An Extra’s POV

Trisha already knew…

She had realized it a long time ago. It didn't matter how hard she swung her blade, or improved her form, or desired victory… she was never going to get it.

Not against someone like Rey.

As the boy closed in on her after parrying her final move, she felt herself descend into a haze.

'I thought… if I hit him one time, I could prove something to myself… and to him. If I managed to do it, then he wouldn't have been such a liar.'

All this time, Rey portrayed himself as weak but skilled. It lit a flame within her that even she could become stronger if she kept at her training and adhered to his advice.

She indeed became stronger, but the backlash of betrayal that came from her new perception of Rey wasn't something she could ignore. She tried to, but was unsuccessful at every turn.

It seemed like Rey lied to her all along.

'This is the difference between those who have good Skills and those who worked hard to hone their skill.' Trisha closed her eyes as she watched Rey's blade near her.

'In the end, Skills are all that matters.'

~WHOOOM!~

A powerful gust of wind blew past her, and she suddenly felt something warm wrap itself around her—like a coat that covered her from the front.

It was Rey, and he was currently embracing her.

"Trisha, I'm sorry…" As he whispered those words in her ears, his calm voice caused her body to grow stiff.

She wasn't miraculously relieved of the anger within her, but her heart raced regardless.

"...."

For the longest moment, she said nothing. Perhaps she derived some sort of comfort from being hugged by Rey, who now had a height taller than her.

~CLANG!~

Her weapon fell to the ground, causing a loud echo to fill the room.

Trisha remained silent, though. A conflicted expression played on her face. It was clear that she still despised Rey for his several threads of deciet, and for how he gave her a hope—an expectation—that she could never live up to.

After all, back then… when Rey fought and defeated Billy, he became an inspiration to her.

She monitored his growth from that point on with utmost diligence and arrived at a conclusion.

'If Rey could do it, I can too…'

a lie. And Trisha

for you for the longest time.

"...."

"You knew, didn't you?"

"... Yeah."

the two of them remained still. Rey's arms were still wrapped around her, but

know. Your eyes…

Rey was forced to give the

"... Yeah."

past, I wouldn't have let that deter me, and I'd compete for your love and attention until I won." Trisha pulled back, and

steps away, looking

no longer think you're

face remined calm through it all. It almost seemed he was a brick wall, unaffected by

too far, but it seems I was wrong.' Her unshed

with you on that." Rey's voice pierced the

like a tiny moment, emotions flickered in his eye before turning

things very differently if I could, but… I never meant

a little to pick up her blade. Her sweaty ebony

the weapon by the hilt and shrugged once

change anything, anyway. Plus, it would be too petty

Rey responsible for a large chunk of her growth, but he also protected her and the city more than

her life and

so hard to just

for him, but in the

just don't want a part in it." She spoke pretty bluntly,

this, Rey was still

she narrowed her

"Trisha, I—"

Rey to sigh and also glance to the entrance, where someone

no surprise, all things considered. The one known as the Guildmaster was merely hiding behind the partly shut doors of the vast hall, and he

get the wrong idea…" A few seconds after Trisha spoke up, and both parties focused their attention on the door, the culprit

a fine blend between a child and a teenager; cute, yet having an air of maturity

fluttered as he scratched his similarly colored hair. One look at him, and one would never guess he was

wasn't eavesdropping

met with doubtful gazes from both Rey and Trisha

real!" He yelled out, raising both hands in

it seemed he was nothing more than an ordinary teenager.

to see

just a few months ago! You think I

eyes widened as

"Well, that was actually—"

how many lies…" Trisha's frown deepened, and Rey could only do one thing in response