The sun rose lazily above the horizon, painting the training grounds in hues of gold and amber.Elric's sword swung in rhythm, slicing through the cool morning air with a sharp whoosh. Sweat rolled down his forehead as he stared at that same massive rock — unmoved, unbroken, and completely mocking him at this point.
He took a deep breath, recalling the words that echoed in his mind.
"You can't do it. Your form is wrong."
That voice — soft but confident — had haunted his thoughts all night.That girl… that Mira.Who was she?Why did she appear out of nowhere, say those words, and disappear like smoke in the wind?
Elric tightened his grip on the wooden sword, his brows furrowed.
"Hmph… I'll prove her wrong. No one tells Elric he can't do something."
He adjusted his stance, trying to imitate how Orin once stood — steady as a mountain, calm as water. Then, he swung with all his might.
Thud.
The sword bounced back harmlessly.
"Ow! Damn it!" he shouted, shaking his hand in pain. "I swear this rock has personal hatred for me."
He slumped to the ground, panting heavily.
"She said I can't do it, huh? Well, guess what — I'll show her. I'll cut this stupid rock even if it takes me a lifetime!"
He didn't know that "a lifetime" might be a little exaggerated — because fate had other plans that morning.
As he finished another swing, a soft laugh echoed behind him."Still struggling with the same move?" said a calm, almost teasing voice.
Elric froze mid-swing. Slowly, he turned his head.There she was — Mira. The mysterious girl from before. Her small frame stood out in the bright light, dressed in a simple white kimono that fluttered in the wind. Her long silver hair shimmered faintly, and her eyes — calm and deep blue — watched him with quiet amusement.
"You again!" Elric exclaimed, pointing his sword at her dramatically."Why do you keep showing up out of nowhere like some ghost?! And what do you mean struggling? I was just… warming up!"
Mira chuckled softly. "If that's warming up, then you must have been training for decades."
"Hey! I'll have you know—"(Wait… did she just roast me?)"—I'm actually getting better! I almost cracked it yesterday!"He leaned on the sword proudly.
Mira tilted her head. "Almost cracked it? You mean you hit it so hard the sword bent a little?"
"...Okay, that's not fair," he muttered. "You're… really good at verbal attacks."
She giggled again. There was something oddly comforting about her laughter — soft, almost musical.Then she said, "My name is Mira. I train those who wish to cut the Stone of Trial. But only those who listen."
Elric blinked.
"Wait… train? You? You're just a kid! how old are you?"
Mira folded her arms, her smile fading just a little."Fourteen."
Elric stared at her blankly for a few seconds.Then he burst out laughing. "Fourteen?! I'm taking advice from someone who probably still drinks milk before bed!"
Mira sighed. "You're hopeless."
"No, no, listen," Elric said between laughs. "This giant rock needs a real warrior! Someone with muscle, power, and—"The moment he flexed, his arm cramped up. "Ow! Muscle cramp… okay, fine, maybe not muscle yet."
Mira just looked at him with the kind of calm pity you'd give a dog stuck in a bucket."Done making jokes?" she asked.
Elric rubbed his arm, coughing awkwardly. "Yeah… yeah, I'm good."
As days passed, Mira kept visiting the same spot. Every morning, she stood silently and watched Elric practice. He would swing his sword over and over, his strikes becoming sharper, his breathing more focused. But the rock still stood unbroken.
At first, he ignored her presence. His pride wouldn't let him accept advice from a "kid." But deep down, her calm eyes and composed demeanor made him feel something strange — a quiet respect.
One morning, he finally turned to her and said,"Alright, Mira. You've been watching me fail for days. Don't you get bored?"
She smiled faintly. "You still haven't asked the right question."
"Huh? What question?""The question," she said, "of how to cut the rock."
Elric frowned.
"I already know how! I just need to hit harder!"He raised his sword dramatically and slammed it into the rock.The rock didn't even flinch."See?" Mira said softly. "You don't cut something by just hitting harder. You cut by breathing with it."
"Breathing with a rock?! What does that even mean?! Rocks don't breathe!"
She chuckled. "That's why you're failing."
Elric dropped the sword and sighed heavily. He looked at his reflection in the blade, his face covered with sweat and frustration.
"Maybe she's right… maybe I really can't do it."
He sat down on the ground, his voice soft.
"Orin believed in me. I can't just stop here."
Then, swallowing his pride, he turned to Mira."Hey… listen, I'm sorry for being a jerk before. Can you… maybe show me the right way?"
Her expression softened. "Finally."
That evening, Mira stood beside him, adjusting his stance patiently."Loosen your shoulders. Feel the flow of air around you. Don't fight the rock — move with it."
She guided his arm gently, and for the first time, Elric felt something new — the rhythm of movement and breath aligning.It was like his sword had become an extension of his body. The air around him seemed lighter, quieter.
"Whoa…" he whispered. "This… feels different.""That's because you're breathing right," Mira said. "You've been forcing power. Now, let it flow."
Elric smiled slightly.
"So, it's about breathing… not brute strength."
"Exactly. You're finally learning, big guy."
"Did you just call me big guy?" he grinned."Well," she said teasingly, "you do eat like three people combined."
"Hey! That's called energy storage!"
She laughed — and somehow, that laugh motivated him more than any scolding Orin ever gave.
Weeks turned into months.Elric trained relentlessly, swinging his sword in harmony with the wind, his breath steady, his movements smooth. Mira stayed beside him, correcting, guiding, and sometimes just quietly watching.
Sometimes, she'd offer advice; sometimes, she'd just hand him water and say nothing. But every time, her eyes spoke the same silent encouragement — You can do it.
Elric began to change. His body became stronger, his reflexes sharper. The lazy boy who once hated training now woke up before dawn every day.
I'll show her. I'll show Orin. I'll show myself that I can do this.