šļø Scene 1 ā The Trial Grounds
The estate's forest stretched far beyond the eye could see, but within its depths lay a sacred, sealed field ā a hidden trial ground used by ancient noble families for rites of passage.
Today, that field belonged to William and Alicia.
The trees stood still as if holding their breath. The air was charged. And above the clearing, on a stone balcony carved into the mountainside, Iris Montelo stood in silence.
Beside her, Gin balanced on one foot atop a railing, sipping from a teacup he definitely didn't deserve.
Down below, Shinonome faced her two students, her expression unreadable.
"You've trained for three years," she said. "You've fought storms. Learned to bend mana. And bled beside each other."
Her gaze sharpened.
"Now you will show me not how strong you areā"
She raised her hand to the sky.
"ābut how strong you are together."
The ground cracked.
From the center of the field, a magic circle lit up, glowing red and silver.
And from that lightā¦ it emerged.
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š Scene 2 ā The Direfang
A lion-like beast, twice the size of a warhorse, rose from the circle. Its mane shimmered with molten fire. Its eyes glowed crimson, its claws dripping with mana.
Shinonome stepped back.
> "This is a Mana-Blooded Direfang. A beast that adapts to its opponent's strength. A perfect test."
William stepped forward without hesitation. Alicia followed ā but her steps slowed when she glanced at him.
> You're hiding something, Will. I can feel it.
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āļø Scene 3 ā Missteps
The battle began with a roar.
Alicia struck first, wind spiraling from her palms, aiming to blind the beast.
William rushed in with a mana-coated slash.
But their timing was off.
His blade passed through air just as her wind threw dust upward. He stumbled, blinking, barely dodging the creature's counterattack.
Alicia cried out, "Left flank!"
William went right.
The beast spun, caught Alicia mid-jump, and slammed her into a tree.
She gasped, pain exploding through her ribs.
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ā¤ļøāš„ Scene 4 ā The Snap
William froze. His hands trembled.
> Alicia. Bleeding.
Something in him cracked.
> "...Don't touch her."
His blade began to glow ā faint at first, then brighter.
A silver shimmer wrapped the hilt. Energy pulsed from the edge like a heartbeat.
> "You're almost ready. Don't stop now."
A whisper.
His eyes widened. It wasn't just in his head.
The blade pulsed again. He gritted his teeth.
He charged.
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š„¶ Scene 5 ā The Strike
Alicia, coughing blood, saw him coming.
She raised her palm. "Barrier!"
A wall of wind wrapped William just as the beast pounced again.
Using her shield, he launched forward with perfect balance.
> "HAAA!"
He slashedānot with force, but focus.
Silver light carved through the beast's leg. It howled, stumbled, and fell.
Together, they closed in. Alicia released a finishing blast. William drove the sword into the Direfang's chest.
It shimmeredā¦ then vanished into fading light.
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š§ Scene 6 ā The Aftermath
William dropped to one knee, panting. His sword hummed faintly, the glow retreating.
Alicia knelt beside him, hand still trembling.
Shinonome walked forward, placing a hand on Alicia's back. Healing light spread across her bruises.
She looked at William's sword. Quietly.
> That glowā¦ it's not just mana anymore.
Above, Iris lowered her scroll.
"Resonance," she whispered. "He's calling something."
Gin's cup tipped. "He's not calling. He's connecting."
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š Chapter End Quote:
"Sometimes you find your strength. Sometimesā¦ it finds you."