Life had settled into a familiar rhythm since that day—the day I stood up to the royal bullies and met Rylan and Lyra. After that, the three of us became inseparable. They were the first real friends I had made since being reincarnated into this world, and our bond grew stronger with each passing day.
Rylan Ashford, the boy with a fiery spirit and resilience to match, was always the first to leap into any challenge. His energy was contagious, and despite the bruises he had taken from the royal kids, he had bounced back with a grin that never seemed to leave his face.
Lyra Thorn, on the other hand, was quieter, her movements graceful and her eyes always scanning the world around her as if searching for something deeper. There was something mystical about her, as if she understood things that the rest of us couldn't quite grasp. But once she opened up, her sharp wit and sense of humor became an anchor for our trio.
Together, we spent our days exploring the woods and fields around our village, but most importantly, they joined me in my secret training. I had told them bits and pieces about my desire to grow stronger, to master my magic and sword, and to protect the people I cared about. They listened, and though they couldn't fully grasp my past life or the full extent of my abilities, they were eager to learn.
As we gathered at the usual spot outside my training yard, the early morning sun painted the village in a warm golden hue. My mother stood at the window of our cottage, her tired face lit up by her familiar smile. In the distance, I could see my father heading to the fields, burdened with the weight of another day's labor.
I grinned at Rylan and Lyra as they approached, their expressions reflecting the eagerness to begin another session of practice. Rylan, with his brown hair tousled and a mischievous gleam in his eye, was already bouncing on his heels, as if he couldn't wait to start. Lyra, with her dark hair neatly braided, walked with a quiet grace, her eyes focused and determined.
"You ready to get your butts kicked again today?" I teased, stretching my arms above my head.
Rylan rolled his eyes but smiled. "You wish! Today's the day I finally beat you."
Lyra smirked, folding her arms across her chest. "We'll see. I have a feeling Lucan's holding back on us."
I chuckled. In truth, I had been holding back. My mana core had grown stronger with each passing month, but I kept the full extent of my abilities hidden. I wasn't sure how they would react if they saw just how far I had come.
"Let's get started," I said, motioning toward the open space in the yard. "Same drills as before, but this time, focus on your footing."
The sun was high in the sky by the time we started our sword practice. The air was warm, and the sound of wooden practice swords clashing echoed through the yard as we faced off against each other. Rylan had taken his stance, eyes focused, and Lyra stood beside him, her grip on the hilt firm, ready for the first move.
I stood opposite them, a slight smirk tugging at the corner of my lips. The wooden sword in my hand felt light as a feather, and while they were both giving it their all, I barely had to put any effort into my movements. Years of secret training, starting when I could barely walk, had put me leagues ahead of them. But I didn't mind. This wasn't about winning—it was about helping them grow.
"All right," I said, spinning my sword lazily in my hand, "both of you against me. Maybe together, you'll stand a chance."
Rylan scoffed, but there was a grin on his face. "We'll see about that."
Lyra gave a small nod, her eyes narrowed with determination. She was the more measured of the two, always thinking ahead, always looking for an opening.
They both charged at me, Rylan leading with an overhead strike while Lyra angled for a quick thrust to my side. I could see their movements clearly, almost as if they were happening in slow motion. With a smooth step backward, I dodged Rylan's strike and parried Lyra's thrust with a flick of my wrist.
"You're both too predictable," I teased, sidestepping as they regrouped. "You've got to mix it up if you want to catch me off guard."
Rylan, never one to back down from a challenge, rushed at me again, this time swinging his sword in a wide arc. I ducked beneath the swing, letting the momentum carry him forward. Just as he passed me, I gave a light tap to the back of his ankle with my foot, sending him stumbling forward.
"Careful, Rylan," I said with a chuckle. "You're going to trip yourself up."
Before Rylan could recover, Lyra made her move, coming in fast with a series of quick jabs aimed at my midsection. She was faster than Rylan, more precise, but still too slow. I danced around her strikes, twisting my body just out of reach with each step, making it look effortless.
"You almost had me that time, Lyra," I said, spinning around her and tapping the back of her sword with mine, causing her to lose her grip momentarily.
Her brow furrowed in frustration, but she didn't give up. Rylan had regained his footing and came at me again, this time from the side. The two of them worked together, trying to trap me between them.
It might have been a good strategy if I wasn't already three steps ahead.
I waited until they were just about to close in on me, then dashed forward with a burst of mana, slipping between them. They both swung at where they thought I'd be, but instead, their swords collided with each other in mid-air with a loud thwack. The impact made them stumble back, disoriented for a brief moment.
"Maybe you should practice not hitting each other," I said with a grin, casually twirling my sword.
Rylan grumbled under his breath, rubbing his shoulder from the impact. "Show-off."
"Oh, come on, I'm just getting started," I teased, stepping forward. "How about we try something a little more advanced?"
I flicked my sword up, knocking Rylan's weapon just enough to send it flying from his hand. As he blinked in surprise, I shifted my stance and nudged Lyra's foot with my own, causing her to lose balance. Before she could react, she tripped over Rylan, and the two of them tumbled to the ground in a heap, heads knocking together with a soft thud.
I burst out laughing, unable to help myself. "You two make a great team!"
Rylan groaned from the ground, trying to untangle himself from Lyra, who was glaring at me with mock indignation. "That wasn't fair, Lucan."
I shrugged, still grinning. "You're the ones who said you could take me on."
Lyra managed to get to her feet, brushing off the dirt from her tunic. "You're impossible."
"Maybe," I said, offering her a hand with a playful smile. "But you'll thank me one day when you're actually able to land a hit."
Rylan, now back on his feet, shook his head with a grin. "One day, Lucan. One day."
The truth was, I was holding back—far more than they realized. The mana that thrummed beneath my skin, the power that I had been cultivating since I was old enough to understand it, gave me an edge they couldn't hope to match. But I didn't want to overwhelm them. For now, it was enough to help them grow, to sharpen their skills and prepare them for the challenges that lay ahead.
Still, there was a fire in my chest—a burning need to keep pushing myself. The world beyond Eldoria was harsh and unforgiving, and the corrupt lords who ruled over us would never show mercy. I needed to be stronger, faster, better than anyone who would stand in my way.
And with Rylan and Lyra by my side, I knew we could achieve something great.