"YES!! I made it! I can see my inner realm!" Eren's voice rang through the endless space of his mind, reverberating off the invisible walls of his consciousness. The darkness had folded like a curtain into light, revealing a tree of impossible size before him. Its trunk was thick and gnarled, bark shimmering with a faint silvery glow, and its roots dug deep into shadows that seemed alive, writhing like serpents. Branches curled upward, branching endlessly, glowing faintly like starlight reflected on a midnight sea.
Eren blinked, unable to look away. I… I really did it. I can see it. I can touch my inner realm. His small hands reached forward instinctively, brushing against the bark. A faint ripple of energy shivered under his fingers. It's… real. It's really real!
He leaned closer, his face glowing in awe. This must be a weak tree. I've only used Through the Sword once… it must be quite weak right now. He clenched his fists, determination simmering. But if I explore this path… I can make it grow stronger and bigger. The book said: the further the understanding of the paths, the stronger I become… That must mean…
Eren's heart pounded as he gazed at the infinite number of paths branching from the tree. Some glimmered faintly, others pulsed with a stronger light, as if calling to him. He chose one that seemed closest, a delicate silver line that shimmered like liquid moonlight. He stepped onto it cautiously, feeling the energy of the path wind around him, pressing against him in a strange, exhilarating way.
Almost immediately, the air around him shifted. The faint glow of the path dimmed, and a chill ran down his spine. The hairs on his arms stood up. Then he saw it. A creature, unlike anything he had ever read about in his mother's books or Kaelen's notes, stood before him. Its body was twisted and unnatural: a hybrid of wolf and goblin, fur matted and dark, claws curved like crescent moons, and eyes glowing a dull, dangerous red. It crouched, muscles taut, tail flicking like a whip, its gaze fixed unblinkingly on him.
Eren's chest tightened. I… I've never seen anything like this. Not even in the illustrations! He took an involuntary step back, feeling the weight of fear and excitement.
At its feet lay a small scrap of parchment. Instinctively, he reached down and picked it up, hands trembling. His eyes scanned the careful, slanted handwriting and read out loud what was written on it:
"If you cross that line, monsters will attack you mercilessly as they do not know the meaning of mercy.However, if you manage to overpower them, you may attain a skill of this path—the unique skill of the monster you have slaign.Beware: your physical body may be damaged. You can only learn one skill per month.Defeat the beast, and you will be rewarded with treasure to aid your conquest of the path."
Eren's eyes widened. A skill… from a monster? But… it says my body could be harmed… I have to be careful… His gaze shifted instinctively to a sword lying just beyond the note. Its blade was dark and unremarkable, but the hilt shimmered faintly in the light of the path, calling to him.
He crouched, gripping it with small, eager hands. This… this is my first sword. I want to train with it so badly…
Raising it carefully, he swung. Immediately, his arms trembled violently. The weight was more than he had imagined, more than his tiny body could handle. His knees buckled, and he fell to the ground with a thud, gasping. Sweat dripped from his brow as he lay there, muscles trembling.
I'm too weak. I need to train my body… Determination surged. I have to get stronger.
Eren struggled to his feet, eyes blazing with newfound resolve. "I'm going to train really hard with Father today!" he shouted, as if calling to the world.
Bounding out of his mind realm, he ran to the garden where his father was training. The scene stopped him in his tracks. His father, tall and broad-shouldered, summoned a massive fireball between his palms. With a swift, fluid motion, he sent it hurtling toward the carefully tended plants his mother had cultivated. But just as quickly, his sword flashed through the air, splitting the fireball in two, sparing the garden entirely.
Eren's jaw dropped. Wow… my father is so cool! I want to be just like him!
His father glanced up and caught sight of him. "Ready for training, Eren?" he asked.
"Yes!" Eren's voice rang out, bright and eager, echoing with enthusiasm.
His father raised an eyebrow, slightly surprised. He's more motivated than ever…
"What makes you so excited?" he asked, though there was a hint of curiosity and pride in his tone.
Eren's heart raced. He's probably thinking I want to be like him because of his strength… "I want to get stronger! I want to explore my mind realm!"
His father's eyes widened, a mix of astonishment and wonder. "Eren… when did you enter your mind realm? And what pathways do you have a connection to?"
"Reality," Eren said simply.
For a fleeting moment, his father's shoulders slumped, a shadow of disappointment passing across his face. But it vanished quickly, replaced by a proud smile. "Then you could become a great healer, like your mother," he said gently.
"No," Eren said firmly. "I want to be a warrior, an adventurer. I want to explore the world and become as strong as I can be."
His father's gaze softened, pride mingling with awe. "And what did you encounter on your first path?"
Eren recounted the wolf-goblin hybrid, his voice low but clear. His father's eyes widened in shock. Monsters… only fighter-class mages encounter monsters.
"Show me your first skill," his father commanded. "Let's see what you've learned."
Eren gripped his small sword tightly. His father swung at him with measured force, testing his defenses. Eren blocked as best he could, his tiny frame trembling under the impact. Then, thinking quickly, he channeled his skill—Through the Sword—and lunged forward, aiming a strike directly at his father.
His father's eyes narrowed, but he blocked the strike effortlessly and knocked the sword from Eren's hands. Then, scooping him up, he said with a proud smile, "Son… that's an amazing skill! You really are my son after all."
Eren beamed, heart pounding with joy.
"Now," his father said, "we'll begin with something simple… running five laps around the island."
Eren froze. "Dad… won't that take at least four hours?"
His father's lips curved into a mischievous, almost cruel smile. "That's the point."
The first lap was brutal. Eren struggled to keep up, lungs burning, legs trembling. His father ran effortlessly, glancing back only to smile and push him forward. "Keep moving, Eren! One step at a time!"
By the third lap, sweat drenched his clothes, legs like lead. His father's steps were steady, smooth, yet he never let Eren rest. "Don't stop! Not until all five laps are complete!"
Finally, the fifth lap ended. Eren collapsed, chest heaving, exhausted beyond measure. His father knelt beside him. "Rest a little," he said. But before Eren could relax, his father handed him a metal sword.
"Now… one hundred swings," he instructed. "Then you may sleep."
Eren lifted the sword. It shrank to a size he could manage, yet even then, each swing burned his arms, muscles screaming with fatigue. But thoughts of the wolf-goblin, the tree, and the paths flooded his mind. I must defeat that monster. I must get stronger.
With renewed determination, he began the hundred swings. Each strike pushed him closer to exhaustion, sweat blinding his eyes, but he forced himself onward, counting each swing, focusing on form, precision, and control. By the final swing, his body trembled violently, but a satisfied grin broke across his face.
His father rested a hand on his shoulder. "You did well, Eren. Rest now. Tomorrow, you and your mother leave for the mainland. You've earned it."
Overjoyed, Eren threw himself into his father's embrace. "Thanks, Dad! Thank you for letting me go!"
His father ruffled his hair, smiling warmly. "You did really well today. You're ready for the path ahead."
That night, Eren lay on his mat, sword and Kaelen's book at his side. His muscles ached, his body exhausted, but his mind buzzed with possibility. He had glimpsed the paths, encountered his first monster, and taken the first steps toward becoming the warrior he dreamed of.
Somewhere deep within, the tree waited for him, roots winding into infinity, branches curling toward the endless sky. And Eren knew… tomorrow, he would grow stronger.