A loud thud echoed through the forest as Rytha's slender frame collided with the unyielding earth. He groaned, his black tunic—sleeveless and reaching his shins—clinging to his sweat-drenched skin. His black pants and flat sandals were caked with dirt, and his messy black hair clung to his forehead.
"Get up," Ria demanded, her voice sharp yet oddly melodic.
Ria, the woman who once went by the name Quiver, stood a few paces away. Her snow-white hair shimmered under the sunlight filtering through the trees, and her purple eyes glowed with an intensity that seemed almost divine. She wore a white tunic that flowed gracefully to her shins, its pristine fabric never seeming to collect dirt despite the rough terrain. Loose seams revealed her white pants beneath, and though her attire was modest, it only emphasized the graceful curves of her figure. She was beauty personified, but in this moment, Rytha could only see her as a relentless taskmaster.
"You're not paying attention to the way my soul essence moves through my body!" Ria yelled, crossing her arms as she stared down at him.
Rytha pushed himself up, his black eyes meeting hers with defiance. "What? Not paying attention? How am I supposed to see your soul essence when I can't activate my Tenagen?"
Before he could regain his footing, Ria's foot connected with his stomach, sending him flying backward. His body crashed into a tree with a sickening crunch, the bark splintering upon impact.
"Stop making excuses," Ria said, her tone calm yet laced with authority. "Having the Tenagen doesn't necessarily make you powerful. Even without it, you can sense and understand the flow of soul essence."
Rytha wheezed as he pulled himself upright, clutching his ribs. His tunic was torn at the side, revealing bruised skin beneath. "How... how am I supposed to do that when you're kicking me around like a rag doll?"
Ria's lips curled into a smile, a soft, disarming gesture that only made Rytha's heart race despite his pain. She walked toward him, her every step graceful and deliberate, the sunlight catching the strands of her white hair. For a moment, Rytha forgot his aching body and could only marvel at her divine presence.
"Fortunately for you, Rytha," she said, stopping just a few feet from him, "training is far from over."
Rytha's eyes widened in horror. "You've got to be kidding me..."
Before he could say another word, Ria surged forward. Her movement was almost imperceptible—a blur of white and purple. Rytha barely had time to raise his arms in defense before her palm struck his chest, sending a shockwave through his body.
"Focus, Rytha!" Ria barked as she spun around, her foot arcing toward his head.
Rytha ducked, the force of her kick whipping the air above him. He rolled to the side, his hands pressing into the dirt as he tried to regain his balance. "I'm trying!" he shouted, gritting his teeth.
"Trying isn't enough." Ria's voice came from behind him.
Rytha turned, but it was too late. Her knee collided with his back, driving him to the ground. He coughed, gasping for air as he struggled to push himself up again.
"Watch closely," Ria said, her voice softer now. "Soul essence isn't just about seeing—it's about feeling. Pay attention to the way the air shifts, how the energy around me flows. Close your eyes if you must, but sense it."
Rytha wiped the sweat from his brow, his black eyes narrowing as he focused on her. He took a deep breath, trying to calm his racing heart. This time, he watched her movements carefully, noting the subtle way her body shifted before she attacked.
Ria lunged at him again, her fists glowing faintly with soul essence. Rytha dodged to the side, the edge of her punch grazing his shoulder. He felt a sudden warmth—an almost electric sensation—and realized it wasn't just her physical strength he needed to avoid but the energy coursing through her attacks.
"Good," Ria said, her tone approving. "You're starting to feel it."
She spun around, her leg sweeping toward his knees. Rytha jumped, narrowly avoiding the strike, and countered with a punch of his own. His fist moved instinctively, guided by the faintest flicker of soul essence he could muster.
Ria caught his wrist with ease, her grip like iron. "Better, but still too slow."
With a flick of her wrist, she twisted him off balance and sent him tumbling to the ground once more.
Rytha groaned, lying flat on his back as he stared up at the canopy of trees. "This is insane," he muttered.
Ria crouched beside him, her purple eyes studying his face. "Insane? Perhaps. But this is the only way you'll learn. The enemies you'll face won't hold back. They won't give you time to catch your breath."
She stood, extending a hand to him. "Now, get up. We're just getting started."
Rytha stared at her hand for a moment before taking it, her grip firm as she pulled him to his feet. He wiped the dirt from his tunic, his black eyes burning with renewed determination.
"Fine," he said, clenching his fists. "Let's go again."
Ria smiled, a hint of pride flickering across her face. "That's more like it."
As the sun dipped lower in the sky, casting long shadows across the forest, their training continued. Rytha's movements became sharper, his senses more attuned to the flow of energy around him. And though the pain and exhaustion weighed heavily on him, a spark of hope flickered in his heart.
This was only the beginning.