Episode 49: The First Enhancement, Two Watching Eyes
Leon arrived at a quiet clearing in the forest and looked around. He steadied his breath, focusing inward. After several rounds of basic training, he felt the faint tremor of energy gathering at his fingertips. This time, he intended to spread that energy through his whole body, focusing it on his legs to enhance speed and strength, just as Serina had explained. Tension and anticipation ran through him as he sharpened his concentration.
"It'll work this time," he muttered under his breath, carefully channeling the energy into his legs. At first, his body felt lighter, but then the energy suddenly tilted, pooling in one leg. By the time Leon realized the imbalance, it was already too late.
"Ugh!" He was flung forward, stumbling and landing awkwardly in the grass. Flustered and embarrassed, he scrambled up, glancing around—only to spot a figure at the edge of the trees. It was Serina.
She had been watching from afar, a faint smile on her lips as she observed his attempts. She knew how difficult enhancement magic could be, and wanted to help, even in subtle ways. With quiet precision, she extended a trace of her own magical energy, nudging his flow into a more stable rhythm.
"Let it spread evenly through the body…" she whispered, carefully adjusting the current. But when Leon forced too much power, letting it tip into his leg again, she bit her lip, nervous for him.
Leon turned, startled, when his eyes met hers. Serina walked closer, her voice soft but teasing. "A little too much, maybe? Still, that wasn't bad at all."
His face reddened as he tried to excuse himself. "It's not like I did it wrong, just… harder than I thought. But what were you doing out here?"
Serina smiled, sidestepping his question with gentle advice. "No one gets it perfect the first time. What matters is that you're already sensing the energy. That alone is a big step. Let's practice spreading it out evenly."
Her encouragement steadied him. Leon nodded and refocused. Again he gathered the energy, this time guided subtly by Serina's unseen support. Slowly, the current spread through his body, faint but balanced. For the first time, he felt it—enhancement taking hold across his frame.
**
Episode 50: A Chance Use on Patrol
Leon and his comrade Ethan were assigned to night patrol in the capital. A recent wave of thieves had been targeting shops in the merchant district, and the kingdom had ordered soldiers to step up security. Normally, such duties were uneventful, but tonight shadows moved between alleys, and the two men tightened their grips on their weapons.
They spotted a pair of thieves inspecting a storefront door. Leon hesitated, weighing whether to call for reinforcements—but more figures slipped from the dark, gathering in twos and threes. Within moments, half a dozen thieves lurked in the alleys.
"If we wait, they'll scatter," Leon whispered tensely.
Ethan nodded. "Then we strike now, before they vanish."
They crept closer, springing their ambush. At first, they knocked two thieves aside easily. But the rest poured in, and within minutes nearly ten surrounded them. The alley closed in, blades flashing in the dark.
Leon's heart pounded. This is it… I'll have to try enhancement.
He inhaled, recalling Serina's lessons. His inexperience gnawed at him, but there was no other choice. Energy began to gather, at first erratic, then slowly spreading.
"Please—just this once, let it work," he urged himself, pushing the current outward.
Lightness coursed through his frame, power surging into his arms and legs. He darted forward with sudden speed, slamming one thief back and spinning to fell another. Ethan's eyes widened.
"Leon, what in the world—where'd you learn that?"
Leon had no time to answer. More thieves rushed in. But the balance slipped; the flow tipped toward his left arm. His blade swung with raw, uncontrolled force, the impact sending him staggering.
"Ethan, just hold them off for a moment!" Leon shouted, struggling to stabilize the energy.
He regained just enough to block the next flurry of strikes, his upper body braced by uneven enhancement. It was clumsy, but strong enough to hold the line until shouts rang out from down the street. Reinforcements.
The thieves faltered, panic flashing across their faces, and scattered into the alleys. Soldiers gave chase, leaving Leon and Ethan catching their breath in the aftermath.
Ethan gave him a look, half-grinning despite the tension. "That strength—you've been holding out on me. What was that?"
Leon shrugged with a sheepish smile. "Just… a little practice."
That night, as they rejoined the patrol, Leon's mind replayed the moment. The uneven surge, the raw power, the near-collapse—and yet, the first real proof that enhancement magic could work for him. Pride and frustration mingled in his chest. He promised himself that with more training, he'd master it—not just in chance moments, but when it mattered most on the battlefield
**
Episode 51: A Clash of Egos, and Mariel's Entrance
The village square buzzed with excitement as an arm-wrestling tournament was underway. Farmers, townsmen, and soldiers alike had gathered to test their strength, their laughter and shouts filling the air. Leon had joined in for the fun, winning several early matches with ease and warming quickly to the festive spirit.
Just then, the crowd stirred as a new figure stepped into the square. Adrian—the mage celebrated for his exploits in crushing the southern rebellion.
At the announcer's table, Mariel was serving as a co-host for the event. Catching sight of Adrian, she clapped her hands together with theatrical enthusiasm."Everyone, we have a special guest! Please welcome the mage who helped subdue the rebellion—Sir Adrian!"
Cheers erupted, and Adrian smiled graciously, exchanging a brief greeting with Serina before walking over to Leon. He extended his hand."Leon, good to see you. How about we both take part in this tournament?"
Leon returned the gesture without hesitation. But the instant their hands clasped, he felt an unnatural pressure—Adrian was subtly channeling enhancement magic to amplify his grip. Leon blinked at the surge, then instinctively tightened his own hold, summoning every ounce of natural strength he had. He held firm, but even so, he could feel the difference. Adrian's quiet smirk said enough.
Their brief handshake left the crowd abuzz. Soon whispers grew into shouts—people wanted to see Leon and Adrian face each other at the table.
When their turn finally arrived, Mariel stepped forward, radiating charm. "This is the match we've all been waiting for! Leon versus Adrian! Cheer them on!"
The two men sat across from each other, locking elbows on the table. The tension thickened. Mariel, playing up the spectacle, placed herself between them with a dazzling smile. "Since this is today's main event, allow me the honor of joining your hands myself."
She leaned forward, placing each man's hand in the other's grip, her blouse shifting just so, her presence drawing both pairs of eyes for a fleeting moment. She basked in the attention, her confidence as deliberate as her smile.
Leon flushed and looked away, while Adrian let his gaze linger briefly, his noble pride faintly piqued. Mariel enjoyed every second—her poise, her allure, and her not-so-subtle effort to catch the eye of a renowned noble mage. Her glance slid toward Serina in the crowd, a flicker of playful challenge in her expression.
Finally, Mariel raised her voice. "Ready… and begin!" She released their hands, and the contest began.
Adrian pressed immediately, his arm pulsing with hidden magical reinforcement. Leon countered with raw strength and steady balance, refusing to yield. Mariel watched intently, her smile never faltering—this was no longer just sport but a stage for her as well.
Leon felt the unnatural weight behind Adrian's push. Gritting his teeth, he risked channeling the fledgling enhancement magic Serina had taught him. Slowly, imperfectly, he drew energy into his arm. The faint current steadied his muscles, giving him just enough leverage to resist.
Adrian's eyes narrowed. He poured more magic into his grip. Leon responded in kind, the struggle transforming from a contest of brawn into a hidden duel of will and mana. The crowd roared as their arms quivered at deadlock.
With a surge of focus, Leon spread the energy more evenly, anchoring his weight through his shoulders and core. He pushed back. The table rattled. Adrian's wrist buckled.
And then—slam. Leon drove his hand down, pinning Adrian's arm to the table.
The square exploded in cheers. Adrian exhaled sharply, then smiled thinly. "Impressive, Leon. You've clearly been training."
Leon allowed himself a small smile in return. "Arm-wrestling isn't new to me. But crossing grips with someone like you—that's rare."
Mariel clapped her hands, beaming. "What a match! Surely the real winner today is all of us who witnessed it!"
The crowd echoed her sentiment, shouting Leon's name. Mariel began to step closer, her smile fixed on Leon. But before she could reach him, Serina pushed through the onlookers.
She walked straight up to Leon, eyes bright, and without hesitation took his hand. Amid the roar of the crowd, she leaned in and kissed him—brief, warm, sincere.
The square fell into delighted applause. Leon froze for a heartbeat, then let the warmth of her gesture sink into him, softening his features with a quiet smile.
Mariel, standing just behind, kept her radiant expression, though the glint in her eyes betrayed a trace of envy. Adrian, too, watched with a complicated gaze, before turning away.
"Congratulations, Leon," Serina whispered softly, her hand still in his.
Leon returned her smile. Whatever the tournament had meant to others, to him it had become more than a contest of strength—it was a moment that marked something deeper.