At the training ground, Kellan, Elenor, and Tavin waited anxiously for news of Ronan. The air was tense with unspoken questions, their gazes darting toward every entrance. Ronan had left abruptly, offering no explanation, leaving his friends to worry.
When Ronan and Kairos finally appeared, walking side by side, relief washed over their faces except for Elenor's. Her expression was a storm of barely contained anger. She marched toward Ronan, her fists clenched tightly, her voice dripping with sarcasm as she said, "Our prince finally graces us with his presence. Aren't we just so grateful?"
Ronan instinctively raised both hands and took a step back, attempting a disarming grin. "Good morning, Elenor," he offered, his tone sheepish.
Elenor narrowed her eyes and glanced at her own fist. "Good morning? Oh yes, good morning." Then, without warning, she punched him squarely in the face.
"Aah! My face!" Ronan yelped, clutching his nose. He stumbled backwards, only to find Elenor already closing the gap. "Wait, wait! Next time, I swear I'll tell you personally!"
Elenor grabbed his ear, twisting it with just enough force to make him wince. "Oh, you will? That's funny because Kairos already told us yesterday where you went. But next time, it should come from you. Got it?"
"You betrayed me, brother!" Ronan whined, casting a pitiful look at Kairos, who merely shrugged, his lips twitching as he tried to suppress a laugh.
Elenor twisted harder. "What did I just say? Do you understand?"
"Aau, aaau! Yes, yes, I understand!" Ronan yelped, flailing slightly as he tried to ease the pain. Satisfied, Elenor finally let go, crossing her arms as she scanned him from head to toe. Her eyes softened slightly, her anger giving way to a mix of curiosity and pride.
"Wait a second," she said, tilting her head. "You advance to Adept, didn't you? I didn't even notice until now."
Kellan and Tavin stepped forward, their earlier concern replaced with admiration. "Congratulations, Ronan!" Tavin said warmly, clapping him on the back.
"Yeah, well done," Kellan added, grinning. "It's about time."
Ronan rubbed his sore ear, his pride slightly bruised, but his spirits lifted by their praise. "Thanks, guys. I've been working hard, you know. Even if some people don't appreciate the effort," he muttered, shooting a glance at Elenor, who merely smirked in response.
The group lingered a little longer, the camaraderie between them palpable, before they finally dispersed to begin their own training.
After two days away on a mission, Sophia returned late at night. The cool water from her shower washed away the fatigue, leaving her refreshed. Wrapped in a light robe, she wandered onto the balcony, drawn by the serene beauty of the moonlit sky. The soft silver glow illuminated the grounds below, and as her gaze drifted, movement caught her eye. On the training ground stood a lone figure.
Squinting, Sophia tried to make out the identity of the lone figure. "Tavin?" she murmured to herself.
Below, Tavin sat cross-legged, his body glistening with sweat, deep in meditation. His breathing was steady, his aura calm yet intense, like the quiet before a storm. Moments later, he rose, picking up his sword with deliberate precision. Sophia's interest was piqued as she leaned against the railing, watching intently.
Tavin shifted his stance, his movements fluid yet charged with purpose. Gathering his water mana, he let it flow into his blade, the energy swirling around him like a living stream. With a powerful upward slash, he unleashed an uppercut, the blade leaving a shimmering watery trail that reflected the moonlight, creating an almost ethereal spectacle. Without hesitation, he transitioned into a horizontal slash, followed by a swift lower-cut, each movement faster and more precise than the last.
As he completed the sequence, Tavin collapsed onto the ground, laughing breathlessly. "I did it," he exclaimed, his voice filled with exhilaration. "I did it! Haha, finally!"
From the balcony, Sophia's eyes widened, captivated not just by the beauty of the attack but also by the speed and precision. "This is not any skills, he is just infusing mana into the sword to make it sharper, but this also makes it very heavy," she murmured.
Tavin's vision blurred as a memory surged forth—a battle seared into his mind. He and Ronan had stood opposite each other, swords drawn, their eyes locking in silent resolve. No words were needed. both understood this clash would test everything they had.
Ronan's blade ignited in a blaze of crimson fire, while Tavin's shimmered with rippling water. The arena shook as their swords met, fire hissing against water, each strike releasing bursts of steam.
Tavin smirked, narrowly evading a crushing downward blow and countering with a swift slash. Ronan barely parried, the hiss of vapour filling the air. Blow after blow, Tavin steadied himself against Ronan's relentless assault. He knew Ronan was forcing him onto the defensive, relying on raw speed and physical strength to compensate for his smaller mana pool. If Tavin dodged, Ronan's speed would finish the fight instantly. Defence was his only option—his strategy, to outlast Ronan until exhaustion set in.
But Ronan shifted. His strikes grew heavier, faster. Sparks flew as Tavin staggered back a few steps. Seizing the moment, Ronan lunged—but the stance before him screamed trap. Too late to retreat.
With a roar, Ronan unleashed a long-range fire slash. Tavin raised a wall of water; the clash forced them both back, coughing through steam. Fire dimmed on Ronan's blade. Sweat rolled down Tavin's temple.
Their eyes met, fierce yet respectful. In unison, they declared, "Let's end this with one last move."
Ronan gathered the last of his mana, crimson flames roaring to life as he raised his sword.
"Sky Splitter!" His fiery arc tore through the air like a burning crescent.
Tavin steadied himself, extending his hand as water condensed into a weapon. His voice echoed with oceanic weight:
"By the silence of the abyss and the truth within the tide,
I call forth the weight that none can hide.
Verdict of the Depths!"
A spear of crystalline water formed, gleaming like glass. As he hurled it, a trail of mist followed, the ground trembling with the crushing force of the sea.
The two strikes collided mid-air. A blinding burst of steam and light engulfed the arena, the shockwave hurling both fighters back. Struggling to remain upright, they gasped for breath, their bodies trembling.
Ronan thought, I gave everything, yet I still couldn't defeat him. My mana is almost gone… another Sky Splitter would drop me unconscious. His clenched fist shook with frustration.
Tavin's legs wavered beneath him. I unleashed every skill I had, yet I couldn't bring him down. Even with my greater mana, my body can't keep up.
They exchanged weary smiles before collapsing onto their backs, laughter breaking through their exhaustion.
Yet as the night wore on, Tavin rose again, murmuring to himself, "No… this isn't enough. Ronan can push on for an hour. And me? Three or four strikes, and I'm spent. I have to keep up."
The next morning, Sophia escorted Tavin to Mr. Alden's office. After a polite bow, Tavin listened as Alden questioned him.
"So, you want to learn swordsmanship. But why?" Alden's eyes narrowed. "You already carry the blessing of the Water God. With your mana, you could overcome most obstacles with ease. Why chase a path built on physical strength?"
Tavin's gaze hardened. He recalled the clash with Ronan, the helplessness that still gnawed at him. "Because I can't just blast everything away. My friend Ronan—his mana is barely a third of mine. We fought, and I went all out. Still, I couldn't defeat him. Every time I spar with him, I feel… inferior. It's as if, in a real battle, he'd kill me without hesitation. I don't want to rely only on my mana. I want to fight him as an equal. I don't want to feel less than anyone."
A flicker of approval crossed Alden's face. Good. He feels inferior, yet no hatred—only respect and resolve.
"Tell me then," Alden asked, voice sharp. "Why do you truly feel inferior to Ronan?"
Tavin straightened, answering without hesitation. "His strengths are stamina, speed, and tactics. His only weakness is his shallow mana reserves. My strengths and weaknesses are the exact opposite. I surpass him only in mana capacity."
Alden's lips curved into a rare smile."Good. Very good." He turned to Sophia. "You want me to train him?"
Sophia nodded. "I believe he has the potential to improve significantly under your guidance."
Mr. Alden faced Tavin again, his expression hardening. "Tavin, I don't care about your noble status. If I train you, I will treat you like anyone else. Do you think you can handle that?"
Tavin met his gaze without flinching. "I would prefer it that way."