Ayla whined as I shook her arm.

"5 more minutes!" She crooned and I let out a giggle as she dug herself further into the bed.

"No, Ayla, it's been 2 hours. Is this how we spend our day off?" I asked poignantly, folding my arms and Ayla let out a deep sigh before sitting up, her eyes still closed.

"I hate you." She muttered groggily before placing her shoes on and stalking tiredly towards the bathroom. I merely rolled my eyes at her antics.

We had gotten back from the sea caves and had showed Bomani what we had found. He took one look at the key and then our disheveled sweaty forms before cracking a small smile and giving us the day off. Ayla and I had both let out a sigh of relief at this, seeing we hadn't slept properly for two days, our eyes burning.

After showering, we lay down to get a small nap, but not before promising we'd make use of the first day that we had off. Everyday consisted of the same schedule- breakfast; ability training; combat training; dinner and then bed. Of course, it wasn't the worst and I revelled in everyone's company. Nevertheless, my body needed the break and I looked forward to enjoying the day.

"What are you wearing?" I turned at the voice as Maya reached, a frown on her face and I rolled my eyes at her expression. Ayla had become excited on the prospect of having a day off and not wearing clothes fit for training, but rather 'fit for a lady', as she had put it.

I looked down to my attire that Ayla had sewed for me back when we were home. A sleeveless, white floral silk dress that reached mid-shin and a straw sun hat that shaded me from the scorching sun. I left my hair open, cascading in dark waves down my back.

"What? You don't like it?" I asked, a knowing smile on my face as Maya snorted. She was still wearing her combat clothes- a sleeveless buttoned-up safari jacket and shorts.

"I know, Ayla is behind this." She muttered, not answering the question and lo and behold, that was when Ayla entered, wearing her own dress- a black floral silk sleeveless dress and a straw sun hat as well. Her blonde hair was plaited to the side as she neared and I smiled in awe.

"You look so good." I cheesed to which Maya turned to look at her and rolled her eyes.

"Not as good as you. How do you do it?" Ayla praised, nearing and then her gaze fell to Maya's attire with a grimace.

"Could you dress like a lady for at least today?" She asked, folding her arms bossily and Maya huffed, flicking her scarlet hair behind her shoulders.

"I don't need to change my clothes to validate my gender." She said briskly and I laughed as Ayla scowled before stalking away, saying something about 'grabbing something to eat'.

I nudged Maya when she left playfully.

"Look what you did, she's gone." I accused teasingly and Maya smiled, her green eyes flickering.

"I'll do it again, if it ensures her exit." She mumbled, looking to Abrax as he neared with a smile and a bottle of water in hand.

"Whose exit?" He questioned and I smiled teasingly.

"Well, Ayla, of course." I said simply, searching his face and watching as he looked around for her, but said nothing. He turned back then, gesturing to my attire with a sweet smile, a dimple forming on his cheek.

"You look very lovely today, Hanna." He praised and I giggled bashfully.

"Thank you, Ayla made it. We thought to make use of the day off." I explained and he nodded in understanding.

"Who knows when we'll have another day off." He added firmly and I frowned at this, looking to the both of them as I spoke.

"Yeah, about that. If we truly are pressed for time, why not go now and get the key?" I asked and Maya brooded slightly as Abrax ran a hand across the nape of his neck.

"I believe a small break is needed to recuperate and plan. For the sea caves, we hadn't realised how grossly unprepared we were. We can't have that happening again." He spoke in a wistful tone with an underlying hint of disappointment. I got the sense that he was referring to how all the three boys had dazed out and, so, had left us to fend for ourselves.

I let out a sigh, looking to him reassuringly.

"Unprepared or not, we succeeded. We can do that again." I pressed out and Maya nodded, a moody look on her face.

"I had said the same thing." She grumbled and Abrax shook his head, a determined look in his eyes.

"You were all commendable, but it's not to say the same would happen next time. We cannot take the risk yet until we come up with a contingency plan." He explained further and this time, I nodded. He wasn't trying to undermine the work us girls had done in the caves. Rather, he was pointing out that there was a strong chance it could have gone sour, which I agreed with.

"I understand that." I replied to which he nodded with a smile. Looking to the main entrance, I could see Emut and Demir walking down the stairs towards the courtyard, engrossed in discussion. Maya let out a relenting sigh, making me turn back.

"I guess, I understand too." She grit out, making Abrax chuckle before placing a hand on her shoulder to which she smiled slightly.

I flinched slightly when I felt the warmth of a presence behind me, even more so when the sun hat was pulled down my face, covering my eyes and plunging me into darkness, making me squeal. I could hear laughter as I lifted the hat up abruptly, my eyebrows furrowed until my eyes landed on the culprit, making me scowl. Demir was walking away, his grey eyes playful, but a blank expression on his face. Beside him, Emut was laughing and I pushed the hair out of my face before smirking.

"Oh, so us girls get a point by getting the key and this is your way of venting?" I huffed out to which Maya laughed beside me, drawing an arm around my shoulder.

Both Demir and Emut stopped in their tracks at this as Demir turned to me with a bored look. His eyes traced my attire for a quick moment before his gaze settled on mine. I raised an eyebrow challengingly to which a small smile graced his face.

"Cockiness is a good look on you, Hanna; a really good look, indeed. I apologise, that it won't be as long-lived as you'd hope. I'll make sure of that." He promised, his deep voice taunting me and I let out a condescending laugh.

"You'll make sure of it? See, that's the difference between you and I. Remember, there is no 'I' in team, Demir." I finished and he raised an eyebrow.

"But, there is in 'invincible'." He retorted just as fast and Emut laughed, clapping Demir's back, his mocking gaze on us.

"Besides, a team isn't needed to best you. That can be done with just one of us." Emut finished and Demir smiled as I seethed.

"Please! Spare us your nonsense, we'd best you with our eyes closed!" Maya spit out and Demir folded his arms, turning his gaze to Maya.

"It seems Maya's still stuck in her glory days." He pondered with a thoughtful look and Emut laughed beside him. Maya responded by gritting her teeth.

"Glory days?" Abrax asked what I was thinking and Emut shook his head with a smile, his laughter finally dying down.

"Back when Demir first came at around 11, he hadn't learnt to fight, so Maya would win in combat training." He explained and Demir nodded, a small smile on his face.

"I'll admit, for those two months, your skills were adequate. It's a shame to see you've stayed there since." He teased and I pursed my lips as Maya's cheeked reddened in anger.

"I demand a rematch! Right now!" Maya ordered and I placed an arm on her shoulder.

"Really? You're going to combat on our day off when we can relax?" I joked and Demir raised an eyebrow, a taunting look in his eyes.

"It seems Hanna feels like a fight would deter me from relaxing. A fight with Maya is akin to removing weeds from a courtyard- time consuming and bothersome, but effortless to do." He concluded, the sand skating around his legs as a show at how easy it would be.

Abrax let out a chuckle as Maya glared at Demir.

"Oh, I see; I wish I had been there though at that age to see you both combat. It would have been an improvement." He admitted with a sad chuckle, his eyes glinting almost wilfully and I watched as Emut placed a hand around his shoulder, seemingly, in comfort, a hardened look on his face.

I soon realised that Abrax was referring about his time in the West and I clenched my teeth, offering him a warm smile when I couldn't think of any words to say. Demir's scoff broke the terse silence and I looked as he spoke, his gaze fixed on as Abrax and an indecipherable look on his face.

"Had you you been there, I would have beat you too." He commented bluntly and Abrax chuckled genuinely this time, the creases near his eyes deepening and a wide smile broke out on my face at the expression.

"Don't be so sure, Demir. I'll have to take you up on that challenge." He contested to which Demir smiled slightly and Emut nudged Demir jokingly.

"Seeing as you and I had won the previous tournament, I'll look forward to facing you also." Emut mentioned, speaking of the tournament that Bomani had organised and Maya let out a laugh.

"Hanna won also, so you can make it a three-way fight, if you wish!" She joked and I shook my head, not wanting to go against both Demir and Emut. I had seen them both in action and, suffice to say, I would pity anyone who was their opponent. Emut merely nodded at this, his gaze flitting to me.

"Why just the three of us? Let's make it three-against-three." He suggested and I raised an eyebrow at his words whereas Maya seemed to heighten in excitement, a smile on her face.

"And, what would the teams be?" I queried to which Emut shrugged and Abrax spoke.

"Looking at the tournament results and skills, it should be Ayla, Demir and I against Emut, Maya and you." He explained and Emut let out a laugh, moving away from Demir's side towards us. Demir merely raised an eyebrow to this as Emut wedged himself between Maya and I.

"Well, I guess I know where my allegiance lies now. What say, Demir? Would you be up for it?" He wagered and Demir rolled his eyes albeit playfully before looking to the three of us.

"A chance to fight you, Hanna and Maya? It's as though the Gods picked out the teams in my favour." He commented and I laughed before leaning towards Emut and Maya.

"We need a team handshake." I muttered jokingly, rolling my eyes when a look of confusion graced both their faces. Luckily, I didn't have to explain what I was talking about due to Ayla sticking her head out of the entrance.

"Time for lunch!" She called out and the smell of food hit my nostrils suddenly, making my mouth water.

Food always comes first.