The Prodigious Nim, Part Thirty-Three

The sun was just beginning to hang on the horizon as Melisa made her way to her and Raven's usual training grounds. 

[Two days,] Melisa thought, her stomach twisting with nerves. [Just two more days until the tournament.]

She had been training harder than ever these past weeks, pushing herself to the limit in preparation for this moment.

But now, with the event looming so close, she couldn't help but feel a flicker of doubt.

[Am I ready? I mean, I've learned so many spells, but what if the other students have too?] 

Shaking her head, Melisa pushed those thoughts aside.

She couldn't afford to second-guess herself, not now. Not when so much was riding on her performance.

[I'm basically carrying the reputation of a whole group of people on my shoulders. That's so crazy.] 

As she approached the training area, she spotted a familiar figure waiting for her.