The next morning, sunlight spilled through the academy windows, the scent of sea salt drifting in from the nearby coast.
Milly or rather, Mila stood at the edge of the training field, stretching her arms and legs. They felt stiff, but strong again.
The faint marks from the healing runes had already faded.
"All right, everyone!" she called, her voice bright and sharp as ever. "Line up! We're going to start with a warm-up run. Five laps around the field!"
A collective groan erupted from Class F.
"Five laps?!"
"Miss Mila, that's cruel!"
"My legs are still sore from yesterday!"
Milly grinned, placing her hands on her hips. "Sore legs mean you're improving. Now go before I decide to make it six."
A few students muttered complaints, but they obeyed, jogging off in a ragged line.
As they ran, Milly walked alongside them, keeping a calm, steady pace. Despite her near-death encounter only days ago, she looked unbothered, even cheerful.
A few students whispered among themselves.
"She's walking like nothing happened."
"Didn't she lose her arm and leg?"
"Yeah, but she's fine now! How is that even possible?"
Milly overheard them and smirked. "Magic, discipline, and eating your vegetables," she said without missing a beat.
The students laughed, and the tension in the air melted.
After the laps, she gathered them for combat drills. Wooden swords clashed, magic spells sparked faintly in the air weak, but promising. Milly corrected postures, adjusted breathing, and even demonstrated a few advanced dodges.
Her body still ached slightly, but she hid it well.
Every time a student fell, she offered a hand to pull them back up.
"Fighting isn't about who hits harder," she reminded them. "It's about who refuses to stay down."
The students listened closely, even the usually distracted ones.
By noon, the sun was blazing high. Sweat drenched everyone, but there was laughter and energy in the air.
Tira approached her, panting. "Miss Mila! Can't we rest now?"
Milly gave her a teasing grin. "Rest? We've only been going for three hours."
"Three?!"
Groans erupted across the class again, followed by chuckles.
Finally, she let them sit in the shade to cool off. She herself sat nearby, her eyes scanning the horizon for a moment, thoughtful.
The image of the burning forest and the chimera still flickered in her mind. The Sage's words echoed faintly: Power like that always demands a price.
She shook her head slightly. "Not now," she muttered to herself.
Just as she began to relax, another teacher approached an older man with glasses and a clipboard. "Miss Mila," he said, bowing slightly. "The Headmistress has requested a meeting later this afternoon."
Milly raised an eyebrow. "Another meeting? Let me guess, about that forest incident?"
He nodded awkwardly. "Possibly. She didn't specify, only that it was… urgent."
Milly sighed, brushing a bit of hair from her face. "Fine. Tell her I'll be there after class."
As the man walked away, one of her students piped up curiously. "Miss Mila, are you in trouble again?"
She flashed a sly grin. "Probably. But that's what makes life interesting, right?"
The class burst into laughter again, and Milly leaned back, letting the sunlight warm her skin.
For now, just for now. she could pretend everything was normal.