Sometime after Rhea overheard Karta’s conversation, she continued training in the Playground. One by one, as time went on and the sun gradually peeks over the trees, the woman launched fireball after fireball. Rhea would think of little moments in time or actions that would upset her, and use them to fuel her spells. 

Boom! Pop. Pif.

Some unleashed spells packed decent firepower, while others were just a flash in the pan, with the power equivalent to someone whacking another person with a pillow. Fire would either engulf the metal target then gradually disappear, or simply come out of the Tricker Staff as smoke, slapping against its frame. 

After a few ten spells, Rhea drops her steaming staff and drops to the floor. She sits upright on her butt and stares at the metal dummy. She was successful in casting spells now, but when it came to the power of these spells, she had a long way to go. 

This is a lot tougher than it looks. I must’ve gotten lucky my first time to get a spell out that powerful last night, but to try and think of something frustrating while not getting mad is a lot harder than I thought. Then again… I never expected casting spells to be easy in the first place. I should consider myself lucky that I got the book from Karta, on top of his offering to tutor me. Wherever he is…

“Human.”

A familiar voice rings in Rhea’s ear. She twists her back around and sees Fujiko who appeared from the portal. Her facial features, although naturally looking angry most of the time, remained stoic. Rhea leaps off of the ground while grabbing her staff. She holds her staff up while looking at the tall Kroliq. Rhea gives Fujiko a cold glare. 

“We’re not on village grounds, Fujiko. I’ll give you a chance to back off. Try anything and I’ll blast you.”

“Blast me with what? Those pathetic excuses for spells? I was informed you’re a novice in the magical arts. What can I expect then? Tiny sparks to spew out of that staff?” 

The Trickster’s staff begins to get hot, and the sprite gem starts to glow. 

“Wanna see for yourself.” 

Fujiko crosses her arms. 

“Hmph. Do as you please.” 

Fujiko walks away from Rhea and sits atop some crates opposite the metal dummies. She sits silently, and her sudden timid behavior makes Rhea lower her guard. A seated Fujiko is at Rhea’s eye level. Rhea steps in Fujiko’s direction, but makes sure to keep a good distance between them. 

“What’re you doing here, Fujiko.”

“That is none of your concern, Human.”

Rhea rolls her eyes. 

“I have a name, you know.”

“I don’t care.”

Rhea exhales, then puts her hand on her hips. 

“Let me guess, your being here has to do with the conversation I overheard earlier?” 

Fujiko sucks her teeth and turns her head to the side. 

“Tch, what? Feeling proud of yourself for eavesdropping? Overhearing what I was discussing does nothing for either party…”

“No… it doesn’t… and I doubt you’d tell me anything. I heard you talk about family, so I got a little curious. Are you originally from Fiolet?” 

“What does it look like? Put two and two together, why don’t you? Did you think I was from Miasto, perhaps?”

“Augh! Are you always this difficult?! I’m trying to give you a chance and talk to you like you didn’t just try to kill me and my friends earlier, and you won’t even give me the time of day?!”

Fujiko swats her hand away. 

“I don’t owe you a damn thing. I’m neither your friend nor acquaintance. And you’re especially no family of mine. Be lucky that I choose not to end your life here and now.” 

Rhea puts her index finger on her cheek. 

“Do you even have a family?” 

This question visibly irks Fujiko. However, because Fujiko’s back was turned to Rhea, Rhea could not see the vein growing by Fujiko’s temple. Finally, Fujiko stands up, still towering a bit over Rhea. She snaps her attention to her. 

“Shut your mouth, Human! You’d dare talk about family to me?! What do you know?!”  

Fujiko walks up to Rhea, and Rhea stands stalwart, refusing to back down.  

“Somehow…” Rhea sighed. “I know more about family than you ever will.” 

Fujiko steps even closer, their chests inches away from each other. 

“What was that?!”

The women stare daggers into each other's eyes. The hot-headed Fujiko balls her fist, her body wanting to strike at Rhea. Their encounter is interrupted, however, when Karta arrives from the portal. 

“Hold it you two,” he says calmly. 

Fujiko turns to Karta. 

“What?” She asks, with spite on the tip of her tongue. “We’re outside the village premises. We can fight here if we want.” 

“True, however, I am not here to watch you two squabble. I told Rhea I would assist her in her magic training. Judging by the wounds on your body that have yet to fully heal, I don’t think you want that fight… even though it is likely you would succeed. You prefer complete domination of your opponent, don’t you?”

Fujiko un-balls her fist and takes a step back. 

“Hmph. Believe what you want.” 

Fujiko makes her way to the portal. 

“I will rest for a few more moments, and when you have finished with that harlot, I’ll bid you a good day.”

Fujiko disappears into the portal, leaving Karta and Rhea alone. Rhea lets out a strong exhale. 

“Aaaaugh," She groans. "That lady is something else. I try to give her a chance and speak with her, and she treats me like garbage! I should’ve just taken the fight and left her falling on her giant ass!” 

“Truth be told, I’m glad you didn’t. Fujiko can be… quite the interesting character.”    

“You know her then? What’s with her, Karta? Why does she act like such a punk?”

Karta sighs. His eyes lower to the ground. 

“Fujiko was… she was from our village, long ago. But she was banished for killing the village elder.”

“Sh-she killed the village elder?” Rhea gasped. 

“It was not on purpose, or at least, that’s what I believe. Long ago, when she and I were teenagers, Fujiko was quite the rambunctious youth. Since the Kroliq are naturally calm and composed people, Fujiko’s nature moved her in the opposite direction. She was loud, outspoken, and hungry for adventure. Her playful attitude would lead her in many situations, mostly scoldings, but overall she was a very happy person back then. But one day, she was a bit too hyper, and her playful antics found a victim. She was running through the second level of Fiolet where the elder was crossing, and during her haste, she bumped into him and sent him spiraling to the ground floor. The elder broke his neck in the fall and died.”

“Oh…” Rhea is at a loss for words. “That’s terrible.”

“My people were at a loss for words, but they did not take too kindly to Fujiko. The calm people I was surrounded by turned into different beasts. They thrashed her with their words and beat her with their fists. But that wasn’t enough for them. Eventually, they did not say a word to her. Fujiko tried to get their attention, but it was met with side-eyes and whispers. Soon, that evolved into blatant ostracization. The villagers would murmur flagrant lies like Fujiko purposefully pushed the elder down for fun, but that wasn’t true. I know Fujiko. Or at least, I know about Fujiko from way back when. The isolation soon became too much to bear, and Fujiko left the village. I hadn’t heard of her for quite some time. Then you three appear and talk of her murdering and pillaging and…” Karta shook his head. “I still don’t want to believe it.”

Rhea takes a moment to absorb all the information. A distraught Karta irks at Rhea’s heart. She takes a deep breath and exhales before speaking. 

“H-how does Vanessa feel about this?”

“Vanessa, understandably, wants no part in this. Despite being the new elder, she understands this is a matter between her, me, and the villagers before her arrival. Besides, even if she wanted to tell everyone to forgive Fujiko, if they were willing to forgive Fujiko, it would be up to Fujiko herself to move past the ill will of our people. But judging by the pang in her voice and sharpness of her tongue, I doubt that was her attention when she arrived.”  

“I’m so sorry… but… what I’ve seen of Fujiko seems to be true. Your friend seems to be that sort of person… unfortunately…”   

“From mentionings of a conversation I had with her earlier, she seemed to have found some sort of ‘new’ family. I have no idea what family she speaks of, but I doubt it’s in the village of Kotka.”

Another blanket of silence pollutes the air. A sigh escapes Karta’s lips before he speaks again. 

“I grow weary of this conversation. Please, may we redirect our energies toward something else?”

“Right,” Rhea nods, parting some of her black bangs. “The training," Rhea holds her staff up, staring at the metal dummy from afar. "Let’s start.”