Kaienley led Maeyurai through the forest, walking past the trees as they headed for the area that Kaienley trained in.
Since it was a place Kaienley often went to, there was probably a building there that he used to stay in whenever he finished training.
In the distance, an isolated cherry blossom tree was visible.
"Woah," Maeyurai exclaimed, curiosity peeking out his eyes as his gaze locked on the cherry blossom tree. "Kaienley, what's that pink tree?"
"That's what we call cherry blossom trees," Kaienley replied as he glanced at Maeyurai over his shoulder. "They are common here in Wyumatsui Island, especially in the north of Tahaktatsu."
They approached the cherry blossom tree that was isolated from the normal ones. There was a 15-meter radius between it and the green trees.
"It's weird how this is at the center here," Maeyurai said as he stared at the lonely pink petals falling from the tree's branches. "But it looks good anyway."
Kaienley silently approached the vibrant tree that resembled a pink cloud.
"My master, the person who taught me swordsmanship, planted this tree," he said in a soft tone. "I was told that cherry blossom trees are most abundant in the region of Sailzlovaria. It's my dream place."
Listening to Kaienley talk about the cherry blossom, Maeyurai fell into thought.
I hear Sailzlovaria again.
It seems that Baofuming really isn't that special compared to other regions, huh?
I wonder what the other regions are like.
The map I borrowed from Shienne stated that all other regions in the Paltheoma Continent have strange behaviors, the only exception being the bland Baofuming.
Well, being the only one who is bland is already unique in itself. It's like being the odd one out.
Oh, right. Hwukotuma Region—as Gabby stated—is like a floating super-island. That's incredibly out of the ordinary.
If I stand at a high building, will I be able to see it from afar? It excites me; I want to give it a try.
After a while of thinking, Maeyurai opened his mouth.
"So," he said. "How—"
But before he could even continue speaking, Kaienley turned around and swung his arm like a flick, hitting Maeyurai's neck with an incredible force.
Thwack!
"Argh—!" Maeyurai groaned, stumbling back for a moment before regaining his balance.
"What was that for?!" Maeyurai yelled in a confused and upset tone.
"My bad," Kaienley said, his voice aloof. "I was just testing your reaction time."
Maeyurai felt his neck aching from the impact. Kaienley hit incredibly hard, and he assumed that he wasn't even going all out.
"It seems you're not on my level yet," said Kaienley. "I assumed you were since you were like me. I guess I expected a little too much."
"Tsk," Maeyurai clicked his tongue, feeling belittled. "I've only started to become stronger a few weeks back. You probably have years of experience."
Kaienley chuckled. "Heh, you're right. I have been training for a decade now, though I'm quite disappointed in myself."
His sudden words of self-deprecation took Maeyurai off guard.
"Huh? Why?" asked Maeyurai, perplexed by Kaienley's sudden change in tone.
"I'm just in General rank," Kaienley replied. "I thought I would be able to reach Lord-Level within a decade. I'm actually still far, since I only recently reached General-Level."
The air thickened as the tension rose.
"What are you talking about?" asked Maeyurai as he stood upright. "I know someone that's been training longer than you, and he hasn't even officially reached your level yet. He died before he could attain his only wish."
After Maeyurai finished talking, he immediately continued.
"And you say you're disappointed with your current progress?" he said, his voice slowly growing agitated. "That's just being—"
"This is my own progress," Kaienley cut him off with a firm, calm voice. "My own, not others. Only I have the right to be disappointed in myself, not you, not anybody."
Maeyurai's face reflexively tightened. He couldn't let himself be in the wrong, even if Kaienley's argument made complete sense.
He merely flicked his head to the side to avoid Kaienley's gaze.
Maeyurai anticipated Kaienley to continue arguing, but what he said next completely broke his expectations.
"Forgive me," Kaienley apologized. "What I said must've struck something sensitive in your heart."
Out of all the words Kaienley could've said, he chose the ones that never crossed Maeyurai's mind. With wide eyes, Maeyurai returned his gaze to Kaienley.
An expression of sincerity coated Kaienley's face, as if he were the one in the wrong.
Face contorting in guilt, Maeyurai fiddled with his fingers.
"Sorry," said Maeyurai. "I let my feelings get ahold of me."
"Apology accepted," Kaienley replied with a soft smile, already moving on from what had just happened.
The two looked at one another in a silent understanding. Then, Kaienley opened his mouth again.
"Now," he said. "I want you to draw your bow and shoot this apple accurately."
As soon as he spoke 'apple,' he pulled out the fruit from his back. Wherever it came from, Maeyurai didn't know.
"You want me to shoot it from how far away?" Maeyurai asked, ignoring the fact that Kaienley just took an apple, probably out of thin air.
"From 30 meters away," answered Kaienley, moving away from Maeyurai.
Standing on the edge of the circle around the cherry blossom, Kaienley spoke again. "Go to the other side; try to hit this apple with your bow."
With a nod, Maeyurai does as he was told by Kaienley, moving to the opposite side of where the apple would be placed.
Kaienley then placed the apple on a tree branch, balancing it so it wouldn't fall. Afterwards, Kaienley headed to Maeyurai, who stood on the other side.
"Go on, take a shot," said Kaienley as he studied Maeyurai.
Maeyurai pulled his longbow from his back. Then, he took an arrow from his quiver and nocked it to his bow. He drew the string and aimed.
"Wait," Kaienley called. "Before you shoot, can you put all your focus into your aim? Ignore everything in the surroundings and think of piercing through the apple on the perfect center."
"I can do that," said Maeyurai as he glanced at Kaienley. Then, he let out one long breath, his eyelids going loose as he relaxed.
His head wobbled to the right, arms completely steady as he concentrated on hitting the center of the apple.
On the side, Kaienley was studying Maeyurai's expression, form, and level of engagement with his aim. He was looking for something.
Maeyurai released the bowstring and hit the apple at the very center; his aim was incredibly precise. With a huff, he shifted his gaze from the apple to Kaienley.
However, Kaienley didn't react to his aim. But instead, they reacted to something else.
"Maeyurai, do it again!" Kaienley enthusiastically said, going back to replace the apple with another apple.
"Huh? Okay," said Maeyurai with a tilted head as he nocked another arrow at his bow.
"Go on, take your aim!" Kaienley shouted, jogging back to stand beside Maeyurai.
Maeyurai didn't reply and repeated the very same actions he did earlier. He aimed at the new apple delicately, attempting to do better than what he did before.
Beside him, Kaienley's eyes were gleaming in delight. He was looking at Maeyurai with great interest.
It was because whenever Maeyurai focused very intently on his aim, the mark in his left eye appeared. The vertical slit that once appeared in the third assessment has returned.
"Psshh..." Maeyurai exhaled, unaware of the fact that he was using his very own Sense Boost as he was aiming.
He released and managed to hit another exceptional shot on the apple.
"Hugh!" he moaned, his left eye twitching as he felt a sharp pang of pain on the left side of his head, precisely at the temple area.
Maeyurai's head jerked back in response, closing his left eye tightly as tears started to well up.
"You okay, Maeyurai?" asked Kaienley as he observed Maeyurai's reaction. "You did it; you have a mark!"
"Huh?" Maeyurai muttered in confusion, reminded of what happened to him during the third assessment. "I do...?"
"Yes, you do!"
"Hold on," said Maeyurai as he raised his palm up, trying to calm himself down. The pain in his eye slowly faded, and he could open his left eye again.
Looking at his surroundings, he felt that he was fine.
"Kaienley," Maeyurai called in an eager tone. "What does my mark look like? Where is it placed? Does it look cool?"
"Woah, you're bombarding me with questions, eh?" said Kaienley. "Your mark is placed on your left eye. You look like a frog with it."
The unexpected comparison shook Maeyurai. "Frog? What the hell?" said Maeyurai as he cringed. He thought that the mark looked cool, but if he was going to be compared to a frog, then it definitely wasn't.
"Just kidding," said Kaienley in a playful manner. "It's more like a crocodile's. It honestly looks cool. Like you're a predator."
Upon hearing Kaienley's new description, Maeyurai let out a sigh of relief, "Phew."
"Does it really look like a reptile's, though?" asked Maeyurai.
"It sure does. It looks like a vertical slit, completely resembling a predator."
Maeyurai placed a hand over his chin. Then, he let out a smirk.
"My mark is cooler than yours, Kaienley," Maeyurai jokingly teased.
"Oh," Kaienley uttered mockingly as he feigned hurt. Then, he spoke with a shrug. "At least I don't look like an animal when I focus."
"Ouch," said Maeyurai as he placed a hand over his chest as if he were in pain. "Even as a joke, that stung."
Kaienley chuckled. "Heh, alright, let's move on to the next one. I want to know about your mana."
In response to Kaienley's interest, Maeyurai reattached his bow to his back and showed his palm.
"I'm a Conjurer and Infuser. My Affinities are fire and lightning," Maeyurai said as he conjured a ball of fire onto his palm, turning it into a fire arrow.
Then, diffused the fireball and replaced it with a lightning bolt. It crackled lightly in his hand.
In front, Kaienley observed intently, assessing Maeyurai's abilities and how strong his mana was.
"I see," Kaienley muttered under his breath. "You should be able to use Fusion-Mana. Do you know how?"
Maeyurai shook his head. "I don't know how to use Fusion-Mana, though I have a vague idea on how it works."
"Hm," Kaienley hummed. "Do you have any techniques?"
"I do," Maeyurai answered. "Only two, though. I'm about to create a third one, but I still don't understand what to do."
"Ah, that's perfectly fine," said Kaienley as he shook his hand. "Even I only have two techniques."
Maeyurai's expression turned to surprise. He didn't expect that someone who's been training for a decade only had two techniques. "Wait, seriously?!"
"Seriously," Kaienley replied.
The surprised Maeyurai got curious about one thing. He opened his mouth. "What are your Attributes and Affinity?" he asked as he shifted his weight.
Kaienley cocked his head as he placed a hand on his hip. "Well, I have the exact same Attributes as you, Conjuration and Infusion."
"However," Kaienley added. "I only have wind as my Affinity."
"Hmm... interesting," Maeyurai muttered under his breath. His face lit up as his mind came up with a question.
"Kaienley, why is it that some people have only one Affinity and some have three?"
Kaienley didn't reply. He thought of a possible explanation, as this was a question that didn't have a definite answer.
Then, his voice could be heard. "Attributes aren't restricted to a certain amount."
The curious Maeyurai lifted an eyebrow in confusion upon hearing Kaienley's vague answer.
Before Maeyurai could ask for elaboration, Kaienley continued speaking.
"Did you know?" he asked. "I only had one Attribute when I started training. It was Conjuration. I only got Infusion after a few years of training."
"Wait—huh?" Maeyurai staggered. "How does that work? Did you somehow unlock it?"
"Sort of," Kaienley answered. "At the time that I accidentally created my second technique, I got my second Attribute—which was Infusion."
"Ohh," said Maeyurai in understanding. "That's fascinating. Though, is it possible for a person to have all the Attributes there are?"
"That's a good question. While I do think it's possible for a person to have four Attributes... all six just sounds impossible."
After speaking, Kaienley raised a finger as if he were about to state a fact. Then, his mouth opened. "Nonetheless, the amounts of Attributes and Affinity you have don't really matter. As a matter of fact, my master only has one Attribute and one Affinity, but their rank is High-Lord."
"High-Lord?" Maeyurai asked. "That's the same level as the Leviathan! Your master is powerful!"
"Yes, I'm quite proud of my master!" Kaienley said with a confident smile. "Master's actually in charge of guarding Point Weyu just in case a Rumbling Field occurs or if the Leviathan attacks."
"So your master is an important figure in Wyumatsui Island. Makes sense."
Kaienley turned away from Maeyurai and then started walking in a certain direction. "Come with me; I'll show you the place I stay in whenever Master trains me."
"Oh, alright," said Maeyurai as he walked after Kaienley.
The two of them walked past the area of the cherry blossom tree. As they walked through the paved path, Kaienley opened his mouth to speak.
"My master told me to pave this path so I wouldn't get lost. I dug this dirt path 10 years ago."
"How long did it take you to finish?" Maeyurai asked, his eyes glancing at the finely created path.
"Two weeks," Kaienley answered.
Then, Kaienley's head turned somewhere to the left.
"Oh," he muttered. "We're here."