"I'll keep trying," she said simply, straightening and putting her hands on her hips. She looked at the outline of the city on the horizon, far on the other end of the field. "If this method didn't work, something else is bound to. Maybe I'll try a more alchemical approach. The only sure way to lose is to give up, after all." She turned her gaze back to Emizel, smile widening.

"And I really hate to lose."