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"Don't be mad just cause you know that I am going to outshine you one day!

" I called over to Fireden as I walked back to the group.

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"Seems like everything must have gone very well, but I expected you to come out with a partner,

" Wataluga said as I came over.

nHe was looking bright, and I nodded, then said,

"Yes, but he is looking for a certain type, more brainy than brawn. He has a very long list to comb through, but I told him not to rush it; hehe, not like I don't have enough people to worry about at the moment!

"

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"True enough, but let's get going; everyone has gathered at the center of the island,

" Grogvel said, and I nodded and recalled the elements into my body.

nThis type of thing was getting more like second nature to me now. I was becoming far more comfortable using my ability, and it was starting to help build my confidence.

nOne thing that I needed to work on was my temper. I was getting overly frustrated and sometimes rude to people I had just met for no reason.

nBeeno was the only one left standing in the dark before me, and I walked over to her.. I would work on my temper and maybe wait until people give me a reason to make rude comments.

nNow that is the best thought I have heard you have!

n'People like you make it really hard to work on change, you know!'

nHey! I am not trying to be rude, but you know it yourself. I don't need to tell you that you are a bit of a douchebag sometimes. I just think that it is good that you are coming to this on your own. It might have taken uncountable lifetimes to do, but hey, who is counting? Four.

nTrue, and as much as I didn't like the taste of admitting my own fault, you couldn't move forward without recognizing them.

nI walked to Beeno with a slight smile, but she looked like she wanted to say something, but I put a finger up. The finger and the rest of my body took on a rock-like look, almost like I was made out of stone.

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"Wait, let me pick you up and start moving, then you can tell me. I just want to get to the people I asked to meet in the island's center. Some of them have come from all over the island, so they will have to go back after,

" I explained to beeno, and she nodded as I came over to pick her up.

nAt least I would be protected from her teeth and jabs now, and I wanted to try something, but before I did, I closed my eyes. I spent about four hours with Windorf and Grovel, talking about how to properly control each element with tests.

nOpening my eyes, no time had passed, and I started to glide forward, smoothing on a wave of dirt. If I was alone, I would be able to merge into the rock and head directly up to the surface, which was probably one of the coolest, yet scariest abilities of the four elements.

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"Tell me what was on your mind,

" I said to Beeno as we made our way out of the tunnel.

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"I always have enjoyed drawing, but as a female, we are the warriors, and we are expected to be the fighters. The thing was that my Birth Sister and I were very competitive, and she always teased me for my drawing. She told me that they were the reason that I wasn't able to ever beat her,

" Beeno explained to me, and I nodded.

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"Sounds about right; sibling rivalry can really be intense sometimes. I was a single child, so I can't really, really complete, but I do understand,

" I said as we glided in the almost near dark.

nWhile I could now activate two pacts at once, it was massively draining to my energy in all the tests. Even with Fireden, there was no way to keep up with the drain, so I was forced to travel in the dark, with my new Summon: Water Gnoll Gem as my only source of light.

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"Yes, and I did as she said, and then I beat her, and then moved past her, and then kept climbing. After a while, I went to her and asked her why she didn't keep advancing; she got mad at me and yelled at me to leave. I decided that I would keep pushing until I reached the top, and I did, but….

" Beeno said with her voice trailing off.

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"It can be pretty lonely at the top when you push everyone else out to make it there. I can relate to this one, and I know what it's like when you give up while doing everything for what you want, no matter what it costs. I also learned that sometimes it is better to have people there to help keep you grounded and to give you a reason to fight harder,

" I said, thinking of my own troubles in my last world.

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"So, you think that it is a good idea for me to just focus on my drawing?

" Beeno asked curiously as we started to come back into the light.

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"Just drawing? No, you have been a warrior for too long, and I am sure you could help whip the other girls into shape. I think you should try to balance the two out and enjoy both of them. There is no reason that you only should be allowed to do one,

" I explained to Beeno, but her eyes lit up at the mention of whipping the girls into shape.

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"I did a lot of the training with the women of Nafa back on Kubrick! I would love to help train them all and help get them all in fighting form!

" Beeno said excitedly, and I let out a chuckle with a surprised look.

nThe thought of Mary or Missy working out was almost commercial, but I kind of wanted to see her try!

n*Fireden: I would toast kernels for that!

"

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