The training grounds of the Xianzhou Luofu shimmered beneath the warm glow of artificial starlight, a quiet sanctuary carved into the heart of the celestial warship. The air carried the soft hum of spiritsteel blades clashing in practice, and the scent of polished wood and incense lingered like a silent blessing.

Sushang stood at the edge of the training circle, her eyes bright with determination and her practice sword resting on her shoulder. Her expression was a mix of anticipation and delight as she faced her silent partner—already poised in stance, blade gleaming with focus and restraint.

"You ready?" she asked, then grinned, catching herself. "Right—of course you are. You're always ready."

Without another word, the spar began.

Sushang charged first, swift as a streak of lightning. Her strikes came in arcs of elegance and force, each one echoing the tales she'd memorized from martial legends. But her partner countered with calm precision—measured steps, clean parries, a rhythm that spoke of quiet discipline honed over countless hours.

Sushang spun, feinted left, then lunged, only to find her partner already a step ahead. The tip of their blade hovered near her shoulder before withdrawing without a scratch.

"Whoa! You're really something, you know that?" she said, backing up and catching her breath. "But I’m not giving up!"

The next round was fiercer. Sushang began to adjust, learning from each parry, each near-miss. Her movements grew sharper, more deliberate—less showy and more efficient. Her eyes never left her partner, reading every subtle shift in their footing, every twitch of muscle that might hint at the next move.

Finally, she found an opening—small, but enough. With a burst of speed, she tapped her partner's blade aside and reached their side with a clean, swift strike.

A beat passed.

Sushang blinked. "I... I actually landed one!"

Her partner gave a silent nod.

Beaming, Sushang lowered her sword and stepped back. "Thanks. You didn’t go easy on me, did you?" she asked, though she already knew the answer. "I’ve still got a long way to go, but sparring with you... it really helps."

She looked up at the sky dome above them, where synthetic stars twinkled in their artificial constellations.

"Someday, I’ll be as strong as the heroes in the stories. Maybe even write a new one of my own."

She turned back to her partner, her voice soft with gratitude. "And when I do, you’ll be in that story too."