"S-Sam…"
Crista turned around with a tearful expression.
She looked absolutely terrified.
Sam just shrugged at her.
"Why are you so tense? Just face forward again."
"...I-I don't think I can do this. I'm too scared."
"Relax your shoulders. Loosen your grip."
Even as Christa kept saying she couldn't do it, Sam ignored her and continued talking.
"When I give the signal, stomp your foot. Not too hard—just like you're doing a light jump."
"...I really can't. I feel like I'm going to get hurt…"
"Tsk. You probably won't get hurt."
"...But what if I actually do?"
"Well… it's gonna hurt like hell. Anyway, let go of the trigger now."
"What kind of irresponsible answer is that?!"
Christa's voice rose without her realizing it.
She was so nervous she felt like she was going to die, and instead of comforting her, he just kept running his mouth.
Sure, she was following his instructions, but was it really that hard for him to say something encouraging?
As Christa fumed in frustration—
"Now!"
Sam's large hand shoved her forward.
Caught off guard, Christa yelped as her fingers slipped from the trigger.
The force of his push was so strong that she didn't even have time to stomp her foot—her body just flew forward.
Swish!
Thrown into the air at an unprepared moment—
"KYAAAA!!"
Her scream echoed across the training grounds, past the trainees and Shadis, until she finally landed on the tree.
The instructor raised his hand, signaling that she had landed safely.
"Ugh…"
Christa felt dizzy.
The moment she got down from the tree, her legs gave out, and she collapsed onto the ground.
Whether it was because the wind hit her face, because her tension completely faded, or maybe because she was just so startled—
She wasn't exactly sure what emotions she was feeling, but the direction of her gaze was clear. It was fixed on Sam.
"Sam… you… really…"