The notifications hung in the air before him, the words glowing faintly. As the message faded, Reyn felt a surge of energy course through his body—a sense of lightness in his limbs that hadn't been there before, and the knowledge of a new skill that felt as if it had always been part of him.
Lirael's gaze lingered on him for a moment longer, something unreadable in her eyes. "You've got spirit, I'll give you that," she said, turning away. "But if you want to keep up with me, you'll need more than luck."
As they prepared to leave the clearing, Reyn could feel the bond between them, a subtle connection that seemed to hum with potential. It wasn't much, but it was a start. For the first time, he felt like he wasn't just a powerless Null anymore. He had taken the first step toward something greater.
The village was quiet as Reyn and Lirael returned from the forest, the soft glow of twilight casting long shadows across the narrow dirt paths.
The smell of cooking fires drifted through the air, mixing with the faint scent of pine. As they approached Irvin and Adelia's home, the couple hurried out to meet them, their faces a mixture of relief and anxiety.
"You're back," Irvin said, his voice heavy with concern. His gaze flickered to Reyn, who looked tired but unharmed, and then to Lirael. "And the bandits?"
"They've been dealt with," Lirael replied, her tone flat and direct. "They won't be a problem for the village anymore."
A collective sigh of relief escaped from Irvin and Adelia. "Thank you, Lirael," Adelia said, clasping her hands together. "You've saved us from a great danger. Please, stay with us a little longer. At least for a few more days. I think the village could benefit from someone like you."
Lirael hesitated, glancing around the village. Despite her normally restless nature, something about the quiet simplicity of this place appealed to her. "Fine," she said at last. "I'll stay a few more days."
After a brief discussion, she excused herself, leaving Irvin and Adelia's home and wandering through the village. She spotted Reyn sitting outside, gazing absently at the setting sun, his face illuminated by the soft orange light. For a moment, she stood there, not sure if she should approach. His expression was distant, contemplative—different from the reckless boy who had leapt into a bandit trap to save her.
Before she could decide whether to turn back or speak, Reyn noticed her presence. He quickly lowered his head and, to her surprise, got down on his knees. "Lirael," he began, his voice trembling with a mixture of hope and desperation. "Please, if you're planning to leave the village, take me with you. Teach me to fight… I want to learn from you."
Lirael's eyes narrowed. "No," she said flatly. "You're not suited for this life. You're just a—"
"Please!" he interrupted, his voice pleading. "I know I'm not strong, but I… I can't stay here. I need to get stronger. You saw what happened back there… if you hadn't been there, I would have died." His gaze met hers, and she could see the desperation in his eyes. "Give me a chance. Let me prove myself."
Lirael sighed, pinching the bridge of her nose in frustration. She wasn't in the habit of taking on students, especially not stubborn ones with no natural talent—at least, not that she could see. But his persistence was relentless, and after several minutes of back-and-forth, she finally relented.
"Fine," she said, her voice heavy with resignation. "But on one condition: If you can't learn what I have to teach you within the few days that I'm here, I'll leave you behind, and you'll never see me again. Understood?"
Reyn nodded eagerly. "Understood," he said, determination burning in his eyes.
"Good," Lirael replied. "Meet me at the other end of the village before sunrise tomorrow. We'll see if you're worth the trouble." Without waiting for his response, she turned and strode away, leaving Reyn to contemplate the challenge ahead.
»«»«»«
The next day, the sky was still a deep shade of indigo when Reyn arrived at the training grounds Lirael had chosen. The cold morning air bit at his skin as he approached, but he was too excited to care. Lirael stood there, waiting, her sword already in hand. Without a word, she tossed him a wooden practice sword. "We start now," she said. "Let's see if you can at least hold it properly."
Over the next few hours, Lirael demonstrated the basics of swordsmanship—stance, grip, movement, and balance. She expected him to struggle, as most people did when first learning how to wield a weapon. She herself had spent days mastering the correct stance and weeks perfecting the most basic swings. But as the hours wore on, she noticed something strange. Reyn was picking up each movement almost immediately.
Every time she corrected him, he adapted with remarkable speed. His form was far from perfect, but the progress he made was undeniable. By midday, he was already practicing basic attack and defense drills with an agility and precision that shocked her.
"How…?" Lirael muttered under her breath, watching as he repeated a drill she had shown him only a few hours earlier. Most trainees struggled to even understand the mechanics of a proper stance on their first day, yet here was Reyn, performing combinations as though he'd been practicing for weeks.
As she watched him work through another set of swings, a familiar chime echoed in Reyn's mind.
Ding!
[You have received your first mission!]
[Mission: Last 30 seconds in a spar with Lirael!]
[Rewards: Unlock Stats, +4 on all unlocked stats, +15 ER from Lirael]
[Failure: Pain! Immense pain! -5 ER]
Reyn blinked at the sudden notification, his concentration momentarily broken. 'What?' he thought, trying to make sense of the new mission. But before he could fully process it, Lirael's voice cut through his thoughts.
"Let's spar for a minute," she said, her tone as cold and unyielding as her steel. She pointed to the center of the training ground, motioning for him to step forward.
Realization hit Reyn like a hammer. 'The system anticipated this—or maybe it set it up,' he thought. Either way, there was no time to question it now. He took his place opposite Lirael, his grip tightening around the wooden sword.
He knew that this would not be an ordinary spar. She was testing him, and he had to survive for thirty seconds.