After Sera’s initial surprise and hesitation, she seemed to regain her usual demeanor. Her face brightened, and she seemed almost relieved, as if a weight had been lifted.

The spark of determination that Iria had seen before was back in her eyes, and it was clear that Sera’s confidence had returned.

Sera gave Iria a nod and a smile, her spirit renewed.

“Let’s do it. I’ll fight for my place, just like I always have.”

With that, Sera was back to her old self, ready to face whatever challenges came her way, be they saintesses or hero-worthy rivals. The two of them shared a brief look of understanding before heading off to prepare for their sparring session.

In that moment, they both knew that while the future was uncertain, they were both ready to face it head-on.

And so, the story continued, with Iria and Sera moving forward, each determined to carve out their own place in the Academy and in each other’s lives, no matter what twists and turns lay ahead.