12 12. Night training

The school's time ended with a blare of ring. The students swarming out of school's gate to go back home as soon as possible. After the incident of gang fights, nobody dared to linger around after school yet.

Soon, a lone figure lazily steps out of the gate with her iconic smirk. It's Rira Alona.

Raymond lean on his back to wall, chatting with his best buddy. Rira recognise him as Lucas Adler, Raymond' deskmate. Lucas Adler saw her and nodded politely to her. Raymond turned, waving at her.

" Sister! Here!"

Rira gave out a smile as a greeting to Lucas Adler. The boy's face turned red, but he quickly control it to avoid getting teased by Raymond later on.

" Dad will be late, so your turn to cook dinner. Elder sister didn't return tonight. So, only the two of us." Raymond showed Alric's message to her. Rira shrugged as her agreement.

Rita's packed schedule was nothing new to them. She's already at her end year of study, so her final year project becomes her only priority. It is good enough for her to come back once a week on weekends.

The three of them walked back. Raymond and Lucas Adler chatted in front, followed by small talks with Rira behind them.

They went passed the small alley. Rira subconsciously turned to look at the corner of the dark alley. Her eyes narrowed as she saw a small, reddish light from that corner. Slowly, a familiar figure in black turtleneck shirt showed out.

Rira stunned. It's him! She quickly turned back and walked faster. Her change of expression didn't escape from his sharp gaze. He chuckled softly and retreated back into the dark.

Dinner time expected only two siblings on the table. The two talks about the day at their school. Raymond talking and Rira smiling, the harmonious atmosphere was quite obvious in these days after Rira's recent change of attitude. After the meal, Raymond went to the kitchen to wash the dishes and clean up the table. Rira went upstairs to change into her exercise outfit. She planned to train every night to stay fits and strong. She might be strong in previous life, but the current body's aptitude and constitution quite lacking.

She went downstairs, and saw Raymond sitting in the couch, watching news. He already in his sleeping pyjama, looking fresh and youthful.

" I'm going out to the park." Rira put the a blue skechers on, while talking to Raymond.

" Huh? Going to the park at this time?" Raymond startled and turned around with a surprise look. He put down the juice on the table and went to the door entrance. He saw Rira Alona ready in her off-road wear.

" Don't worry. I'll come back before eleven. If Daddy asks, just tell him I'm there. I'm off." Rira push open the door and closed it after waving. Raymond standing with a complicated expression.

Rira's great change in attitude and character remains a mysterious to the whole family. Especially, Rita. They might not close enough to know the other minds, but it doesn't mean they are ignorant. Alric also saw this obvious change, but chose to ignore it. However, Rita was different. She's sharp and intelligent.

As for him, Raymond stood at his father's side. Rira change was a good thing, as long as she remained as their family member.

Raymond shook his head before went back inside.

*******

Rira arrived after jogging out from her home to the park. She went to an obstacles course track and put down her small bag and water bottle on the bench. The park divided in three parts. On the South was a playground for children. Right beside it was a pond with carp fish inside. Another side was a mini gymnasium with several outdoor machines for exercise.

At the East side was a big grass field with track lines. There's a small hill in the middle of the field with a tree.

The last part was where she standing at the moment. It's a big training ground with outdoor obstacles course. She noticed this training ground days ago and interested to do work-out every night here. She went down to do warm-ups exercises. She found this set of exercises on the Internet. In her previous life, most of her training course was for warriors and soldiers. She chose several sets of exercises that suitable for the current lifestyle of her from that bloody training courses.

The only light on the training ground was near the bench. The obstacles course was totally in the dark. Her natural night vision was excellent enough to visualise the whole obstacles course in her mind. She took down her jacket and put it on top of her bag, leaving a grey open back workout tank top and a fitting black sport 3/4 legging. She tied her hair in a tight bun.

She walked and stood at the starting point of the course track. She do jumping up and down, to get ready. With a skip, she shot out to perform the first course of the obstacles, running on the log. Tonight, the obstacles course officially became her personal training ground.

From afar, a black silhouette appeared from the dark. The tall, robust figure walked out from his hiding, observing that lithe, small figure doing obstacles course. He saw her going out tonight and decided to follow. And here he was, accompanying her in silent. His trained night vision saw her clearly jumping, running, climbing around the course one by one without any difficulty.

What intrigued him more was her nimble, ninja-like styles. It's so silent and soundless. If ordinary people here, they wouldn't be able to detect her presence doing the course.

Thud!

He saw her jump down from the last course, wall climbing. She pats her hands to dust-off the dirt. She turned around to start again from the ending point, but stopped halfway after sensing another presence in the training ground. Her eyes constricted. She turned back and saw a silhouette in the dark.

The figure walked to the bench. Under the only light in the training ground, the silhouette slowly, revealing himself to her. Rira could hear a thud in her chest.

It's him!

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