Two years had passed since Zaryth began his training. One year spent honing his physical skills alongside the warriors of Chronos, and another mastering his abilities with his grandmother, Arkania Chronos. The training had been grueling, but Zaryth emerged from it sharper, faster, and stronger. His command over the three elements—Time, Space, and Life Essence—had grown significantly, though it remained incomplete. Manipulating these forces required both precision and restraint.
In that time, Zaryth learned the weight of his abilities: stopping time required immense focus and ancient words, and bending space demanded deep concentration to anchor himself in the real world. Using life essence was the trickiest—it allowed him to drain vitality from others, restoring wounds and energy, but its misuse could cost him his humanity. His human body was still a limitation; without awakening his dragon form, he could only push himself so far. Yet his grandmother assured him that the relic of Aneomith awaited him when the time was right. For now, all Zaryth could do was practice relentlessly.
He was no longer the weak, insecure boy from the past. Every warrior in the Chronos estate knew him as an equal—or as a rival. Now, with this skill honed, he took on his own missions to test himself against the outside world.
---
The moon hung low over the city as Zaryth ran through narrow streets, his breath steady and his steps quick. A group of dangerous gangsters had surfaced in the city—a faction notorious not only for their violence but also for their ability to wield destructive magic. Zaryth had tracked them for weeks, waiting for the right moment to strike. Tonight, he'd cornered them—or so he thought.
Festival crowds surged around him, laughing, eating, and cheering. The streets were packed, making it impossible to see more than a few feet ahead.
Zaryth gritted his teeth. "Where the hell did they go?" he whispered to himself, scanning the street frantically.
Nearby, a couple of strangers whispered.
"Oi, did you hear about Lady Roxane?" one said with a hushed voice.
"Yeah. Terrible, isn't it? People are monsters," the other answered with a heavy sigh.
Zaryth ignored their gossip and approached them. "Oi, did you see a group of people running by just now? They were heading this way."
One of the men gave him a bored look. "No, haven't seen anything. But listen, kid, if you're with those gangsters, you might want to lay low. There's a new group called the Exterminators running wild. Mean folk—trust me, you don't wanna mess with them."
Zaryth huffed in frustration. "I'm not a gangster," he snapped, though his tone carried more irritation than he'd intended.
---
As Zaryth wandered deeper into the city, searching for his targets, a girl approached him from behind. She was one of his companions—sent to assist him during the mission.
"Did you find them?" she asked, her voice hopeful but tired.
Zaryth whirled around and grabbed her collar roughly, his eyes flashing with anger. "If you're just going to drag me down, then leave."
The girl recoiled but didn't resist. "I was trying to help—"
Zaryth cut her off. "Because of you getting distracted by that stupid dog, we were late, and I lost them! They've vanished now, and it's your fault."
The girl bit her lip, swallowing her retort. "Fine. Just... let's keep searching," she whispered, lowering her gaze.
They walked in tense silence, combing the streets. Finally, their search led them to a hidden tavern tucked away in a back alley. The smell of stale beer and sweat greeted them as they peered inside. There, in the corner, sat the group of gangsters—laughing, drinking, and boasting about their latest robbery.
Zaryth narrowed his eyes. "Found you."
---
The gangsters weren't ordinary thugs—they radiated mana, a clear indication of their ability to use magic. Zaryth could feel the energy thrumming around them like a storm waiting to be unleashed.
As soon as he stepped inside, one of the gangsters sensed him. "Oi! That's the brat from earlier!" the man shouted, raising a hand that crackled with lightning magic.
Zaryth didn't hesitate. He lunged forward, disappearing for a split second as he bent space to close the gap. His fist collided with the man's jaw, sending him flying into a table. The impact shattered wood and spilled drinks everywhere.
The remaining gang members sprang into action. One conjured flames in his hands, hurling them toward Zaryth. Zaryth twisted through the air, dodging the fireball with ease, and retaliated with a spinning kick that knocked the man unconscious.
A third gangster summoned a shadow beast from thin air—a snarling creature with glowing red eyes. Zaryth grinned. "Is that all you've got?"
Before the beast could pounce, Zaryth warped space, appearing behind it in the blink of an eye. With one clean strike, he dispersed the shadow into nothingness.
More spells flew his way—shards of ice, bursts of lightning—but Zaryth moved like a ghost, weaving through the attacks. He had trained too hard for too long to be outmatched by thugs like these.
Within moments, all the gangsters lay unconscious or writhing in pain on the tavern floor. Zaryth stood over them, his expression calm, his breathing steady.
The girl who had followed him stood in stunned silence. "You... you took them all down. Just like that," she whispered.
Zaryth shrugged, brushing some dust from his sleeves. "They weren't much of a challenge."
---
As they left the tavern, the girl finally broke the silence. "You know, for someone who's all business, you're really good at this."
Zaryth gave her a sideways glance. "What's your name, anyway?"
The girl hesitated, then smiled. "It's Mila"
Zaryth raised an eyebrow. "Mila, huh?" He gave a soft, approving nod.
Mila smirked. "You got a problem with that?"
"No," Zaryth said, his voice calm again. "I'll be staying in the city for two more days. Go back to Chronos estate and tell my grandmother to take care of the expenses."
Mila tilted her head, curious. "Why stay behind?"
Zaryth's gaze drifted to the bustling streets around them. "I need to tie up a few loose ends."
Mila gave him a playful grin. "Don't get into too much trouble, Zaryth."
He chuckled softly. "You know me."
With that, Mila gave him a small wave and disappeared into the crowd, leaving Zaryth alone under the glowing lanterns. He tucked his hands into his pockets, his thoughts wandering back to everything that had brought him here.