The celebration in Ravenshire had ended, and the cheerful songs of the night before faded into the quiet morning air. Villagers moved about repairing homes, tending to livestock, and preparing for the next hunt, but for Hunnt, Pyro, and Corwin, the day was reserved for training.
Hunnt tightened the straps of his gauntlets, feeling the familiar weight and resistance.
[Every joint reinforced, every strike flows… time to put this into practice again.]
Corwin hefted his hammer, rolling his shoulders as he stretched, muscles still aching from the battle with the Lynx. His stance was steady, his eyes sharp, ready to begin again. Pyro perched on a fence post, tail flicking impatiently, golden eyes watching them closely.
[Come on, come on… let's see how much stronger we've all gotten.]
"Another day of foundation work?" Corwin asked, adjusting his grip on the hammer. His tone was calm, but the spark of anticipation was clear.
[Yesterday's fight proved we need more control. Let's see if this goes smoother.]
Hunnt nodded. "No shortcuts. No skipping the basics. Even small improvements matter."
Pyro puffed out his chest. "Don't forget me, nyaah! I'm not sitting around while you two swing hammers and fists." He balanced perfectly on the post, ears twitching with mischief.
[I'll show them my speed… I'll prove I'm more than support.]
Hunnt smirked. "Fine, fine. You're in too." He glanced toward the forest. [We'll start with stamina drills, then coordination. We need to move like yesterday's fight—anticipate, react, strike together.]
But before the drills began, movement stirred at the edge of the clearing. Hunnt caught the shadow first, a careful step that betrayed hesitation. Pyro's ears twitched, and in an instant, he vanished in a blur of speed.
"Gotcha, nyaah!" the Felyne hissed playfully, reappearing behind a startled figure.
Elara.
She nearly dropped her bow, eyes wide as she gasped. "Eek!" Her knuckles whitened as she clutched the weapon tighter, then relaxed slightly when she recognized Hunnt. [I didn't mean to intrude… I just wanted to watch.]
Hunnt waved her closer with a grin. "Relax, Elara. Come on." He gestured to the others. "This is Pyro, and that's Corwin."
Elara's gaze shifted, lingering on Corwin, who stood stiffly, hammer in hand. Confusion flickered across her face before her voice came softly: "You're… the one who saved me yesterday." Her grip on her bow trembled faintly. "Thank you."
[If he hadn't… I wouldn't be here right now.]
Corwin rubbed the back of his neck, awkward. "It was nothing. I just reacted." His voice was quiet, but his eyes held a weight he didn't share aloud.
[It was instinct, but… when I saw her frozen, I couldn't let her die.]
Pyro twitched his tail, a mischievous glint in his eyes. "Oooh, a knight saving his princess, nyaah!"
Corwin groaned, heat creeping up his neck. "It's not like that."
Elara flushed. "W-we're not like that!" She protested quickly, though her bow lowered just slightly, her voice softer than before.
Hunnt chuckled, shaking his head. "Careful, Corwin, she might expect you to slay dragons for her next."
"Hunnt…" Corwin muttered, but even he couldn't hide the faint twitch of a smile.
The light teasing broke the tension, but Hunnt quickly grew serious. "So, Elara, you're here to watch training?"
Elara nodded. "Yes. I want to learn. But when I face monsters, I freeze. I can't move. And if I can't move… I'll just drag everyone down."
[I don't want to be helpless again… not when others are risking their lives.]
Corwin's voice was steady, firm. "That makes you human. Fear is normal. Training teaches you to act anyway. You just need a strong foundation—stamina, endurance, speed, strength. Then you'll move when it matters."
Elara blinked, his words striking deeper than she expected. [He understands… more than I thought.]
Hunnt crossed his arms. "Want to train with us?"
There was a pause before she nodded firmly. "Yes. Please."
Hunnt smirked. "Looks like you've got a student, Corwin."
Corwin nearly dropped his hammer. "Me?!"
[Train her? I can't let her get hurt… but if she's serious… I'll try.]
"Of course," Hunnt replied. "You'll handle her foundations. Once she's ready, I'll teach her advanced bow techniques." He grinned faintly. [This way, she grows strong from both sides.]
Pyro purred, tail flicking. "So it's official, nyaah. Knight and princess training together!"
Corwin shot him a glare that could flatten stone. Elara flushed again, but this time her lips curved in a faint, determined smile. [Fine. Tease all you want. I'll prove myself.]
---
That afternoon, beneath the filtered light of the trees, training began.
Corwin ran Elara through endurance drills—laps across the clearing, push-ups, lunges, carrying heavy stones. Hunnt observed carefully, correcting her footing when she faltered. Pyro darted in and out, occasionally mocking with playful feints.
Elara's chest burned, sweat soaking her tunic. Her arms shook as she strained to hold her bow steady under Corwin's watch. "Again," he instructed, voice steady but unyielding.
"I… can't…" she gasped, legs trembling.
"Yes, you can," Corwin said firmly. "Fear takes over when your body is weak. Build endurance, and your body will obey you even when your mind screams otherwise."
Hunnt nodded approvingly. "Listen to him. He's right."
By the time the sun dipped lower, Elara collapsed against a stump, chest heaving. But her eyes were bright with determination. [I'll get stronger. I have to.]
Hunnt watched her closely, then glanced at Pyro and Corwin. [We're growing… all of us. If this continues, we'll be more than just hunters. We'll be something greater.]
As the shadows lengthened across the clearing, a new rhythm settled over the training ground. Gauntlets struck wood, hammers slammed earth, arrows thudded into targets, and claws sliced through dummies. Four voices—different, but harmonizing—echoed together, shaping the foundation of something larger than any of them yet understood.
Hunnt clenched his fists, resolve sharpening. [This isn't just training anymore. This is the beginning… the foundation of what I'll build in the future.]
A new beginning, for all of them.
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📖 Final Fantasy: The Unwritten
Step into the vast multiverse of Final Fantasy—where heroes, destinies, and untold adventures intertwine in ways you've never seen before.
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