Lucy laughed softly, lowering her sword. "You sure did, Ada. That was amazing."

Ada's chest heaved with the effort, but her eyes sparkled with joy. She had faced down her mother's magic and found a way to win.

"You're getting stronger every time," Lucy said, placing a hand on Ada's shoulder. "Keep practicing, and one day, no mage will stand a chance against you."

Mia, who had been watching the whole time, clapped her hands in applause. "That was incredible, Ada! You're a natural."

Ada beamed, the pride swelling in her chest. With both of her mothers teaching her, she knew she was only going to get better.

Mia clapped her hands and stepped forward with a gleeful smile. "Alright, that was impressive, Ada. But what do you say we up the stakes?" Her eyes sparkled with mischief as she turned to Lucy. "How about a two-on-one? You and me, Ada, against your mom."

Ada's eyes widened with excitement, her tiredness forgotten. "Really?" she asked, bouncing on her toes.

Lucy arched an eyebrow, a smirk curling on her lips. "You two think you can handle me together?"

"We'll see," Mia said playfully, walking over to grab a training sword of her own. She tossed one more glance at Ada, her expression softening as she spoke. "Fighting in pairs is different than going solo. We'll have to rely on each other. I'll teach you how to work together to cover each other's weaknesses, okay?"

Ada nodded eagerly, gripping her sword tighter as she positioned herself next to Mia. "I'm ready."

Lucy gave the two a moment, twirling her sword idly as she watched. She knew Mia had always been the strategist when it came to fighting, and watching her tutor Ada on the spot was both entertaining and heartwarming.

Mia crouched slightly, eyeing Lucy with sharp focus. "Alright, Ada," she began, "I'll go for the first strike. You stay back a bit and look for openings. Once I engage, that's your moment to step in and surprise her."

Ada's eyes lit up with understanding, her excitement tempered by concentration.

Without further warning, Mia dashed forward, her feet light on the dirt, her sword slashing out toward Lucy in a swift arc. Lucy was ready, effortlessly blocking the strike with a clang of steel, but Mia had no intention of letting up. She moved with fluid grace, feinting high before switching to a low strike aimed at Lucy's legs.

Lucy sidestepped, her grin widening, but she noticed Ada creeping forward from the side, just as Mia had instructed. As soon as Lucy turned her attention to Mia's attack, Ada made her move, darting in with a quick thrust toward Lucy's side.

"Good!" Mia called, sidestepping to give Ada room. "Now follow up!"

Ada followed through with another quick jab, but Lucy was already in motion, parrying her strike with a swift flick of her wrist. She spun away, creating distance between herself and her two opponents, her eyes gleaming with pride. "You're getting the hang of it," Lucy praised, retreating further. "But don't get overconfident."

Mia turned her head slightly toward Ada as they both resumed their stances. "Remember, we've got the numbers. The goal is to keep her off balance. When I attack, you're her second focus—use that to your advantage."

Ada nodded, her body buzzing with excitement. This was a whole new dynamic, and she could already feel how different it was to fight with Mia at her side.

Mia launched forward again, this time swinging with more aggression, her strikes sharp and precise. Lucy blocked each blow, their swords clashing in a rapid series of parries and counter-attacks. But even as Lucy handled Mia's onslaught, Ada moved in from the flank, slicing at Lucy's midsection.

This time, Lucy had to adjust quickly, barely catching Ada's strike with her sword. But it was clear Ada was learning fast—the coordination between her and Mia was growing with each passing second.

Mia smiled in approval. "Nice one, Ada. Keep the pressure on."

As the spar continued, Lucy found herself constantly shifting between the two, evading Mia's quick, strategic strikes and Ada's eager, determined blows. Mia kept up a steady stream of advice for Ada—little tips on how to gauge distance, how to anticipate an opponent's moves, and how to exploit distractions.

"Timing is key," Mia instructed between strikes, dodging a counterattack from Lucy. "When one of us attacks, the other needs to be ready to follow up instantly. Don't give her time to think."

Ada absorbed the advice, her movements becoming sharper, more coordinated with Mia's. Each time Lucy fended off Mia's strike, Ada would be right there, her sword flashing toward Lucy with renewed energy.

Lucy was impressed. It was clear that Ada was learning not just from Mia's words but from the flow of the battle itself. She could see her daughter's growing confidence as she began to anticipate Lucy's movements, adjusting her strikes accordingly.

At one point, Lucy caught Mia's sword with her own, locking their blades together. For a split second, her focus was entirely on Mia—exactly what Ada had been waiting for. Without hesitation, Ada darted in from Lucy's blind spot, her sword aiming straight for Lucy's side.

But Lucy, ever the skilled fighter, spun away just in time, her icy magic swirling around her in a light mist. "You two are getting good," she said, her voice laced with pride. "But let's see if you can keep up with a little more challenge."

With a flick of her wrist, Lucy summoned a small patch of frost on the ground beneath Mia's feet. Mia's footing slipped slightly, but she quickly adjusted, flashing Lucy a daring grin.

"We're not backing down that easily," Mia said, lunging forward again.

Ada followed her mother's lead, her sword held high as they pressed their attack in unison.

Lucy, sensing the heightened intensity from Mia and Ada, steeled herself for the final exchange. The frost on the ground spread, giving her an additional edge, and she leaned into her magic now. Icy mist coiled around her feet, and as Mia came in with another swift strike, Lucy slid gracefully backward, avoiding the blow and using the frozen ground to her advantage.

Mia, seeing this, adjusted quickly, her feet steady despite the slick surface. "Don't let her control the battlefield," Mia called to Ada, her voice firm but encouraging.

Ada nodded, determination flashing in her eyes as she moved in from the side, sword raised. Her strikes came fast and aggressive, but Lucy's experience showed. She parried Ada's blade effortlessly, then dodged Mia's next attack, her movements fluid and unyielding.

With a quick spin, Lucy used her sword to deflect both Mia and Ada's advances simultaneously, her smile widening as she felt their coordination becoming sharper. But Lucy wasn't one to give up ground so easily. She ducked under another wide swing from Ada and countered with a sweeping kick, her boot catching Ada's legs just enough to send her stumbling back.

"Stay light on your feet, Ada!" Mia coached, lunging forward again, her sword cutting through the air in a graceful arc.

Lucy blocked Mia's strike but quickly twirled away, creating distance as the frost crept up Mia's legs. "You've improved, both of you," Lucy admitted, her tone still playful but with an edge of sincerity. "But I'm not done yet."

With a flick of her wrist, Lucy shot a thin beam of ice toward Ada, forcing her to step aside. It wasn't meant to harm, but it did create enough of a distraction for Lucy to advance on Mia. Their swords clashed again in a flurry of sparks, each strike heavier than before as Lucy pressed her advantage.

Mia's breathing grew heavier, her movements more strained. She was fast and skilled, but Lucy's superior control of the battlefield was undeniable. As Lucy parried a high strike from Mia, she saw an opening and took it. Her sword moved like lightning, slipping past Mia's guard and tapping her lightly on the shoulder—just enough to signify victory in a sparring match.

Mia stepped back, breathless but smiling. "You got me."

But Lucy wasn't done yet. Turning her attention to Ada, she raised her sword, her eyes glinting with pride. "Let's see if you can handle me now, Ada."

Ada gripped her sword tightly, her gaze flicking between Mia and Lucy. She knew her mother had just been bested, but that only fueled her determination. With a fierce shout, she rushed at Lucy, her sword coming down in a powerful strike.

Lucy sidestepped with ease, allowing Ada's momentum to carry her forward. "Keep your balance," Lucy advised, her voice steady even as she deflected another wild swing from her daughter.

Ada grunted in frustration but corrected her stance quickly, coming at Lucy again. She threw everything she had into her strikes—her heart, her passion—but Lucy was always one step ahead. Every lunge, every swing, Lucy deflected or dodged with practiced precision, her sword never wavering.

In a final swift motion, Lucy spun behind Ada, tapping her gently on the back with the flat of her blade. "Gotcha," she said, her voice warm and proud.

Ada froze, realizing what had happened, and then broke into a grin, despite the loss. "I'll get you next time!"

Lucy chuckled and lowered her sword, giving Ada a playful ruffle of her hair. "You did great, both of you."

Mia approached, placing a hand on Ada's shoulder. "You did amazing for your first time fighting as a pair," she said, her pride evident. "We'll keep training, and soon, we'll be able to take your mom down together."

Ada's eyes gleamed with excitement, even as she huffed in exhaustion. "I can't wait!" she exclaimed, already looking forward to their next spar.

Lucy smiled at the two of them, a sense of contentment filling her heart. "You both gave me a run for my money," she admitted. "But I'm always ready for a rematch."

With the sparring session over, the three of them shared a quiet moment, their bonds strengthened by the fight. Though Lucy had emerged victorious once again, she knew that Mia and Ada would only grow stronger—and the next battle would be even more challenging.

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