They followed the path through a maze of trees. It was very beautiful here.

 They arrived at a big building, "What do you think baby Neri?" Keir said as he carried her off the horse. 

"Hm, it's much bigger than I thought." She looked around as she walked onto the training platform. 

Alen followed her, "You've seen a training ground before?"

She nodded, "There was one near the place I used to live." 

Alen grabbed two wooden swords "Can you hold this Neri? It's a little heavy."

She took it with ease. She tried to hold her laughter, Alen looked quite surprised that she could carry it so easily.

He pointed his sword at her "Come at me Nerri"

"Are you sure?" Excitement rushed through her.

"Don't worry you won't hurt me"

Keir laughed as he warned, "Be gentle Alen."

Nathan cheered for her "Go Nerri!"

With a determined look on her face, she tightly clenched her sword and shut her eyes.

She smirked as she remembered her teacher's words,

'𝘠𝘰𝘶 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘨, 𝘴𝘰 𝘱𝘦𝘰𝘱𝘭𝘦 𝘸𝘪𝘭𝘭 𝘶𝘯𝘥𝘦𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘵𝘪𝘮𝘢𝘵𝘦 𝘺𝘰𝘶. 𝘛𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘨𝘪𝘷𝘦𝘴 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘢𝘯 𝘢𝘥𝘷𝘢𝘯𝘵𝘢𝘨𝘦. 

𝘐𝘵 𝘪𝘴 𝘢 𝘮𝘰𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘸𝘩𝘦𝘯 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘤𝘢𝘯 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘷𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘮 𝘸𝘳𝘰𝘯𝘨 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘴𝘩𝘰𝘸 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘮 𝘸𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘺𝘰𝘶'𝘳𝘦 𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘺 𝘤𝘢𝘱𝘢𝘣𝘭𝘦 𝘰𝘧'

She went into position.

 "Begin!"

She knew he wouldn't swing unless she attacked first.

She sighed, what was she thinking? This was her family, she wouldn't dare hurt them.

She swung the sword clumsily at him, and he dodged it.

Perhaps she should act like she doesn't know what to do.

She'll leave this surprise for another day.

She stumbled to the ground. 

"Neri!" her brothers came rushing to her.

She lay there looking into the sky thinking, 'I'm safe now, I don't need to fight for survival anymore.'

"Neri! Are you OK!?" "Where are you hurt?" "Should we fetch the doctor?" All three brothers looked at her, their eyes filled with worry. 

She began giggling "That was fun!" they sighed in relief. 

Keir stood up, "We should start heading back now, it getting late and I see some dark clouds ahead." 

She felt someone watching them, she looked in the direction of the unknown presence.

There was no one there, but one thing is for sure, it was definitely a skilled person.

She dismissed the thought as her brother lifted her onto the horse. 

They arrived home and someone came to take the horses.

Keir watched as Neri was pulled inside by Nathan and Alen. He recalled the moment at the training rounds.

Neri's foot placement seemed like... that of a skilled swordsman.

 Even her aura slightly changed, she looked at Alen as if he were her prey or a pawn in a game.

 Did she purposely fall back then?  Impossible, Neri was barely turning 7.

Unless... could she have learned by watching people at the training grounds and pretending to copy their stance? 

Either Neri was hiding something or he mistook her aura.

Neri lay on her bed, it had been a long day.

Her mother had said she would be introduced to the maids tomorrow.

It began to rain, the thunder lulled her to sleep. She heard a faint thud, she quickly got up. 

She made it look as if she was still in bed and went to hide. The balcony doors were slowly opened, and a person stepped in. 

She gasped, this person was about the same height as her. The intruder walked toward the bed, he was about to reach out to pull the blanket, but she came in behind him and held a knife to his throat.

"May I ask what brings you here?" 

"W-wait Nyssa, it's me" 

She swiftly turned him around and pulled his mask down.

"Koa!?" Koa quickly covered her mouth. He signaled for her to be quiet.

"Don't be so loud, we'll get caught." He whispered. 

She hugged him, "I'm so happy to see you. I thought I'd never see you again."

Koa grinned, "You can't get rid of me that easily."

She chuckled, "How'd you find me?"

"I asked people if they had seen you, and a young man recognized the description of you.

He told me if I led him to where you used to live he would tell me where you were. 

He told me to arrive at the run-down cabin at the edge of town, to be there at noon. 

When I arrived the next day at noon, I saw a woman carrying you out of the house. I followed you here."

 She looked at him in disbelief "How'd you manage to get past the gates?" 

He shrugged, "I was riding under the carriage." 

She then sensed someone was approaching, she glanced at Koa signaling for him to go into hiding.

Nathan walked in, "Neri, are you scared of the thunder? Do you want me to sleep with you? Your big brother can protect you."

She lifted an eyebrow, "We're twins..."

"But I'm the older twin." He said with a proud expression.

She chuckled, "It's ok, I like the sound of thunder."

 Nathan looked away, "Oh, okay, I- I'll leave you be then."

 Neri could see Nathan was afraid. 

She sighed, "Actually I'm a little afraid."

It seemed Koa would have to wait for a while. 

She held out her hand to him, "Let's sleep, come on." Nathan gleefully took it and climbed onto the bed.

After a while Nathan finally fell asleep, she sat up and eased her hand out of his. 

"Come out." 

Koa crawled out of the closet, "Man, took you long enough. It seems you've softened up a bit."

He came up to her and sat beside her, he looked back at Nathan "He looks very similar to you, it's impossible to deny this is your family." 

She chuckled, "They're good people, but who knows how long it'll all last."

Koa sighed, "Nyssa, it's ok to put your guard down. You don't always have to act so tough."

She walked to the glass balcony doors and stared out into the rain. 

"Koa, we were both left on the streets to fend for ourselves. Teacher took us in, but even he left. Only when we really couldn't handle the hunger, I went to beg my 'mother' for food, only to get sold off in the end." 

Koa sighed, "Nyssa, I know how much you suffered, I went through the same thing. Furthermore, those weren't our parents and perhaps it was for the best that Master didn't take us on his trip. You were able to meet your family and live comfortably now. Also, Master was going to come back, he never completely abandoned us."

"Has he returned?" she turned towards him. 

Koa nodded, "Yes, Cyr brought the letter to me, saying he wants to meet us both."

"Tell him I won't be able to. Winter is arriving and I doubt my parents would let me go." 

Koa sat there gaping at her, "Since when were you one to let anyone stop you? You are Master's one and only successor and his favorite student, he won't let you go so easily."  

She rolled her eyes, "I never said I wouldn't go. Tell him he'll have to wait." 

Koa went quiet, he leaned against the wall "Nyssa... will I ever find her? What if she's forgotten me?"

She hugged him, "I'm sure she hasn't." 

She stepped back and took his hands in hers "I'll help you find your mother, I promise."

 He drew her into his embrace "I really am thankful for you-"

"Let go of my sister!" Koa was tackled to the floor.

Well, this just got complicated.