The next night

Stella flew over to their meetup. To her surprise, chase wasn't there, front in center of the clearing. She looked around, confused. He's always here as soon as she gets there.

"Am I early?" She mumbled, whipping out her phone to check the time. 10 PM. No, she was on time. She looked around again, not a soul in sight.

"Chase! You there!?" Silence replied her question.

Suddenly, a blast of dark magic struck her from behind, knocking her over. She groaned, turning around to see chase sprinting to her. She gasped, holding her hand out to make a shield. He punched straight through it, black magic covering his fist, disintegrating her sun magic. His fist hit her straight in the chest which knocked the wind out of her. She laid there trying to catch her breath. Chase pinned her down, knee on her stomach.

"Get out of my hold." He growled. He amplified his magic. The darkness closed in onto stellas arms,numbing them. Stella screamed as she became frightened by the sensation.

"You don't like it?! STOP.ME." He yelled.

Stella couldn't think of anything. She did notice how close chase's face is...

She head butted him, he barely flinched. She wriggled around more, even though she couldn't move.

Chase laughed. "Come on Stella."

Stella growled. She focused on her power within. She felt herself become lighter, her body glowing brightly. Chase stared down at her, amazed by it. Until it pushed him off of her, making him fly back and hit a tree. He looked up to her putting her foot on his chest. He smiled.

"Well done, Stella."

She held her hand out, and chase took it. She hoisted him up and looked at him in the eyes.

"Did you really have to jump me like that?"

"You must be ready to face an enemy at any moment." Chase replied. He looked down at her, looking innocent at him. He cupped her face, and she held it,sighing contently.

Chase went to knock her down, but she grabbed his wrists and hurled him over her shoulder.

"Oof!" A grunt exerted from his lungs.

"Nicely done."

"Thank you."

He got up to face her again.

"That'll be all tonight. You still need more time to recover from Reiner. You're still a little weak."

"Hey!" Stella put her hands on her hips in anger. "I defeated you easily!" She protested.

"Because I went easy on you. After that much exertion you need to slowly build yourself up."

Stella slumped down in defeat, thinking she actually had the upper hand.

Chase sighed and walked up to be closer to her.

"You still did a good job. Just keep going, and you'll be as strong as me."

Stella smiled a bit. He returned it. Stella started flying up to head back to the temple.

"Goodnight, Chase." She said before flying into the night.

Chase's smile turned to frowning as he walked back to his lair. Her power was getting stronger. He could sense it and she didn't even ignite her full potential like she did at Reiner's castle. After that experience, it amplified her powers immensely. She was the one who held back and went easy on him, not Chase. If he doesn't make her join him soon, she'll be the one to bring him down.