The sun had barely risen when Kael kicked the cabin door open.
"Wake up!"
Thalren jolted upright in surprise.
The old man stood at the doorway with his arms crossed.
"Training begins today."
The boy rubbed his eyes.
"Already?"
Kael snorted.
"You want to defeat monsters, don't you?"
"Then stop sleeping."
A few minutes later, Thalren stood outside the cabin.
The morning air was cool, and the ocean breeze carried the scent of salt across the island.
Kael tossed something toward him.
Thalren barely caught it.
A wooden sword.
"From today onward," Kael said, "you will learn how to fight."
Thalren examined the sword carefully.
It felt heavier than he expected.
Kael stepped forward and picked up another wooden blade.
"Attack me."
Thalren blinked.
"What?"
"Attack," Kael repeated calmly.
The boy hesitated.
But after a moment, he raised the sword and rushed forward.
He swung the blade with all the strength he had.
Kael didn't move.
At the last second, he lifted his sword and lightly tapped Thalren's weapon aside.
The boy stumbled forward and nearly fell.
Kael sighed.
"Too slow."
Thalren gritted his teeth and attacked again.
This time he swung twice.
Both strikes were easily blocked.
Then Kael gently tapped Thalren's shoulder with his wooden sword.
The impact wasn't strong, but it was enough to knock him off balance.
"You're wide open," Kael said.
Thalren steadied himself.
Frustration burned in his chest.
"Again!"
He attacked repeatedly.
Swing after swing.
Strike after strike.
Each time, Kael blocked effortlessly.
Minutes passed.
Then an hour.
By the time the sun climbed higher in the sky, Thalren collapsed onto the sand.
He was breathing heavily.
Kael stood over him.
"You're weak."
Thalren clenched his fists.
"I know."
The old man studied him for a moment.
Then he nodded slightly.
"But you didn't give up."
He pointed toward the ocean.
"Go stand in the water."
Thalren frowned.
"Why?"
"Balance training."
The boy slowly walked into the shallow waves until the water reached his knees.
"Now hold your stance."
The waves pushed against him constantly, forcing his body to adjust.
"Do not fall," Kael said.
"If you fall, start again."
Hours passed.
The waves never stopped moving.
Each time Thalren lost his balance, he stood up again.
By sunset, his legs were shaking.
Kael watched silently from the beach.
Finally, he called out.
"That's enough for today."
Thalren slowly walked back to shore.
His entire body felt exhausted.
Kael handed him a bottle of water.
"You did better than I expected."
Thalren drank greedily.
"Will I really become strong enough to fight those monsters?"
Kael looked toward the horizon.
"The ocean is full of creatures stronger than anything you've seen."
He then looked back at the boy.
"But strength isn't just about muscles."
He tapped Thalren's forehead.
"You must sharpen your mind."
Then he pointed to the glowing necklace.
"And perhaps… you have something even more special."
Thalren looked down at the crystal.
It pulsed faintly again.
Kael narrowed his eyes.
"That necklace…"
He paused.
"Where did you get it?"
Thalren hesitated.
"My father gave it to me."
The old man remained silent for a long moment.
Then he turned toward the cabin.
"Interesting."
As the sun slowly disappeared behind the ocean, Thalren stared at the glowing crystal.
Deep beneath the sea…
Something ancient was waiting.
And the path toward that truth had just begun.