he almost fell over, and spent a few seconds scampering on all fours like a dog just so he didn't have to stop or slow down.

Astra narrowed her eyes at the scampering hunter, who seemed more like a rat fleeing a sinking ship, before turning her attention back to the rest of her sparring partners.

"Well, Just because he's getting a new sword doesn't mean the rest of us have to stop. Come on, let's get to it! Still got half the day ahead of us!"

The members of her sparring group visibly shrunk, glancing at each other and exchanging looks of utter despair and horror. They had thought it would have been an honour to spar with the Storm Goddess, the second in command of their whole city. But she was worse than any monster they had ever faced before!

They would have rather fought an entire army of Hemogoblins solo than have to go another hour of this gruelling training. They're bodies were hunched over, beaten and bruised. Their lungs burned with every breath, while many of their legs trembled and their weapon arms were even worse, feeling like utter jelly and barely able to lift their weapons.

So much sweat was dripping from their bodies they felt like they could fill an entire lake, and then some. It was horrific. As bad as she looked, they looked ten times worse. Yet even still, they heaved their weapons up with great effort and charged forth, hoping to land at least one blow on the heartless demon beating them under the name of training.

***

By the time she was finished with their training session, the entirety of her group had collapsed to the floor in broken and exhausted messes. They couldn't even lift their heads, never mind stand and fight.

Astra wiped the sweat from her brow, looking down at them with a hint of disappointment, as well as a tinge of guilt. Maybe she had gone a bit overboard with them, but every time that pink haired wenches face popped into her head, she couldn't help but use them to vent her anger. But it was probably for their own good, as training. Right?

Resting her sword on her shoulder, she glanced over them one last time before walking away, leaving them to their rest. But just as they were beginning to finally relax, she just had to say one last thing.

"Good session guys, We'll pick it up again tomorrow so get some rest. You'll need it."

As she walked away, she could swear she could hear the sound of someone crying, but it was probably nothing. Just weakness leaving the body, as they always said. She was planning to look for Carnifex, get a little extra training in with just him, but he was busy with other trainees.

He was always bouncing between them, never even looking her way and constantly grabbing new people to instruct. It almost made Astra wonder if he was trying to avoid her, but that was just a silly thought to begin with.

Although, he was currently in his shining white Yang form, instead of his balanced grey. But why would he split himself when they were just training? If it was just to instruct more people, then surely the Yin side would be somewhere around here, but it was no where to be seen.

Simply shrugging it off, and chalking all these strange thoughts up to it being just a bad day. Astra decided that what she really needed was a bath. Bath's always made her feel better. She immediately headed inside, passing by the castle's kitchen on her way to her bedroom only to hear absolute chaos coming from within.

Pots and pans crashing, mixed words being half shouted and half whispered between multiple individuals, like the way your parents would argue when they didn't want you to hear, even though you absolutely could hear.

But when she knocked on the door to check things were alright, she was simply ushered away by a smiling cook who only poked her head out of the door. She kept the door closed tight, using her body to block sight inside.

They didn't seem to be in danger, simply heated in argument between each other. What a strange day today was.

Eventually Astra made it back to her bedroom and filled up the tub for her bath. Because of her ability and it's reaction to water, she had to use special water that shimmered like it was full of crystals.

She poured it into the tub, gallons of this water coming from a small, crystalline canteen that was no where near big enough to contain all that liquid, yet it showed no sign of stopping even when the tub was entirely full and could easily submerge her entire body. It was one of her first Requitals, seemingly made specifically for her condition.

Great for washing, although horrible to drink.

She quickly stepped into the bath, the dirt and grime literally melting off her body as soon as it came into contact with the specialised liquid. Soon enough, she was resting with her feet up and head resting against the back of the tub, simply enjoying the sensation and the heat.

It was so good, in fact, that she found herself dozing off and was only startled awake by a loud knock at her door.

'Wh-wha? Who could that be now?'