H.I.S. 40

*Scarlet point of view*

Over the next few days, training was intense. Jenna, Sera, and I spent every spare moment honing our abilities and mapping out strategies. With only a week, every second counted.

The whispers I'd heard that day didn't return, but an eerie feeling still lingered. Sometimes, when I was alone, I'd feel a chill in the air, like I was being watched. It made me uneasy, but I pushed it aside, reminding myself that the competition was the priority.

"Scarlet, you should focus on your sword skills," Jenna suggested, giving me a reassuring nod. She and Sera both knew how much time I'd spent training, perfecting my strikes and techniques. Sword fighting was the one thing I could rely on. It is the only skill I could master even without mana or any magical ability. Though, I know that if you have mana, you can double or triple up your ability, but for me... natural skills is enough.