Chapter 13 – Training
The next morning, a gentle knock roused Dannie from her sleep.
"Dannie, wake up," Lira's voice called from outside.
Though the Silver Fang Guild had quarters for members, Dannie still chose to stay with Lira and the others at the boarding house. It wasn't far from the guild, and she felt safer living with people she trusted. Jessica had even introduced the place to her, so refusing had never really crossed her mind.
When the guild found out, they were surprised. Apparently, the boarding house cost more than their own quarters. Dannie was secretly relieved—if it's more expensive, then it has to be safer, right?
Stretching, she blinked against the sunlight spilling through the tall windows. Her body still ached faintly from yesterday, but the soreness had lessened. These beds really are different… worth every coin, she thought with satisfaction.
After bathing and fixing herself, Dannie joined Lira and the others for breakfast. They laughed and chatted while eating, and although she mostly listened, she couldn't help but feel at ease. To show her gratitude, she washed the dishes afterward.
Once ready, she pinned her guild badge firmly onto her chest and set off for the Silver Fang Guild.
⸻
The guild's main doors swung open, and the familiar bustle hit her ears. But before she could take more than three steps inside, an attendant in crisp uniform appeared, clipboard in hand.
"Miss Dannie, welcome back," the attendant greeted with a polite bow. "Before you can accept missions, all new members must undergo the Foundational Training. It ensures your skills are stabilized and prevents… unfortunate accidents in the field."
Dannie blinked. "Foundational training? What kind of training?"
The attendant only smiled. "You'll see. Please follow me."
Her curiosity sharpened, nerves tugging at her chest. Guess I don't get to jump straight into missions after all…
They led her through wide corridors into a massive chamber carved with glowing runes. The walls hummed faintly, filling the air with a strange rhythm.
Several recruits stood inside, each at their station before floating crystals that shimmered with soft light. The atmosphere was tense—some recruits fidgeted nervously, while others stared too hard at their crystals, as if glaring would help.
Then she appeared.
A tall woman with silver hair stepped forward, her very presence enough to silence the chamber.
"I am Instructor Mireya," she declared coldly. "Your bodies and spirits are untested. If you step into the field without preparation, you will die. Today, you begin the Five Harmonizations—the very foundation of your path as adventurers."
Her gaze swept across the room like a blade, pausing when it landed on Dannie.
Dannie stiffened under that piercing stare. Did she just… look right through me?
Mireya continued. "The first is Mana Harmonization. You must learn to sense, gather, and circulate mana. Fail, and your power will collapse upon itself."
The crystals pulsed in response, glowing like living hearts.
"Second, Physical Conditioning. A weak vessel cannot carry strong energy."
"Third, Weapon Familiarity. Even supports must know how to defend themselves."
"Fourth, Perception Training. Awareness is survival—of yourself, your allies, and your enemies."
"Lastly, Soul Division Support Training. This may sound distant to you now, but it will shape your path later. For today, you will only learn to hear your own spirit's echo."
Murmurs spread among the recruits. Some looked excited, others pale. Dannie swallowed hard. Soul Division…? That sounds important. And terrifying. But… I want to try it.
Mireya clapped her hands sharply. "You will move through each stage in sequence. Do not rush. Do not compare. Aptitude differs, and some of you may take hours while others finish quickly. Enough questions. Begin with your crystal."
⸻
Dannie stepped toward her orb crystal.
It pulsed faintly, as if waiting for her. She reached out. The moment her hands hovered above it, warmth spread into her fingers and flowed up her arms.
It feels alive… like it's breathing with me.
Her heartbeat matched the crystal's pulse almost immediately. Where others strained to even feel a flicker, Dannie's mana surged smoothly. The orb glowed brighter, its rhythm syncing with hers as though it had been waiting for her all along.
Gasps came from nearby recruits.
"Already?" someone whispered.
"She's harmonizing so fast…"
"Impossible, she's just a new face!"
Others clenched their fists, glaring with thinly veiled envy.
Mireya's sharp eyes flicked toward her. "Good. Very good. You resonate naturally. Don't force it—let the mana come to you."
Dannie bit her lip, trying not to smile. I'm… faster than them? Is this because of my aptitude?
⸻
Hours slipped away as the recruits rotated stations.
By the time Dannie reached the third—Weapon Familiarity—her arms were already trembling from practice swings with a wooden staff.
She bit her lip. "Instructor, may I try using a dagger instead?"
Mireya shook her head immediately. "Support types in the Soul Division are unsuited for blades. The staff will be your foundation. Once you reach Level 10, you will embed an orb crystal into it to channel mana. Wands are for casters. You are not one."
Dannie pouted, puffing her cheeks in protest. A dagger would've been cooler… but fine, staff it is.
Nearby, a tall recruit with a sneer chuckled loudly. "Hah. Figures the prodigy wants to show off. Don't get ahead of yourself, girl. I'll crush you in real combat."
Dannie froze, gripping her staff tighter. "I wasn't—"
"Enough." Mireya's voice cut across the chamber like a whip. "There are no personal duels allowed in this hall. Anyone caught provoking another will be suspended from training. Do I make myself clear?"
The sneering recruit—Korrin—clicked his tongue and looked away, but not before giving Dannie a glare full of unspoken challenge.
Whispers spread again.
"She already caught the instructor's eye…"
"And she made Korrin mad. She's in trouble."
"Or maybe she's just that good?"
Dannie's ears burned, but she kept her head down. I didn't mean to stand out…
⸻
Finally, she reached the last station. A dull shard of crystal awaited her, colder than the rest.
"This is Soul Division Support Training," Mireya said, her voice lowering. "Do not expect mastery. Simply touch it and listen. If you are fortunate, you will hear your soul's echo. That is all."
Dannie placed her fingertips on the shard.
At first, silence. Then—almost instantly—the faint note came. Clearer than what the other recruits managed, it rang steady like a bell in the depths of her chest.
She inhaled sharply. Already? That fast?
Around her, other recruits were frowning in frustration, still struggling to feel anything at all. Yet her shard pulsed, faint threads of light circling her fingers as if responding directly to her soul.
Mireya's eyes narrowed, lingering on her longer this time. "…Promising. Very promising."
The murmurs behind her grew louder. Envy, curiosity, and fear mixed into one.
And though she tried not to notice, Dannie knew—
She had already become the center of attention.
⸻
Just as she withdrew her hand, a faint ding echoed in her mind. Then another.
System notifications?
—
Name: Dannie Silve
Alias: N/A
Race: Human (100%)
Age: 16
Sex: Female
Level: 4
Progress: 45%
Division: Soul / Spirit
Rank: B
Specialty: Beast Domination
Talent: Bee Evolution
Element: N/A
Attributes
Strength: 5
Agility: 6
Intelligence: 10
Constitution: 5
Points: 4
Core Skills
Bond Offering: 1
Soul Chaos: 1
Obtained Skills
Weapon Mastery: 5
Observe: 10
Mana Harmonization: 2
Soul Sensitivity: 1
—
Her eyes widened.
Wow… so many new entries. But what's "Soul Chaos"? And "Soul Sensitivity"? She asks herself.
She clenched her fists, suppressing her excitement. No… better not ask out loud. I'll figure it out later.
Still, her chest swelled with joy. I really leveled up.
⸻
When training finally ended, she bowed slightly to Instructor Mireya. "Thank you for the guidance today."
Mireya's cold expression softened by a fraction. "Do not waste the talent you've shown. Tomorrow, come prepared. The next stage will test your endurance."
"Yes, Instructor."
Dannie left the chamber with light steps. Her body was exhausted, but her spirit felt brighter than ever. She could almost laugh with relief.
Yet, as she passed through the guild gates and headed toward the boarding house, she didn't notice the gaze that lingered behind her.
Korrin.
His teeth ground together as he watched her leave, two recruits standing at his sides.
"She thinks she's special," he muttered darkly, eyes narrowing. "Mana, soul… she just had to outshine everyone."
One of his companions chuckled. "Boss, should we…?"
Korrin smirked, turning toward the shadows beyond the guild road. "Of course. The guild's rules can't protect her out there. Let's follow."
And as Dannie disappeared into the evening streets, three silhouettes trailed quietly after her.