After bidding farewell to Edan at the academy, everyone arrived, and Rachel pulled Shoyo aside, asking Cloude and Jennie to return to the dormitory first.
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In front of Shoyo, Rachel hesitated for a long time before finally stuttering out the words. "Shoyo... Edan also thinks my progress is slow. Starting next week, he will personally train me alone. Do you... have anything to say about it?" She spoke while looking around, avoiding eye contact with Shoyo.
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"Seniors giving personal guidance? Of course, you don't need to think twice; you should immediately agree! It's such a rare opportunity for you to learn from a senior who's so proficient in qi," Shoyo replied without hesitation. Rachel didn't respond, and she informed Cloude and Jennie about leaving the group.
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Jennie was curious about why Shoyo didn't stop Rachel, wondering if he trusted her so much. She had spoken with Rachel before and had guessed that Rachel had some feelings for Shoyo, so she wanted to understand this situation better. She excitedly asked Shoyo, "Why did you let Rachel go with the senior? Don't you think you should have stopped her?"
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"Is there anything wrong with having a senior teach her personally? We can't help much, why are you so worried?" Facing Jennie's annoyance, Shoyo didn't know what he had done to provoke it.
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"...Fool."
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On Saturday night, Rachel still stayed at Shoyo's house.
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"Starting tomorrow, I'll be training with Edan alone. Do you have anything to say to me?" She asked Shoyo, who was sleeping on the ground, but she already knew the answer.
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"Keep up the good work, don't miss the opportunity to train with the senior." Rachel was somewhat dissatisfied, so she tested once again. "Can you give me something to keep me safe before we part?"
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"It's strange. The senior's protective talisman is with you, and we'll still see each other during academy and holiday nights. Goodnight." Shoyo was exhausted today and didn't have the energy to chat with her until dawn.
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However, he noticed that Rachel didn't respond at all, and he thought his tone might have been a bit too heavy. Furthermore, with only three people left on Sunday, he felt an inexplicable sense of loss. Therefore, he removed the pendant from his neck and handed it to Rachel.
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"I made this shell necklace with my own hands when I was ten by the beach. Take it." The pendant was a special-shaped shell strung with hemp rope and seaweed. Rachel reached out from her blanket and took it without saying a word, without even looking back.
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Shoyo thought she hadn't fully calmed down, so he didn't want to pester her. "Goodnight."
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During the following holidays, Shoyo and the other three continued their adventures. Although Cloude and Jennie had known each other for a long time, there was no barrier when they interacted with Shoyo. Instead, their understanding of each other deepened.
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Rachel and Edan trained alone. It was a bit awkward at the beginning, but with Edan's enthusiasm, Rachel gradually warmed up. The feeling of being cared for was different from what she experienced with Shoyo. However, the warmth of their conversations every weeknight was beyond doubt.
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After three weeks of learning ContQi with Edan, the two rested on the border of "Paradise." "How is it? Can you start feeling the presence of qi?"
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During her training, Rachel gradually started to generate qi as she pushed her physical limits. "I've noticed the presence of qi, but it's hard to imagine controlling it." She complained to Edan.
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Edan taught her carefully and shared his experience since this was a necessary stage. "Remember that driving force. Imagine it as something as natural as moving your limbs, as if it's a part of yourself... Watch out!"
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Several Cruewolves pounced out from the jungle. Although Cruewolves were carnivorous animals that lived in groups, their numbers were manageable. However, Rachel had already exhausted much of her qi during training and knew she didn't stand a chance. So, she immediately fled toward Grandecy with Edan, but she was too tired to run.
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Edan picked her up. Even though they would undoubtedly be caught in this state, he was determined to try his best, no matter what.
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