The heat of the battle still burned in Strax's body, each movement making his muscles scream, his wounds pulsing. It was a familiar sensation, though intensified, a pain he had learned to endure. Though his body was nearly at its limit, his mind remained focused. He rose, healed, and prepared for the next round. Each strike, each punch, each cut into his flesh shaped him more and more, transforming him into something... different.
Training with Cassandra was no longer just about strength. Now, it was about endurance. But not only physical endurance, but mental as well. And even with all the challenges, Strax began to notice something he couldn't fully understand — the attraction he felt toward Cassandra and, perhaps, what she felt for him.
As he continued his relentless training routine, Cassandra also seemed different. At first, she treated each day as just another battle to break him, to test his limits. But over time, something began to change. With each new movement, each new strike exchanged, she started to notice how Strax, even completely exhausted, still got back up, still faced the pain, still defied her expectations.
She watched from afar, trying not to show it, but she couldn't help but notice how different he was becoming. It wasn't just his body — it was his mentality, his inner strength. She began to wonder what drove him, what made him keep going, even when his body could take no more.
"What kind of person are you?" she thought, her mind reflecting on him as she watched him rise once more. He never gave up, not even when his body seemed to be at its breaking point. His resilience was remarkable, but more than that, it was his ability to keep moving forward. He wasn't afraid to fail. Unlike Cassandra, who often feared exposing herself, showing her weaknesses, Strax seemed to embrace his limitations.
Sometimes, when the training became more of a game than a life-or-death fight, Strax would let out a few smiles, playful glances as he wielded the wooden sword. It wasn't an expression of arrogance, but more as if he were testing Cassandra's limits, as if, on some level, he enjoyed the challenge. He was starting to realize that she, just like him, wasn't invulnerable. And that was fascinating.
The battles had now become a deadly dance. When they met in the training grounds, deep in the forest, the wooden swords clashed with the sound of a brutal symphony, echoing through the trees. But there was something more. Something in their glances, something in the quick, fluid gestures as they moved with an almost instinctive harmony. They were no longer enemies. Not exactly. They were something more — partners in a constant battle, where one was always trying to outdo the other.
Strax moved nimbly, jumping backward with a mischievous grin as Cassandra advanced with fury. He felt the strong wind around him as she challenged him, and for a moment, the two were caught in something that transcended mere training. Every movement, every thrust, was meticulously calculated, but with the lightness and speed of a dance.
"Do you really think you're going to beat me with this game, Strax?" Cassandra teased as she spun to dodge one of his attacks.
"You don't think you're going to catch me like this, do you?" Strax replied with a laugh, throwing the wooden sword in an unexpected move that Cassandra barely managed to dodge.
And as the game continued, Strax felt a lightness in his body that hadn't been there before. He was learning something new, something that wasn't about power or strength, but about adaptation. His way of fighting was becoming more fluid, more strategic. He was no longer just responding to Cassandra's attacks; he was anticipating them, moving with precision, with the same dexterity she displayed. He was beginning to understand how she thought. Not just understand, but connect with her on a deeper, more personal level.
"Don't make me laugh," Cassandra said again, attacking with impressive speed, trying to catch Strax off guard.
But this time, he was more prepared. He spun to the side, dodging with an unexpected agility, and as she passed him, he didn't miss the opportunity. He struck quickly with his wooden sword, hitting Cassandra's shoulder. She stopped, surprised that she hadn't caught him this time.
"Ah, of course," Strax said, his expression becoming more mischievous. "And that 'I don't care about anything' face is just a disguise, isn't it? I can see that you care, Cassandra. You just don't know how to deal with it yet."
She almost found herself speechless, the situation completely out of her control. "I... I don't... you're just trying to irritate me, aren't you?" She finally took a step back, as if trying to distance herself from the charged atmosphere between them.
"No, it's not just that," Strax said, his voice now lower, but with a serious tone that seemed to contradict the lightness of the moment. "I just think you're more interesting than you're letting on. You act like you don't care about anything, but deep down... I know you do."
Cassandra was starting to lose control. Something about him was making her feel... different, and she didn't like it. She was used to being the one in control, but now it seemed Strax was slowly taking that away from her, with every word he spoke.
She looked at him, jaw clenched, but a hint of color rising to her cheeks. "You have no idea what you're saying..." She tried again, but her voice faltered, and she couldn't deny that he was starting to hit the mark.
Strax smiled, never breaking eye contact. "Oh, but you're enjoying this, aren't you? Even if you don't want to admit it."
Cassandra, irritated with herself, looked away and waved her hand impatiently. "You stink, Strax. After all this training and fighting... maybe it's better for you to go wash in the hot springs."
Strax looked at her, a mischievous grin forming on his lips. "Hmm, hot springs, huh? Wouldn't it be more interesting if you came to bathe with me? I think it'd be more fun."
Cassandra froze, her eyes widening at hearing that. She stood still for a moment, not knowing how to respond, a mix of surprise and embarrassment flooding her. What had he just said? Was he... was he flirting with her? This couldn't be happening. Not with Strax. Not him.
"W-What?" she stammered, her voice faltering, her face turning as red as fire from embarrassment. She started to stammer, trying to recover from the wave of shame hitting her all at once. "You... you... I... I'm leaving!" She turned abruptly and began to walk quickly, her legs shaking as she hurried toward the forest.
Strax watched her retreat, still wearing that mischievous smile, and couldn't help but enjoy the moment. He had never imagined he could have this effect on her. He was starting to enjoy the challenge she represented. But now, he knew the game was just beginning.
"You can run, Cassandra," he shouted after her as she ran off, "but you can't avoid me forever!"
[Mission Update]