Twenty-eight

Curiosity piqued, Eloise turned her attention back to Alice, wondering what she had to say. She could sense that Alice had something important on her mind, something that she wanted to share with her. "I wonder what she wants to tell me," she thought, a mix of anticipation and intrigue swirling within her.

Taking a moment to collect her thoughts, Alice began speaking, gratitude evident in her voice. "I wanted to thank you, Eloise. You remember during the mission we went on together? You helped me when I was in a tough spot. I really appreciate it," she expressed, her eyes reflecting genuine appreciation.

Eloise's expression softened, touched by Alice's gratitude. She recalled the mission they had gone on, how they had faced danger and uncertainty together. She remembered how Alice had been cornered by the enemy, and how she had rushed to her aid without hesitation. "No need for all that, Alice. It's okay, really. You're my friend, and helping each other is what friends do," she reassured her, a warm smile spreading across her face.

Alice shifted her gaze, seemingly hesitant, before finally gathering the courage to ask a different question. "By the way, what do you think of Maria?" she inquired, her voice carrying a hint of curiosity.

Eloise raised an eyebrow, a playful smirk forming on her lips. She noticed how Alice's tone changed when she mentioned Maria's name, how there was a subtle spark in her eyes. She decided to have some fun with her friend. "Oh, are you in love with her? You seem to be quite close," she teased, her tone light-hearted.

Alice's face flushed with embarrassment, and she quickly covered her face with her hands. "No, stop! Why are you asking me that?" she exclaimed, her cheeks turning a deeper shade of red.

Eloise chuckled, finding amusement in Alice's reaction. She enjoyed seeing her friend flustered and nervous. She knew that Alice had feelings for Maria, even if she didn't admit it herself. "No worries, Alice. It was just a joke. But from the way you reacted, it says a lot," she remarked, her voice tinged with playful teasing.

Alice removed her hands from her face, revealing a mixture of relief and embarrassment. She tried to act casual and change the subject. "Just answer my question Eloise," she insisted.

Eloise shrugged, not wanting to press the matter further. She gave her honest opinion about Maria. "Actually I don't know what to say about her. She is quite flirtatious but she seems to be quite nice," she said, scratching her head.

Alice nodded, accepting Eloise's answer. She decided to return the favor and tease Eloise a bit. She smirked and said: "And you yesterday you were encouraging Jade really hard. Are you in love with her?"

Eloise was silent and started to think. She felt a pang of emotion in her chest when she thought of Jade. Jade was a very good friend of hers, someone who always supported her and made her laugh. But was there something more than friendship between them? Eloise wasn't sure.

"Actually I don't know. She is a very good friend," Eloise responded.

Alice smiled knowingly and said: "I see."

Eloise felt uncomfortable and wanted to end the conversation. She remembered something that had been bothering her for a while. She had a suspicion that Maria could be involved with what happened to Orobarian before. She decided to ask Alice for a favor.

"By the way since you're so close to Maria could you please survey her?" Eloise asked.

Alice was surprised by Eloise's request. She wondered why Eloise wanted her to spy on Maria.

"You want me to spy on her?" Alice asked.

Eloise nodded and said: "Just do me this favor and then you can get to know Maria better."

Alice sighed and said: "All right then."

She agreed to help Eloise out of friendship and curiosity.

As class ended, Eloise made her way to visit Orobarian. She found him in a secluded part of the forest, where he resided among the towering trees.

"Eloise, it's been a long time. You hardly come to see me anymore. I've been feeling quite lonely. My only friends are the trees and plants. What a sad life I lead," Orobarian lamented, his voice carrying a hint of melancholy.

Eloise approached Orobarian, her eyes filled with affectionate fondness. "Oh, stop saying that, Orobarian. You have the ability to turn into a human, but you choose to stay in the forest. It's your own decision, and it doesn't make your life sad," she countered, her voice gentle and reassuring.

Orobarian sighed, his eyes reflecting a mixture of resignation and amusement. "You've become quite sharp, Eloise. I thought you'd console me, but it seems you prefer to put me down," he remarked, a playful glimmer in his voice.

Eloise smiled, her gaze meeting Orobarian's. "Well, I came here to train, Orobarian. I plan to come here every day for a week. I hope you can teach me a lot of things, especially how to fight without relying solely on my magic or engaging in magical combat," she explained, her determination shining through.

Orobarian's eyes lit up with intrigue and excitement. "Ah, at least I won't be so lonely anymore. Very well, you can fight me in my human form. It might be challenging for you if I were to transform into my dragon form," he agreed, a sense of anticipation lacing his words.

For the next week, after school, Eloise dedicated herself to training with Orobarian. They engaged in intense body-to-body combat, with Eloise gradually making progress despite Orobarian's superior strength. The physical exertion and rigorous training pushed her to her limits, but she remained resolute in her pursuit of growth.

During one of their training sessions, as the sun began its descent, Orobarian halted the sparring. "You've made significant progress, Eloise. Now you're able to touch me. Let's continue," he acknowledged, a hint of admiration in his voice.

Eloise, drenched in sweat and breathing heavily, nodded, her determination unwavering. "How are you so fast? I can barely follow your movements with my eyes," she inquired, a mix of awe and frustration evident in her voice.

Several hours later, as the training session drew to a close, Orobarian called an end to their practice. "Go home, Eloise. Training is over for today," he declared, his voice filled with a mixture of satisfaction and exhaustion.