The early morning sun cast a warm glow over the small town as Ren and Akio prepared for another day of training. The past week had been hard on both of them, but especially Akio. Ren had pushed him relentlessly, teaching him not only how to fight but also how to endure pain and overcome weakness. Each day had brought Akio closer to mastering his body, but he still had a long way to go.
As they sparred behind the labor camp, Akio, bruised and panting, dodged a sharp jab from Ren. His movements were getting better, more precise, but Ren was still leagues ahead. His lightning-coated fists crackled with raw energy as he continued his assault.
"You're holding back, Akio," Ren said, his voice calm but commanding as he landed a swift punch to Akio's side, knocking him back. "If you don't give it everything, you won't survive out there."
Akio gritted his teeth, trying to stand his ground, but Ren was relentless. Another punch connected with his shoulder, sending him staggering. The electrical energy from Ren's fist left a searing sting, but Akio refused to back down.
"I'm trying!" Akio yelled, frustration evident in his voice. He wiped the sweat from his brow, his eyes locked onto Ren. "You're just too strong."
"That's the point," Ren said, his fists still crackling with lightning. "The world doesn't care if you're struggling. You either adapt, or you die."
With a roar of frustration, Akio lunged forward, throwing a wild punch at Ren's chest. Ren dodged effortlessly, sweeping Akio's legs from under him and sending him crashing to the ground. Akio coughed, struggling to catch his breath as Ren loomed over him.
"You're relying too much on brute force," Ren said, his tone harsh but instructive. "Focus. Control your movements. Strength without control is useless."
Akio's face twisted with anger. He had heard Ren say this over and over, but in the heat of battle, it felt impossible to focus. All he could think about was how badly he wanted to land a single hit on Ren, to prove he wasn't weak.
Ren prepared to deliver another strike, his fist enveloped in a crackling aura of lightning. "One more time, Akio. Get up."
Akio, trembling with both exhaustion and fury, clenched his fists and stood. His entire body ached, but something inside him snapped—an overwhelming desire to fight back, to not be beaten down anymore.
As Ren came forward with a quick jab, Akio let out a fierce shout and threw his own punch. To his surprise, something flared within him—a sudden heat, raw and wild. His fist collided with Ren's, and the impact sent Ren flying backward, crashing into a nearby tree.
Ren staggered to his feet, wiping a trickle of blood from the corner of his mouth. He glanced at Akio, his eyes narrowing. "What the—?"
Akio stared at his hand, eyes wide in shock. His fist was faintly glowing with a hint of fire, small flames licking his knuckles. He could feel the heat, though it didn't burn him—it felt like a part of him, raw energy that had suddenly erupted in his moment of anger.
"I… I don't know what happened," Akio said, his voice trembling. "I just… I couldn't take it anymore."
Ren rubbed his jaw, smirking slightly despite the burn on his face. "Looks like you've got more in you than I thought. Fire, huh?"
Akio's breath hitched as he stared at his hand, the flames gradually fading away. "I don't know how I did it."
"Magic," Ren said, crossing his arms. "You've unlocked your element. I've seen it happen before, though usually not so suddenly."
Akio clenched his hand into a fist, the remnants of the fire disappearing. "I didn't know I had it in me…"
Ren dusted himself off and gave Akio an approving nod. "Looks like you've got potential after all. But now that you've unlocked it, you'll need to learn control. Fire magic can be dangerous if you don't know how to manage it."
Still shocked by the power that had burst from him, Akio stood silent for a moment before he spoke. "There's a hunter's guild in this town. I heard about it while we were working. If we sign up, they can help us train… and I can learn more about my magic."
Ren raised an eyebrow. "A hunter's guild? You think they'll teach you how to use fire magic?"
Akio nodded, excitement flickering in his eyes. "They'll have resources—books, scrolls, maybe even someone who can train us. It's worth a shot."
Ren considered the idea for a moment, then nodded. "Alright. We'll check it out. But don't expect them to hand everything to you on a silver platter. You'll still have to work for it."
---
Later that day, after finishing their work at the labor camp, Akio set out for the town library. If he was going to control his new powers, he needed knowledge, and the library was the best place to start.
Inside, the dusty scent of old books filled the air, and the shelves were crammed with volumes on every subject imaginable. Akio wandered through the aisles until he found the section on magic. His fingers skimmed the spines of the books, his heart racing as he searched for something—anything—that could help him understand the fire that had erupted from within him.
Finally, he found two books that caught his eye. One was titled *"The Fundamentals of Magic Coils"*, a thick tome that promised to explain the basics of magical energy. The other was a smaller book, with a worn cover that read *"D-Rank Fire Techniques: A Beginner's Guide."*
Akio grabbed both books and made his way to the counter, his mind buzzing with anticipation. If he could just understand how his magic worked, maybe he could harness it, control it like Ren controlled his lightning. He had felt so powerless for so long, but now… now he had a chance to change that.
---
Back at their small campsite on the edge of town, Akio eagerly opened the books. Ren, sitting nearby sharpening his katana, glanced over with mild curiosity.
"You find anything useful?" Ren asked.
"Yeah," Akio replied, flipping through the pages of the fire techniques book. "This one teaches basic fire-style techniques for beginners. And the other one is about how magic coils work."
Ren nodded, sheathing his katana. "Good. The sooner you understand how your magic works, the better. Fire's tricky—it can get out of control fast if you're not careful."
Akio nodded, his eyes scanning the pages eagerly. "I'll make sure it doesn't get out of control. I'll get stronger, just like you."
Ren smirked slightly, leaning back against a tree. "We'll see. Just don't set the whole town on fire while you're at it."
Akio laughed, but his determination was clear. He wasn't just doing this for himself—he wanted to be strong enough to help Ren, to stand beside him as they faced the dangers of the world.