The training begins with Ray pushing his body to its limits. He sprinted up steep paths with a boulder tied securely to his back, each step testing his strength and determination. Squats with heavy stones pressing down on his shoulders became part of his daily routine. His muscles burned, and his breaths came in ragged bursts, but he never slowed. Each day was a trial of will and endurance.
Zen put Ray through grueling exercises, ensuring his training wasn't just limited to raw power. Hand-to-hand combat sessions were relentless, for when his pride wouldn't let him unsheathe his sword; Ray faced off against Zen daily, unable to land even a single hit for weeks and weeks, of course, it was due to the sage's spatial barrier.
Each failed attempt left him more determined, his fists connecting with nothing but air. The days bled into evenings, where meditation beneath the waterfall helped Ray recover.
The cold water crashed down on him, numbing the ache in his muscles and sharpening his mind. This ritual washed away not just fatigue, but distractions, refining his mental clarity and perceptive abilities without even using his skill or sword energy, had drastically improved.
Nights were spent in the dark forest, where Ray practiced his sword under the shadow of trees, avoiding every obstacle. The moonlight barely filtered through, challenging him to rely on senses beyond sight, he would be able to draw his sword with precision and would be able to tell apart attacks that are visually invisible and have no sound.
This rigorous schedule ended after two months only since Ray had achieved everything Zen had intended in this regime, leaving him transformed as a more powerful and agile Ray. His body became perfectly proportioned, neither too bulky nor slim. His defined muscles spoke of power with his appearance, handsome face and that tied up silver hair, retained an otherworldly grace.
Clad in a white robe similar to Zen's, his striking looks would have captivated any princess or high elf.
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Zen, despite expecting remarkable progress, was astonished by Ray's speed. The training that should have taken a year for even his previous disciples, had been completed in mere months. The boy's body healed swiftly, fatigue dissolving almost as soon as it set in, and his potential surpassed even Zen's highest expectations.
In the morning, Zen sat in his balcony, sipping a warm drink. The sun rose in a blaze of gold and crimson when Ray approached, bowing slightly as he greeted him.
"Good morning, Zen."
Zen nodded and set his cup down.
"Today marks the beginning of your wisdom training. You can be strong, but if you're not wise.... to the world, strength alone won't protect you. Though, I doubt you're entirely clueless." A smirk played at the edge of Zen's lips.
"Come. I'll teach you about this world, the Dragon Realm, and yes, even magic, which I know you've been eager for."
Ray's eyes lit up with excitement, but a question had been nagging at him since he met Zen, according to tiers in Luna's, a mage able to create a phenomenon using magic was said to be in pinnacle. So he asked Zen,
"Zen, I've been wondering… are you a Transcendent?"
Zen raised an eyebrow, amused.
"I thought you claimed to know little about magic, yet you ask me this?"
Ray's heart skipped a beat. He couldn't mention Luna.
"I read it in a book once," he lied smoothly.
Zen's gaze softened, and he chuckled.
"I suppose you could say I am, but the titles and power levels you're familiar with mean little to me. You'll understand when you reach that point."
Ray nodded as they walked toward the tall tower that had caught his eye on his first day. Now, he knew it was a library infact. The vast hall was filled with shelves packed with books and scrolls, each section marked by topic and period.
The scent of old paper and ink hung in the air, an aroma that spoke of centuries of knowledge. They reached the center, where a wide table and cushioned seats awaited.
Zen began, "We'll start with the Dragon Realm. It is a sanctuary where our kind resides. Once, it was a part of Helios, these very lands. But after the Great Demon War, our king severed the realm from this world using his Authority. He had lost too many, including his daughter, who fought alongside a human, the hero, which he was called by."
Zen's eyes darkened with an old sorrow, one that seemed to shadow even his wise countenance.
"I was left behind as a guardian, a guide for when the boy of prophecy would arrive. The one destined to wield the Chronos Blade and lead us."
Ray's breath caught. The pieces of Zen's story struck him deeply.
"Prophecy? Chronos blade?"
Zen nodded. "well, it was a story passed through generations, every 300 years or so a person will come who has resemblance to dragons and loved by mana, the hero, Nathan van Dragonborne was one of them, even he failed to pull out the blade, but that idiot....it says he will save the world from plunging into the darkness."
Ray felt sorrow in Zen's voice, a loneliness,
"I am sorry Zen, I made you remember those painful memories..."
Zen came back to ususal. he said,
"No, its fine.....lets continue with our history, Only I remained in this world, a bridge to our realm. The Dragon Realm itself is similar to human society in its structure and hierarchy, though more formidable. We worship the Dragon God and the Goddess of Life, said to be the mother of all creation."
The weight of Zen's words settled over Ray, sparking an intense curiosity and determination to uncover more about his lineage and destiny.