“Hmm.”

The two of them put shower caps as neither wanted damp hair on their way home. They showered briskly and were done in a few minutes. As the two were getting dressed, Yuriko curiously asked, “You sure you want to waste time playing tourist guide?”

Krystal gave her a sidelong glance before she smirked, “Why not? Training all day isn’t all that good for you.”

“Well, I guess I’m fine with the technique Da taught me,” Yuriko muttered.

“Come on, Yuri. You need to relax every now and then.”

“Easy for you to say. You’ve already inlaid.”

“You know, if you focus too much on something, you’ll lose sight of the bigger picture. Relax, you’ve been working like a horse all week.”

Yuriko just sighed.

Krystal nudged her, “Take a break. Besides, I never say no to free food.”

“...glutton.”

“What’s this I hear?” Millie popped up behind them nearly startling Yuriko off the bench she was on. “Huh hmm, you two are going on a date with those cute twins?”

“Hee hee,” Krystal giggled, “maybe.”

“What date?” Yuriko spluttered, “It's just a tour.”

Millie looked down at her with an upturned nose, “If so, mind if we join?”

Krystal pushed Millie off, “I don’t think they’d want to pay lunch for every one of us.”

“They don’t have to pay for our lunch,” Millie said, “just take them to the Sweet Shoppe after.”

“Why, are you spending?” Ishika said while buttoning up her blouse.

“Sure.”

“Great! You coming too, Maryn?”

“Not if it's only the twins,” Maryn said ruefully.

“Sure, let’s ask all the boys. It’ll be nice. We’ve only a week left before we have to get all serious.”

“I guess...see you tomorrow?” Yuriko ventured as she gathered her things.

“Right,” Krystal said. She leaned close to whisper, “and wear a dress.”

“Eh? Why?”

“It’s a formal occasion?”

“No, it’s not.”

“Fine, I’ll help you dress appropriately.”

“We’re just going to walk around town. I’d rather wear something comfortable.”

“I’ll help you dress. Appropriately.”

“...fine. After morning training.”

The sound of Krystal panting heavily brought Yuriko back to the present. Millie had told some of the boys who hadn’t left the training hall yesterday about the planned tour and lunch though only Zeyn and Janus were left by that time. Yuriko and Krystal were nearing the end of their route and they’d gone out early enough that they still had plenty of time to prepare.

By the time they arrived at Yuriko’s home, Krystal looked like she had dunked herself at the river. Sweat dripped down her face and her shirt was soaked, the fabric clinging to her skin revealing the outline of her bra straps through the damp cloth.

Yuriko barely felt warmed up. She had alternated sprinting and jogging again throughout the five longstrides they had run. She could feel the marked difference from seven days ago. It made her appreciate the value of the Recovery Technique her Da had taught her.

While Krystal guzzled water, Yuriko proceeded with her flexibility and agility training. The flexibility exercises were much the same and she’d noticed some clear gains. Agility training consisted of wooden pegs about a couple of inches across, sticking out of the yard at varying heights ranging from just three inches off the ground to two-thirds of a pace high. There were dozens of pegs and she was supposed to walk, jump, and run over them. She spent about half an hour doing so, her steps quick and sure. She certainly didn’t fall or misstep but this was only the first set. In the next set, she was supposed to practice sword forms while moving on the pegs.

“I still don’t get how you can keep doing that every day.”

“You know why.”

“Ancestors, Yuri, just because you didn't get your father’s Heritage doesn’t mean you have to do this. You can just go with what you actually got and specialize that way.”

Yuriko shrugged. Before the Atavism Ritual, she might have agreed, now that she thought about it. But now, for some strange reason, she felt that if she just went with the flow, she would regret it.

She froze, lost in thought. She was still standing on one leg at the top of the highest wooden pole. Her core muscles shifted slightly to keep her balance even as the breeze pushed against her.

Why was it that she was this focused? She had not been this extreme before.

“Yuri?”

“Hmm. Oh. Nothing.” She jumped down and walked to the deck. Krystal gave her a water bottle and she drank.

The Atavism Ritual changed people, that was a known fact. It allowed them access to their bloodline’s Heritage which, in turn, allowed them to soak in their ancestors’ knowledge and experience. This was clearly seen once the child had inlaid their Facet. Doing so allowed them to master a single aspect, technique, or spell that the previous generations had mastered. It wouldn't be surprising if attitudes and habits transferred over as well.

While she hadn’t inlaid her Facet yet, the pattern was already in her Anima. Some seepage would have occurred which could mean the ancestor that she got the Heritage from was completely devoted to bettering him- or herself. She supposed it combined with her own desire to be as great a Knight as her father.

She shook her head to clear her thoughts. While some of the ancestor’s personality may have affected her, she was still clearly herself.

“Well, I’m done. Want breakfast?”

“I guess. After that let’s pick out your outfit before I head home.”

Half an hour later, Yuriko was on her bed watching Krystal toss clothes out of her closet.

“Why do you not have any dresses?” she groused.

“Those are my everyday clothes,” Yuriko pointed out.

There was a growing pile of clothing on the floorboards. Blouses, tights, leggings, some short pants, cardigans, sweaters, camisoles, and chemises. No dresses.

“Surely, your mom would have brought you some?”

“Oh, well, yeah. Last year when she came home. Those are a bit short though; I’ve grown a few inches.”

“Where?” Krystal’s eyes started gleaming.

“Uh, in the other closet.” Yuriko leaned back and pointed at the wardrobe closet beside the windows.

Krystal marched over and threw the doors open. An assortment of clothes hung in her second closet including summer dresses and skirts. Even just quickly eyeing them, Krystal could tell Yuriko was right: most of the clothes were already too short. Those that were folded and placed on higher shelves were obviously clothing from when Yuriko was much younger.

Krystal pulled out a light green halter top sundress with small white dots. “Here, put this on.”

“That’s already too short,” Yuriko protested.

“Just do it!”

Grumbling to herself, she did as asked. The hem rested halfway down her thighs though it still fit relatively well anyway.

“Hmmm, pair that with heeled sandals and that should be good.” Krystal eyed her appraisingly.

“I only have flats.”

“High heels are a good training device, you know. Works on your balance. I have a pair I could lend you, I suppose. Or, well, I think my elder sis is your size,” Krystal mumbled.

Yuriko hung up the dress then proceeded to return all the clothes Krystal had rummaged through back in her closet.

“Well, I’d really rather wear comfortable footwear today.”

Krystal shrugged, “I suppose. See you later then.”

Yuriko walked her friend to the door. She did her chores and finished with using the Recovery Technique on her body. The process wasn’t as painful as it had been the first time she used it. It was either a sign that she was getting better at it or confirmation that she hadn’t pushed herself as hard today. She decided it was the latter. After an hour of trying to inlay her Facet, and failing, Yuriko decided it was time to get ready. She considered studying the cube Virgil left her but if she did, she knew she would be late.

It took some time to find a chemise that wouldn’t show under her dress. To her relief, the dress had a pocket that could fit her coin purse. She put in a few silver pennies inside, leaving the rest of her savings in a small ornate box hidden in the very back of her desk drawer. The pair of tan sandals she wore were comfortable enough, though she expected her feet would be sore after too much walking.

‘Or, I could use the Recovery Technique!” she suddenly realized with a smile. She waved goodbye to Rami who was preparing lunch.

“You’re not eating here?”

“No, I’ll be with friends.” She put on a dark green beret just before she went out the door.

“Have fun!”

By the time she arrived at Faron’s statue in the town square, almost the entire class was there.