For the past few days I've seen Reed and Mark getting closer. During training Reed would help Mark out, during our sparing they've been paring up a lot. Mark has definitely been looking a lot better recently. Marty seems real proud of Mark. He's definitely improved, maybe Marty was onto something the other day.

  Today the leaders are making an announcement. They gathered everyone at the training grounds. They even set up a small ptform that the leaders can stand on. Vincent stands on the edge of the ptform.

  "After long consideration, we've decided to move the deadline further back." Vincent announces.

  The crowd bursts into cheers. It kind of hurts my ears if I'm being honest. Vincent waits for everybody to stop cheering.

  "We had two weeks left, now we have a full six months." He says.

  The crowd is even louder this time. People begin to jump up and down. I feel as if I'm being crushed between people. I weave my way out of the crowd and move to the back. Mark is in the back. He's not cheering like everybody else. I walk over to him.

  "Hey Mark, what's going on?" I ask.

  "Oh, it's just... I don't know how much longer I can st here." He tells me, "Fighting isn't my thing. It'd be easier if I didn't stay."

  "Hey man, don't say that." I say to him, "You've gotten a lot better. Plus we have six more months."

  He looks down towards the ground. Ever since his poisoning... His face looks different. It looks drained, and he has definitely grown skinnier.

  "Cal, I'll give it a thought." He tells me.

  He taps my shoulder and walks off. The crowd begins cheering again. I turn to the stage. Vincent is back to his tent. Then the other leaders follow him. He must've been talking this whole time. I didn't even hear him.

  I meet up with Reed and Wick after the announcement.

  "Six whole months!" Reed says, "We just might be able to do this now."

  "I already felt ready enough." Wick says.

  "Well, you have had a bit of extra training recently." I joke.

  "Oh yeah, one extra move really brings such a huge difference!" Wick says sarcastically, "You could've been training your little shield magic this whole time."

  Reed stands there, silent. I realize now how little we've talked, especially recently. Mark has really been my main focus. Now I'm joking around with Wick and just ignoring him. We've been friends for years now.

  Once we all part ways I walk around for a little bit. After just a few minutes I spot Reed healing a little kids sprained ankle. I walk over.

  "Yo, Reed." I say.

  Reed looks over and gives me a big smile.

  "What're you up too?" I ask.

  "Oh, I've been just going around helping people recently." He tells me.

  He finishes healing the kid. He thanks him and runs off. He looks over to me.

  "What have you been up to recently?" He asks me.

  "I've been going on a lot of walks, I guess." I tell him.

  "Something the matter?" He asks me.

  "I feel... Look I feel we haven't talked in a while." I tell him.

  He gives me a strange look. It's clear he doesn't feel the same way.

  "Well, we've been pretty busy." Reed says.

  "No not like that! We haven't talked as friends since we got here." I tell him.

  Reed ponders my words. I can see his face go from a surprise to him realizing I'm right.

  "Well, yeah. You may be right." Reed ughs while he says this.

  He looks at me. His face looks... Happy?

  "We've been friends forever man! Not talking for a little isn't some huge deal!" Reed tells me.

  He's right. I did kind of just assumed we were drifting apart. No, I felt we were leaving him out. But he's made the same friends I did. He's happy here. He gets to help people. Maybe I shouldn't make assumptions anymore.

  "Tomorrow! You versus me. This time, I'll destroy you! Trust me." Reed ughs while he walks off.

  The next morning we go over to the training grounds. We get in groups for sparing. The groups were, Mal versus Ann for the first match. Then it was Wick going against Mark, and finally me and Reed.

  Ann and Mal get onto the field. Mal looks confident for this match up. She clearly has something up he sleeve. Marty starts the match, Ann fires a small rock at Mal. It moves fast. Mal is able to react and cut the rock with her dagger. Ann gives her a grin,. Mal rushes in, Ann puts a rge rock wall in the middle of the battle field. She then covers herself with more rock walls. Mal starts cutting at the walls but can't get through. I notice a small thing in her hand.

  "Marty gave this to me!" Mal yells.

  She throws it at the walls. It blow straight through it. She rushes in. I'm not able to see what happens in the but I hear a loud boom. Mal walks out of their box with her hands up. Ann walks out after Mal, her heads down and her backs slouched. The winner was Mal.

  Then it was Wick versus Mark. The match starts with Wick sending lightning towards Mark. Mark put his training into use and moves quickly. Wick can't seem to hit Mark, so he decides to rush in. Wick has the range advantage with his spear, but it's slow. Mark stays just out of range. Wick swings towards Mark, but misses. Mark uses this opportunity to throw a knife at Wick. It hits giving Mark a surprising victory.

  Now time for the main event! Me against Reed. Reed uses a new strategy that I've never seen him use before. As soon as the match starts Reed pushes himself forward with wind magic. He flies towards me and charges a fire ball. I use my barrier. He fires at me and hits the barrier. An eruption of fmes appears in front of me. It's hard to see past the barrier. Reed moves around the barrier and hits me with a small ball of water, winning him the match.