Dawn Training and Heartfelt Farewells

Before the daily quest could even start, an unfamiliar presence woke me up. A rustling sound came from somewhere nearby. When I strained my ears, something was moving just outside the tent, very close by.

Reina?

I cautiously peeked out of the tent. There she was, dressed in light workout clothes, walking off in some direction without any tools or weapons in hand.

Is this the training she mentioned yesterday?

I stealthily followed behind her. She found a suitable spot, settled in, and silently began warming up. Push-ups, sit-ups, squats... and so on. They were all familiar movements, but her speed was so blindingly fast that I couldn't even count how many she did.

She wasn't doing anything particularly special.

Hmm...

Then she stood up and wordlessly headed somewhere else. I hurried after her, but after just a few steps, her figure vanished between the trees.

Ugh, she's too fast...

With no choice, I plopped down under a nearby tree and decided to wait for her return. About 30 minutes later, she came back as if nothing had happened.

I approached her.

"You're awake?"

"Yeah... Where'd you go?"

"Just did some running. Nowhere special."

For someone who said that, there was a massive monster carcass slung over her shoulder, just like before.

"Ah~ This? I took care of a monster on the way and grabbed some ingredients. No big deal."

... .. .

The next day was the same. Somehow, my eyes snapped open on their own, and when I stepped outside, I spotted Reina's back as she walked off in similar attire.

I carefully followed her, and sure enough, she was doing her training again today.

Hmm...

After a moment's hesitation, I decided I had to try it myself too.

I'm putting my faith in big sis, ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠after all.

With renewed resolve, I approached her to join in the training.

What?

A quest?

By the time the system window appeared, popping up a quest wasn't all that surprising, but it was still unfamiliar the first time.

...Daily quest... And 'First Step to Strength'...

No matter how I looked at it, it seemed beneficial rather than harmful. My gamer instincts from playing tons of games in my past life were screaming that I couldn't pass this up.

Of course, I accepted the quest.

If clearing it just meant doing this much exercise... it was absolutely not a bad deal.

No penalties in sight either...

I'd need to learn more about this system to judge its efficiency properly, but this was the first time I'd found a way to actually raise my stats right now.

Hold on... But...

Push-ups, sit-ups, squats, running? These were exactly what Reina did every day.

Could this be what big sis was talking about?

But how? Did she see the system too?

Either way, the fact that she'd helped me was undeniable.

Big sis...

For the first time, I could see a glimmer of hope that getting stronger might not be so hard after all.

"Heh heh heh."

A smile crept onto my lips unbidden. With a joyful heart, I approached Reina, who was in the middle of her push-ups.

"Teresa? You wanna train too?"

"Yeah."

I naturally took position beside her and tried a push-up.

—Thud

But in an instant, my arms couldn't support my body at all, and my face and torso slammed into the ground under gravity.

Huh?

It hurt, of course, but I was more stunned.

Were push-ups always this hard?

I got back into position and tried bending my arms again...

—Thud

My frail arms buckled powerlessly, and I face-planted once more.

"...Ugh, uuu..."

The pain hit me late.

"...Ugh... Why... won't it work...?"

Reina answered my unwitting mutter.

"Your muscles can't handle it right now."

"...Then what do I do?"

"Don't aim for perfect form right away. Start by kneeling instead of on your toes."

I followed her instructions and got into position.

"Like this?"

"Good. Now try."

It was better than before, but still not easy.

"...Ugh, uuuugh...!"

I managed to bend my arms somehow, but my upper body wouldn't lift.

"No! Don't give up! You can do it! It's not just your arms! Tighten your core too! Yes! A little more! Just a bit further!"

"Uuuuuuugh!!!"

I poured every ounce of strength I had and barely lifted my upper body.

"Good! Well done. Now one more time..."

But my body had already reached its limit.

"...I-it's impossible... Hah, haa... B-big sis... My arms... have no strength left..."

"Well, can't be helped. But you succeeded once, so if you build up the reps little by little, push-ups will be a breeze eventually. Rest a bit and try again."

"...Hah, okay."

Panting heavily, I checked the quest window with effort.

Thank goodness, it counted that one as a success.

But... do I really have to do ten of these?

I regretted underestimating it earlier.

"Alright, you've rested enough. Let's go again."

"Huh? B-but... it hasn't even been 30 seconds?"

"What are you talking about? It's been over three minutes already. Come on, get into position."

Liar!

"...I-it's too hard... Can't we stop for today?"

"What, you did one push-up and now you're whining like you're dying? At least ten. And after push-ups, we'll do the rest."

"...I never agreed to that..."

As I hesitated, Reina forcibly adjusted my body into position.

"No more complaining. Go."

"...Ugh, uuu..."

... .. .

We arrived at the monastery three days later. Guided by a monk, we entered the abbess's office. The heavy wooden door swung open to reveal a serene, modest space. Restia's emblem and a simple holy image hung on the wall, and soft sunlight slanted in through the window.

The abbess, seated at a low, neat desk in the room's center, stood silently as we entered and personally pulled out worn wooden chairs for us.

"...What a pitiful child, to have suffered such a tragedy. Nearly sacrificed to heretics..."

The abbess frowned slightly as she spoke.

"So, you'll take Teresa in here?"

The nun nodded at Reina's question.

"Of course. Under Restia's teachings, this place is always open to those who've endured harsh trials like her, or the unfortunate without a home. We'll take her in."

"Thank you, Abbess."

After brief greetings, some of the group left, leaving only the abbess and Carlos in the room.

Carlos spoke cautiously.

"It's been a while, Abbess Gracia. I'm glad to see you're well."

"I'm not so old that I need to worry about health yet."

She narrowed her eyes and continued.

"You're the one I'm relieved to see doing well so far."

"Haha..."

Carlos laughed awkwardly, ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠scratching the back of his head.

"When I heard you'd turned down a bishopric to adventure with the Hero, I worried if someone as rigid as you could finish the journey properly."

A brief silence fell, then Carlos spoke with a serious expression.

"Abbess. Please take good care of that child."

"...That doesn't sound like an ordinary request. Bringing her here wasn't mere chance, was it? You have something to tell me privately?"

Carlos nodded slowly.

"Yes. That child is special."

"Will you tell me what you know in detail?"

... .. .

At the stone steps leading down from the monastery courtyard, Reina and Vivian's footsteps halted.

"Guess this is really goodbye."

Vivian lifted the corner of her mouth wistfully. She stepped forward and placed something on my hand—a small, worn amulet. Faded with age, but its carefully folded shape felt somehow warm.

"What's this?"

"Take it. A gift. It was short, but... I'm glad we met."

"Yeah. Thanks, Vivian ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠sis. I was happy to meet you all too."

Vivian suddenly turned her head slightly. Emotion flickered in her eyes, but she tried to swallow it silently, true to form.

"...Try to get along with the other kids... But if anyone bullies you, don't hold back. Give 'em a lesson."

"Okay."

"...Y-yeah... I'll write... Reply, okay."

"Okay."

She nodded awkwardly, then gently stroked my head. A brief touch, full of reluctant affection.

"Teresa."

Reina, who had been silent, called my name carefully.

"Yeah?"

"...Um, so... that is..."

She seemed to have something to say, but her lips only trembled, unable to form the words.

"Reina sis."

I slowly approached her and slipped into the slight opening of her arms, burying myself deep in her chest.

"Teresa!?"

Unlike before, her armor felt a bit hard, but the warmth seeping through was familiar. She still smelled nice.

But... a strange ache tugged at my heart.

"Thanks, sis."

"...Yeah."

For a moment... I felt her body heat, her scent, the unspoken emotions.

I just wanted to hold on a little longer like that.

Then, footsteps approached from afar.

"Finished with your goodbyes?"

I looked up at the low voice. Carlos was approaching with a young nun.

I gently released my ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠arms from around Reina.

"Yeah... Let's go."

She stepped back and nodded shortly. Her eyes still wavered, but she said nothing more.

Carlos bowed to me.

"Take care, then."

"Farewell."

With that, they turned and descended the steps, leaving their backs to us. Reina glanced back with a playful wave...

Vivian hesitated as if to turn, but ultimately pressed on down the stairs without a word.

And... their figures slowly faded from view.