Morning came violently.
Byukoten didn't bother with words. He kicked Arin straight out of his sleep, sending him rolling across the ground.
"Five more minutes—" Arin started, before a boot met his ribs.
"No," Byukoten said flatly.
Hanase tried to quietly slip away while the chaos unfolded. A sharp smack landed on the back of her head before she took three steps.
"Where do you think you're going?" Byukoten asked, smiling.
Neblaheim, unfazed as ever, began packing their supplies. He cooked what little meat they had left, the smell drifting through the camp. Arin, now wide awake, bolted back the moment it reached him.
A fist met his face mid-stride.
Arin hit the ground. "Why did you do that?!"
Byukoten shrugged. "I just felt like it."
He laughed.
Arin groaned and turned to Hanase. "Heal me."
She looked away.
Two hours later, they stood overlooking a clearing. A goblin leader prowled below, larger than the rest, its presence pressing against the air.
Byukoten crossed his arms. "Arin. Fight it."
Arin nodded—then froze.
"Without weapons. Without magic."
"What?" Arin snapped. "Why?"
"To train what you actually own," Byukoten replied. "Your raw power."
Arin hesitated, then slowly placed his sword and focus stone on the ground. As he stepped forward, doubt crept in.
Can I really win like this?
The goblin leader lunged.
Arin ran.
A wide sweep came for his legs—he jumped. A massive hand reached out to crush him—he slipped through its grip and drove his heel into the creature's stomach. The goblin roared and punched back. Arin blocked, but the impact rattled his bones.
The goblin grabbed him and slammed him into the earth.
Arin screamed.
Hanase stepped forward instinctively. "I—"
"Believe in him," Byukoten said.
She stopped.
The goblin raised its foot to crush him. Arin rolled away, forcing himself up, lungs burning. He rushed in again. Another punch flew—this time Arin scooped dirt from the ground, used the goblin's arm as a foothold, and leapt.
He hurled the dirt straight into its eyes.
Before it could recover, Arin was already there—fists raining down, raw and desperate, until the goblin leader collapsed, unmoving.
Silence followed.
Byukoten stepped forward, nodding. "Splendid. That last move—good thinking."
He knelt beside the corpse and whispered a prayer.
Then he turned. "Hanase. Dagger only. Clear the settlement."
She did, swiftly. Cleanly.
"Neblaheim. Shield only. The goblin king."
It took time, but Neblaheim prevailed without serious injury. When it was done, he too knelt and prayed.
Arin watched them, confusion stirring—but he pushed the thought aside.
As they prepared to move on, a strange emptiness settled in his chest.
I forgot something, he thought.
Something he shouldn't have.