The sun hung low on the horizon, casting a warm glow over the training ground where Ronan and Sylphie stood facing each other. The past five days had been gruelling, filled with relentless training sessions.
Ronan was pushing his speed to new heights, while Sylphie honed her precision in controlling her vine. They had agreed upon a simple yet effective drill—Sylphie had to capture Ronan using her vines, while he had to evade them using only his agility. No attacks were allowed, making it a true test of speed versus control.
Ronan wiped the sweat from his brow and crouched slightly, muscles coiled like a spring. Across from him, Sylphie's eyes glimmered with sharp focus. With a flick of her wrist, emerald vines shot out from the ground, twisting and darting toward Ronan like living serpents.
Ronan bolted, dodging left, then right, moving unpredictably. His footwork was sharper, his reactions faster. He narrowly avoided a vine that lashed toward his ankle, twisting mid-air before landing and dashing away again. But Sylphie was relentless. Her adaptability was monstrous—each failure only refined her technique. She anticipated his movements, her vines striking not where he was but where he would be.
Then, on the fifth day, it happened.
A perfectly timed feint on Ronan's part seemed to give him an opening, but it was a trap. A second set of vines erupted from the ground and coiled around his waist and arms, pinning him in place. He struggled, but the vines held firm.
Darius burst into laughter. "Hah! The mighty Ronan was caught like a little mouse in a cage! What happened to all that speed?"
Ronan scoffed, a defiant smirk tugging at his lips. "Still faster than you."
Kael crossed his arms and nodded. "Your speed definitely improved, but let's not forget—Sylphie is already at Master Tier One. The gap between you two is just too big right now." He glanced at Darius and Garrick. "Speaking of advancing, you two reached Adept Tier Six recently. Think you can keep up with Ronan in training?"
Both Darius and Garrick shared an awkward glance before forcing smiles. "Uh… maybe next time," Garrick said, rubbing the back of his neck.
Sylphie chuckled as she loosened the vines around Ronan. They both exchanged a glance before breaking into laughter, proud of their progress.
Kael said, "Alright, then. We leave for the academy tomorrow morning."
Everyone nodded in agreement.
Later that night, Ronan sat outside the cabin, engrossed in a book. A small fireball hovered around him, its warm glow illuminating the pages. The night was calm, the only sounds being the distant rustling of leaves and the occasional chirping of nocturnal creatures. He was so lost in his reading that he failed to notice Kael, Darius, Garrick, and Sylphie watching him from a short distance.
Sylphie, ever playful, crouched beside him and leaned in. "So this is where all that wisdom comes from."
Ronan nearly jumped but quickly composed himself, shutting the book with a soft thud. He raised an eyebrow. "Why are you all awake? Shouldn't you be sleeping?"
Darius grinned, slinging an arm around Ronan's shoulder. "You're right. But we never thought we'd find friends like you. We just wanted to enjoy our last night here—laugh, talk, and make it memorable."
Ronan glanced at his companions, a rare warmth flickering in his usually sharp eyes. He exhaled and set the book aside. "Alright, I suppose I can spare some time."
The night passed with laughter, shared memories, and stories from the academy. It was a moment of peace, a bond strengthened.
Morning arrived with the crisp scent of dew in the air. Kael stood before the group, his magical flying boat hovering beside him. "Alright, everyone—hop on. It's time."
They boarded one by one, except for Sylphie. She stood before the small wooden cabin, raising her hands in a series of intricate gestures. A magic circle formed beneath her feet, and another appeared under the cabin. Within moments, the wooden structure unravelled into countless vines, which retracted into the earth as if they had never existed.
Ronan's jaw nearly hit the floor. "What in the—? How did you do that?"
Sylphie smirked and gently pushed his chin up, closing his mouth. "Close that, or you'll catch flies."
Ronan blinked, still processing what he had just witnessed. He climbed onto the boat beside Sylphie, his mind racing with curiosity. "Seriously, what kind of magic was that? I've never read about anything like it."
Sylphie extended her palm, and from it, a small house made of vines emerged, shifting seamlessly into the shape of a tree with delicate red and pink flowers. "Just like you can create and control flames, I can do the same with vines."
Ronan's eyes widened with admiration. "That's… beautiful."
Kael and the others burst into laughter. Ronan frowned. "What's so funny?"
Kael smirked. "You were so focused that you didn't even notice Darius and Garrick making fun of you."
Ronan narrowed his eyes at them. "Oh, real mature."
Ronan rolled his eyes but couldn't suppress a grin. As the magical flying boat soared through the sky, carrying them toward the academy, the wind carried their laughter into the distance.
As the magical flying boat soared through the sky, Ronan leaned against the railing, watching the clouds drift by. Kael, Darius, Garrick, and Sylphie sat nearby, chatting about their recent adventure. After two days of travel, the familiar sight of the academy came into view.
Upon landing, Ronan stretched and turned to his teammates. "All of you should go and exchange the materials for skills."
Kael raised an eyebrow. "Aren't you going to get any skills?"
Ronan shook his head. "Not for now."
Kael sighed but nodded. "Alright, then. We'll take the skills and register you in our team officially."
Ronan crossed his arms. "Do I have to go?"
"Yes," Kael replied, "but you can do the formalities whenever you want. Just make sure you don't put it off for too long."
Ronan smirked. "Got it. In that case, I'm heading to Hunter's Boutique to pick up my new weapons."
With that, Ronan left, while Kael, Darius, Garrick, and Sylphie made their way toward the library to find their skills.
On the second floor of the academy's grand library, Sylphie carefully scanned the shelves, searching for the skills she needed. She had already found one: Droplet of Life, a healing skill. Now, she was looking for an all-stats-boosting skill. Just then, she noticed a familiar figure nearby—Samantha, flipping through some scrolls.
"Good afternoon," Sylphie greeted.
Samantha looked up, startled, before offering a small smile. "Good afternoon. Are you able to gather enough materials for high-tier skills?"
Sylphie nodded, a proud smile on her face. "Thanks to your little brother."
Samantha froze for a moment before narrowing her eyes. "He was with you?"
Sylphie chuckled. "He hasn't come by yet, but if not for him, my team might not have made it back."
Samantha's expression softened. "I see… Have you found the skills you need?"
Sylphie held up one scroll. "Only one. I still need to find another."
Samantha raised an eyebrow. "You're getting two skills?"
Sylphie nodded. "Yes."
Samantha sighed. "Alright, let me help. What's the skill called?"
Sylphie hesitated. "That... we need to ask."
Before Samantha could respond, Kael approached them. "Good afternoon, Samantha. Here's the all-stats-boosting skill Ronan mentioned."
Samantha's eyes flickered with curiosity. "Ronan mentioned it?"
Sylphie grinned. "He's like our team leader now. Let's finish up here first. We can talk more after we exchange skills."
After completing the exchange, the three of them—Sylphie, Kael, and Samantha—sat at a round table outside the library. The cool afternoon breeze rustled the leaves, setting a tranquil atmosphere.
Sylphie took a deep breath before speaking. "You should've seen how Ronan saved us back then. His leadership is incredible."
Kael nodded in agreement. "Without him, we wouldn't have made it. He changed everything for us."
Sylphie and Kael recounted everything they had experienced with Ronan.
Samantha listened intently, then let out a long sigh. "That brat's recklessness will never change... I need to talk to him."
She stood up, but before leaving, she turned to them. "Thank you both for looking out for my little brother."
Sylphie tightened her grip and hesitated before asking, "Are you going to take Ronan away from us?"
Samantha blinked in surprise. "Why would I?"
Sylphie's voice wavered slightly. "He's the first person who chose to be part of our team. Not only that, but he told us this was the best team for him and that he enjoys being with us."
Samantha studied Sylphie's earnest expression before smiling warmly. "If that's what he has chosen, then who am I to judge? But there's one thing I need you to promise me."
"Please… protect him like your own sibling. You already know how reckless he can be."
Sylphie and Kael "We'll protect him, no matter what."
Kael clenched his fists. "Before Ronan, our team was barely surviving. No matter how much we tried, we could never gather enough materials for better weapons or skills. We almost lost hope. But then he showed up. He took on the monsters we were too afraid to fight. I don't have the courage to go fight, but with those monsters. With his guidance, it became easy. He's like a guiding light in the darkness, showing us the path forward."
Samantha was silent momentarily as she remembered something from her past; a soft smile graced her lips. "That sounds just like him."
Sylphie then chuckled. "Now I see why he didn't want to team up with you, Samantha. He thinks you are overprotective. And he told me that when I asked him why he didn't join Samantha's team."
Samantha smirked. "Oh, so he did say that. Tomorrow morning, come to Ms. Amara's training ground. You'll find something… interesting."
Sylphie raised an eyebrow but simply nodded. "Alright. I'll be there."
She turned to leave, but then hesitated. Looking at Kael, her expression turned serious. "Kael, the Flamecrest family is full of politics now. A word of advice—if you don't want to share your problems with Ronan, then don't. He will never force you. But never lie to him. He hates lies."
Kael tensed slightly, meeting her gaze. "I understand."
Samantha's serious expression softened into a gentle smile. "Good. Take care of him. I'll see you both tomorrow."
With that, she walked away, leaving Sylphie and Kael standing in quiet contemplation, the weight of her words settling in their hearts.