"Chance would be the best opponent against Christopher," nel offers.

"You heard him," Dunder pushes Chance towards the center of the circle. Chance pleads, dragging his feet and praying to the Captain. "New boy, show us what you've got." He clicks his tongue as if he were talking to a dog, directing Xiao to the center. She approaches, familiar anxiety sweeps through her.

"Pick a weapon, sword or dagger?" "Dagger," she states as though it's an obvious choice. To Xiao, the weighty sword felt like a symbol of nobility and narcissism.

"Why doesn't Christopher need a weapon?" She wonders. Dunder bellows in laughter, arching his back to cackle at the sky.

Chance takes the first move, launching forward, attempting to slash at Christopher's side; only to be swiftly blocked by vines.

The vines reach further and slither around Chance. Meanwhile, Christopher stands unaffected, his feet firmly planted and his face unamused. Xiao panics, they've only just started and Christopher has the upper hand. She has to be smart, attacking straight on won't affect him.

She stands still, appearing to Christopher as though she was still contemplating her next line of attack. Until a rumble in the earth is felt and the ground beneath Christopher shakes. Christopher falls to the ground as Xiao propels herself forward. But just before she strikes, A vine reaches up, illuminating a faint green, and wraps around her dagger.

The world stills, from behind her she feels an intense heat. Her eyes are blinded, she looks away, trying to avoid the light.

Chance is completely engulfed with fire. The blaze burns with an uncontrollable rath. abruptly, fire shoots off of him, almost singeing Xiao, she narrowly escapes but is forced to abandon her weapon. "What are you doing! Work together!" Dunder facepalms. Christopher easily wraps vines around the both of them. The battle is concluded with all parties feeling unfulfilled.

"I am so sorry Xiao," Chance says, looking genuinely worried; but Xiao is perfectly stoic. The team assumes her shock is delayed and rushes to her side. Nel looks exasperated, never before has he met someone so willing to get themselves killed. He looks at her precariously, noticing a single eyebrow missing. Too stunned to say anything he brings his palm to his mouth. Xiao brushes the place her eyebrow used to be. Disappointed in herself, frustration begins to permeate. She excuses herself to the bathroom as an excuse to finally find some time alone. Feeling too rigid and vulnerable to try and put up a front at the moment.

The small ecosystem is soothing. Dew sweeps over swaying plants, and when she walks on the wet leaves they make satisfying sounds. The trees reach high into the sky and she strains her neck trying to see the tops. She finds herself calmed by the chirps of birds around her. When she hears the familiar crack of a stick being stepped on, she comforts herself by feeling the weight of her butterfly knife.

In the corner of her eye appears a white glare. Turning to chase the source, she sees a small metal shard peaking out of a pile of dirt and leaves. Inspecting further, it's an amulet. Ornate swirls cover its surface and a wyverns body sits in the center, curling its tail around its imposing body. Picking it up Xiao sweeps the dirt from its surface, the hand-carved grooves brush against her fingers. Something this decorated must have been valuable and she wonders who would have left it behind. Instinctually, she pockets it, thinking later she can get a pretty penny for it.

A whistle calls her back to the others.