My Crybaby Father is the Kingdom's Worst Villain
Chapter 59: Not Your Average Rivalry

Chapter 59: Not Your Average Rivalry

Catalina’s spear roared toward her like a silver flash.

Luzia reacted instinctively, just as Ramiro had taught her.

Take a breath. Let the mana flow. Don’t force it—follow it.

She inhaled sharply, feeling the mana coil in her limbs, sparking like wild lightning through her muscles. Her body tensed, and she moved—darting sideways just as the spear slammed into the ground where she had been standing a moment before, cracking the stone.

Luzia gritted her teeth and counterattacked, her fist flying toward Catalina’s side.

Catalina twisted effortlessly, deflecting the blow with her spear shaft and sending another pulse of wind blasting against Luzia’s chest. She stumbled, her strength already waning.

Each dodge, each strike, was taking more and more out of her.

Damn it, Luzia thought, breathing hard, I’m too slow.

Catalina’s eyes sharpened, seeing the fatigue setting in. She didn’t hesitate—pressing the attack, her strikes relentless, the air itself cutting at Luzia with every sweep of the spear.

Luzia blocked one, dodged another, but her legs felt like lead. Her lungs burned.

At this rate—

A sharp jab of the spear caught her shoulder, sending her sprawling backward with a grunt. She hit the ground, dust billowing around her.

Catalina stood over her, spear raised.

Matilda frowned, sensing the end.

Ramiro clenched his fists, ready to interfere despite Luzia’s words.

Roldan crouched low, watching intently, his little claws digging into the ground. Now, master... now!

Luzia coughed, forcing herself up to her knees. Her body screamed in protest.

I can’t just move mana into my limbs, she realized, heart pounding.

It’s not enough.

Her mana pulsed inside her, wild and desperate. Not just in her arms. Not just her legs. It was everywhere—calling out.

In that moment of clarity, Luzia understood.

It wasn’t about following it to a single place.

It was about connecting all of it.

Her battered body steadied as she took a deep, shuddering breath.

She drew the mana together—threading the wild strands through her entire body—and pulled them toward her heart.

It was like striking flint against stone.

Boom.

The spark ignited.

Mana flooded her veins like molten fire, rushing from her heart outward, pure and brilliant.

Catalina hesitated, sensing the sudden shift in the air.

Luzia’s bruised figure rose slowly to her feet, her small hands clenched into fists, light flickering around her like a newborn star.

Then, instinctively, she shouted the first words that came to her mind—raw, unrefined, but fueled by awakening:

"Burst Step!"

In a flash, Luzia exploded forward, her speed tripling in an instant.

Catalina’s eyes widened—too late.

Luzia ducked low, evading the incoming spear sweep, and landed a hard punch into Catalina’s stomach, sending the older girl staggering back with a gasp.

For a heartbeat, the entire courtyard froze.

Ramiro blinked in shock.

Matilda’s lips curved into the faintest smile.

Esteban whistled low under his breath.

Roldan grinned, a tiny puff of smoke escaping his nostrils.

Master has finally awakened.

Luzia stumbled slightly, the sudden drain of mana hitting her hard, but she caught herself, panting with a feral grin.

Catalina wiped her mouth, chuckling breathlessly. "Finally showing your fangs, huh?"

Luzia smirked, her eyes blazing. "What can I say? You hit harder than you look."

Catalina’s blood raced in excitement. She spun her spear once, a dangerous grin flashing across her face.

"Good," Catalina said, her voice low and thrilling. "Then don’t die."

Without another word, she lunged.

Luzia gritted her teeth, feeling the rush of mana still humming through her limbs.

She shot forward, meeting Catalina halfway.

Spear met fist, shockwaves bursting out with each clash.

Catalina pressed hard, chaining her strikes together—sweeps, thrusts, slams—each faster than the last.

Luzia weaved through them, her body moving almost on instinct, Burst Step flashing in bursts of speed whenever she needed to dodge an otherwise deadly blow.

It wasn’t perfect—Luzia was still sloppy, still burning too much mana—but it was alive, wild, new.

Catalina feinted a low sweep. Luzia jumped, but Catalina twisted mid-motion, the spear reversing direction and flying upward toward Luzia’s ribs.

"Haah—!" Luzia gasped, barely twisting out of the way, her shoulder grazed by the spear’s wind pressure.

They broke apart, circling each other, both breathing hard but grinning like lunatics.

Ramiro had long since lowered his hands, watching, awed and slightly horrified.

Esteban leaned over to Matilda, whispering, "Should we... stop them? Before one of them breaks a bone?"

Matilda didn’t answer right away.

Her sharp eyes watched Catalina’s spear glint under the sun.

Watched Luzia, who now, even tired and battered, stood with a steady fire in her stance.

Matilda’s lips pressed into a thin line.

Then, her voice rang out—calm but commanding, carrying over the entire courtyard:

"Enough."

Instantly, both girls froze.

Catalina’s spear hovered just an inch from Luzia’s cheek.

Luzia’s fist was cocked back, a breath away from Catalina’s jaw.

Neither moved for a heartbeat.

Then, slowly, they both lowered their weapons.

Catalina let out a long, disappointed sigh, slinging her spear across her back.

"Was just getting fun."

Luzia dropped her fists to her sides, swaying slightly. "Y-Yeah," she panted, forcing a grin. "Maybe next time... you won’t get saved by your mom."

Catalina raised an eyebrow, amused. "You wish."

Matilda crossed her arms, her expression brooking no argument. "You both are injured and tired. Fighting any further would be foolish. Save your pride for when you’re strong enough to back it up."

Luzia huffed but nodded, her legs finally giving in as she sat down hard on the ground.

Catalina rolled her shoulders, surprisingly obedient, though she muttered under her breath, "Could’ve still kept going..."

Ramiro hurried over to Luzia, checking her injuries with quick, worried hands.

"You did amazing, Luzia," he said, voice low so only she could hear.

Luzia beamed despite the bruises darkening her arms and legs.

Esteban wandered up too, clapping his hands together. "Alright! Now who wants snacks?"

Matilda gave him a look. "Esteban."

He shrugged. "What? They earned it."

Even Roldan bounded over, his baby dragon tail wagging happily, clearly proud of his master.

As they all slowly left the courtyard, the golden afternoon sun dipped low, casting long shadows over the worn stones where a fierce battle had almost crossed the line... but didn’t.

Catalina sauntered over, her spear now resting lazily across her shoulders. She looked down at Luzia, who was still sitting on the ground, stubbornly refusing to look tired.

"You hit harder than you look, half-pint," Catalina said, flashing a crooked grin.

Luzia scowled, brushing dust from her scraped knees. "And you miss more than you should, windbag."

Catalina barked a laugh. "Tch. You wish."

She paused, then added, more seriously, "You’re better than I thought."

Luzia glanced up, sharp-eyed. "You’re slower than I expected."

For a beat, they just stared at each other—measuring, weighing—and then, without a word, Catalina stuck out a hand.

Luzia eyed it warily, like Catalina might yank it away just to mess with her. But after a second, she grabbed it, letting Catalina haul her to her feet.

Their hands broke apart almost immediately, both too proud to linger.

"Don’t go thinking this means I like you," Luzia muttered, crossing her arms.

Catalina slung her spear back into place, her grin widening.

"Wouldn’t dream of it," she said. Then, with a wink, added, "Partner."

Luzia snorted, half amused, half exasperated—but this time, she didn’t bother hiding the small, dangerous smile curling on her lips.

Maybe having a rival like Catalina wouldn’t be so bad after all.

I feel this time it’s different, she thought.

---

Later that day, Catalina was told to stay in Luzia’s room for the time being.

She stood awkwardly by the door, spear still slung across her back, while Luzia sat cross-legged on her bed, poking at the bandages on her arms with a grimace.

Neither of them spoke at first.

Catalina shifted her weight, clearly uncomfortable. She wasn’t used to being indoors this long—let alone stuck in a small room with someone she’d just finished trying to clobber into the dirt.

Luzia finally broke the silence. "You look like you’re about to bolt."

Catalina snorted. "I’m considering it."

Luzia smirked without looking up. "Go ahead. See how far you get before Matilda drags you back by the ear."

Catalina grumbled something under her breath but stayed put.

After a moment, Luzia asked, more curious than accusing, "Why are you here, anyway?"

Catalina shrugged, stepping farther into the room. "Matilda said I need to ’build rapport’ with my ’future partner.’ Whatever that means."

Luzia raised an eyebrow. "Rapport, huh? Pretty big word for you."

Catalina glared half-heartedly. "Don’t make me break your other shoulder."

Luzia grinned, pleased, and finally set the bandage roll aside. She patted the bed beside her.

Catalina hesitated... then plopped down gracelessly, legs sprawled out in front of her.

For a minute, they just sat there—two battered girls, still buzzing from adrenaline and bruised pride.

Then Catalina glanced sideways, her voice dropping a little. "You were good today."

Luzia blinked, surprised.

Before she could respond, Catalina added, almost grudgingly, "You... surprised me."

Luzia leaned back on her palms, feeling a strange warmth in her chest she didn’t quite know what to do with.

"You weren’t too bad yourself," she said, casual.

Catalina smirked. "Obviously."

A beat of silence passed between them, not tense this time, but oddly easy.

Luzia tilted her head back, staring up at the wooden beams of the ceiling.

"You ever think we’re gonna kill each other one day?" she mused aloud.

Catalina barked a laugh. "I believe so."

Luzia grinned. "Same."

Luzia suddenly froze.

For a moment—a flash—she saw something that didn’t belong to this quiet, awkward evening.

It was Catalina.

Older. Bloodied. Lying in the snow, her breath coming out in ragged clouds as she struggled to stay awake.

Luzia saw herself too—older, more desperate—kneeling beside Catalina, her hands pressed against a wound that wouldn’t stop bleeding.

Another woman knelt nearby, her hair a striking lilac color, though her face was too blurry to make out.

"What do we do now?!" the woman cried out. "They got Cat!"

"Cat, wake up! You can’t leave me," Luzia begged, her hands trembling. "I’ll find a way—I’ll get you treated—I promise—"

Catalina coughed, spitting blood onto the snow. Her lips quirked into a small, broken smile.

"Luz..." she rasped, her voice barely a whisper.

"I... I’m sorry. I wish I hadn’t hated you before... because of Isidoro... I should’ve known... he would never like me back..."

"Stop talking, you idiot," Luzia said fiercely, pressing harder against the wound. "I’ll get you out of here. You hear me? I will."

But Catalina just shook her head, her eyes shining with unshed tears—real tears, the kind Luzia had never seen from her before.

"Just let me be," Catalina whispered.

"There’s no point anymore... my reason to keep living is gone."

Luzia’s heart twisted painfully.

"You... you protected me on purpose," she choked out.

Catalina smiled faintly through the pain.

"Ignacio... he’s not himself. Hasn’t been for a long time," she murmured. "I saw it once before... the same thing that happened to my mother..."

The image shattered.

Luzia blinked hard, the warmth of the room rushing back into her senses.

Catalina was still beside her, alive and grumpy, poking at her bandages like nothing had happened.

The snow. The blood. The grief—it was all just... a vision.

Or a warning.

Luzia pressed her palm lightly to her chest, trying to steady her breathing.

She didn’t know what that was.

But somehow, deep down, she felt it—

Something terrible was waiting for them.