Neverport seemed unchanged, as if the events of two hours ago had never occurred.

  The fog had lifted, and life in the coastal village resumed as normal.

  Residents carried on, oblivious to the chaos that had so recently unfolded.

  After agreeing to revisit their plans the next day, Becca and Axel went their separate ways to focus on their respective tasks.

  By the beach, Axel was immersed in training his developing soldiers.

  He knew a battle was looming on the horizon, and preparation was critical.

  Each drill was tougher than the last, and Axel's commanding presence drove his recruits to their limits.

  At Becca's request, CJ and Philly had joined the training session.

  But like most of the recruits, they struggled to keep up with Axel's grueling regimen.

  "It seems I overestimated the two of you," Axel said sharply, his piercing gaze fixed on the exhausted pair sprawled on the ground. "Take a rest."

  CJ and Philly exchanged nervous glances as Axel approached them.

  His voice was calm but carried a razor's edge.

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  "The two of you are the Queen's personal guards," Axel began, his tone heavy with disappointment. "Yet you can barely keep pace with the top three in the military. If I don't see drastic improvement, you'll be relieved of that role. Five weeks. That's all you have. Impress me, or I'll replace you."

  CJ bolted upright, "YOU CAN'T DO THAT! WE—"

  He stopped mid-sentence as Axel's bright blue glare silenced him.

  Axel's eyes burned with authority as he drew his swords,b"You're in that position because of your personal connection to her, not your ability to protect her. That ends now. Do I make myself clear?"

  CJ and Philly nodded silently, the weight of Axel's words sinking in as he turned his back to rejoin the fighting circle.

  ---

  Elsewhere, in the presence room, Becca was focused on her own training.

  She stood in the center of the room, casting spiraling orbs of water into jar containers as Emily and her friends watched intently.

  "Looks like this one went pretty far," Emily commented, a smile spreading across her face as her friends murmured in amazement.

  Becca frowned, her hand resting on the glowing ring on her finger, "Distance isn't the issue," she said, shaking her head. "It's the size I need to work on."

  Suddenly, Emily's friends launched a surprise attack, splashing Becca with water and then Emily.

  "We got them!" one of them exclaimed, laughing triumphantly.

  But their celebration was short-lived. Becca, now dripping wet, glared at them with a mischievous grin. Emily, equally soaked, shared her mother's expression.

  "Mom," Emily began, her voice dripping with mock seriousness. "I think these boys haven't washed in days." She picked up a jar of water, her smirk growing more sinister.

  Becca followed her daughter's lead, lifting another jar. "You're right. Those shirts look filthy."

  The two boys froze, panic flashing in their eyes. They tried to retreat, but it was too late. Becca and Emily unleashed a relentless barrage of water, leaving the boys drenched and defeated.

  As laughter echoed through the room, the tension of the coming battle seemed, for a brief moment, to lift.

  But everyone knew the storm was fast approaching, and this fleeting reprieve wouldn't last.