The third day of training arrived quickly, with the early morning mist still clinging to the air as Reyn stepped onto the training grounds. His body was sore, the muscles in his arms and legs protesting every movement, but he pushed the pain aside, determined to keep up with Lirael. She stood in the center of the clearing, her sword in hand, as calm and collected as ever.
"We're going to train all day," she announced as Reyn approached. "By midday, we'll take a break. After that, I want to see if you've actually been learning something or if I've been wasting my time."
Reyn nodded, his expression serious. "Understood."
"Good," Lirael said, her eyes narrowing as she took her stance. "Let's begin."
The morning was a blur of relentless drills and exercises. Lirael had him repeat every technique they had covered over the past two days, pushing him to refine his movements until they were as close to perfect as possible.
Each time he faltered, she corrected him with a sharp instruction or a firm tap of her wooden practice sword. Her strikes were not gentle; they left his arms and legs stinging, but they served as harsh reminders of the stakes involved in real combat.
As the sun climbed higher in the sky, Lirael finally called for a break. "That's enough for now," she said, motioning toward a shaded area beneath a tree. "Take an hour. We'll resume after."
Reyn stumbled over to the tree and collapsed against its trunk, his breath coming in heavy gasps. His body was drenched in sweat, his muscles trembling from the exertion. As he took a long drink from his waterskin, he thought back to the system's previous missions and the way it seemed to align so perfectly with Lirael's training.
'Maybe now's a good time to explore the system further,' he thought. He hadn't had much time to look beyond the immediate quests and rewards, and the curiosity gnawed at him. Closing his eyes, Reyn focused on the system, and a familiar chime echoed in his mind as the interface appeared.
[Lustbound System Interface]
[Available Options: Stats, Quests, Abilities, Bond Progress, Emotional Insights]
His gaze lingered on the "Emotional Insights" tab—a feature he hadn't noticed before. He selected it, and a new screen opened, displaying information linked to Lirael.
[Emotional Insights (Locked)]
[This feature allows the host to perceive and understand the emotional state of bonded individuals. Unlock by completing the first bond.]
Reyn's brow furrowed as he read the description. The system could provide insight into the emotions of those he bonded with. It wasn't just about gaining abilities or leveling up—it was about something deeper, something that involved understanding and possibly influencing the feelings of others.
The implications were unsettling. If he could truly understand Lirael's emotions, could he use that knowledge to manipulate her? Was that the system's intention?
The thought made him uneasy. He recalled how his first quest had been to spar with Lirael, even before she suggested it herself. It was as if the system had anticipated her actions—or worse, guided them.
Now, with the "Emotional Insights" feature locked behind the completion of a bond, it seemed as though the system was encouraging him to delve deeper, to forge stronger connections with those around him.
'Am I manipulating her without realizing it?'
The question hung in his mind, a gnawing doubt that twisted his gut. He had felt a genuine sense of progress in his training, and there were moments when he believed that he and Lirael were building a real bond, however faint it might be. But now, with the system's features suggesting deeper layers of influence, he couldn't help but question if any of it was real.
The doubt was growing, but then he remembered Lirael's fiery determination and the way she had looked at him with a glimmer of respect after their spar.
'She's not someone who could be easily manipulated,' he assured himself. Lirael was far too strong-willed to be influenced by anything other than her own choices. If the system was trying to manipulate her, it was doing a poor job of it.
Still, the thought persisted like a nagging thorn. As he stared at the "Locked" indicator on the Emotional Insights feature, he made a silent vow. He would unlock that function, explore it fully, and find out the truth. But for now, there was nothing more he could do.
"Reyn!" Lirael's voice snapped him back to reality, cutting through his thoughts like the edge of a blade. She stood a few paces away, her expression a mixture of impatience and expectation. "The break is over. Get up. We're starting the second round."
Reyn rose quickly, pushing his doubts aside as best he could. He had a long way to go before he could fully understand the system's true intentions, but he wasn't about to let that stop him from making progress here and now. Whatever was happening between him and Lirael, whether it was the system's doing or something genuine, he would find out in time. For now, his focus had to be on the training—and on proving to Lirael that he deserved her time.
He picked up his practice sword and joined her in the clearing, his stance firm as he raised the weapon to meet her gaze. "I'm ready," he said, his voice steady despite the doubt still lingering at the edges of his mind.
"Good," Lirael replied, taking her stance opposite him. "Let's see if you've improved since this morning."
She moved first, coming at him with a series of rapid strikes that Reyn struggled to deflect.
Bang!
The impact of her blows reverberated through his arms, and he gritted his teeth against the sting of each clash.
As they sparred, Reyn noticed how his movements felt slightly more fluid than before, his reactions a bit quicker. It was as if his body was finally beginning to understand the rhythm of combat.
Lirael's strikes grew more aggressive, and he found himself forced to retreat step by step, his feet sliding across the dirt. She pressed him harder, pushing him to his limits, and for a moment, he felt the familiar doubt creeping back in.
'Is this really me improving, or is it just the system at work?' he wondered as he parried another blow, barely avoiding the edge of her practice sword.
Reyn looked at Lirael's face—her eyes sharp and focused, her movements precise and unrelenting. There was no sign that she was holding back or treating him differently because of the system. She was testing him, pushing him to his absolute limit, as any good mentor would.
The thought steadied him, and he pushed back with a smile, meeting her strikes head-on. He might not have all the answers yet, but there was one thing he was certain of: whether it was the system guiding him or his own will, he would continue to improve. One way or another, he would earn Lirael's respect.
Bang!
The clash of wood against wood echoed throughout the clearing as their training continued, the doubts within Reyn slowly giving way to the thrill of the fight.