The next day, Kazuki found himself alone in the same misty clearing where he'd trained with Lira. His muscles were sore, his mind heavy with the weight of his recent discoveries. He'd barely managed to summon the Wraithblade without draining himself into exhaustion, but he could feel the strain of his every attempt—like holding onto a shard of ice that threatened to freeze him from the inside out.
"Come on," he muttered to himself, clenching his fists. Focus.
He called the Wraithblade forth again, feeling its cold energy surge through him. But it flickered, like a candle struggling against a gust, before dissipating into wisps of translucent mist.
"Not like that," came Lira's voice from the shadows, her tone cool and calm.
Kazuki turned to see her stepping into the clearing, her expression unreadable. She folded her arms, watching him with that same dispassionate gaze.
"You're forcing it," she said simply, crossing the distance to stand beside him. "You can't just command the Wraithblade. You have to let it flow, let it become an extension of yourself."
Kazuki frowned. "That's easy for you to say. I'm new to this world, new to everything here. I don't have the luxury of time."
She studied him for a moment, then let out a soft sigh. "Perhaps not. But if you rush, you'll only end up killing yourself sooner." Her voice softened, almost imperceptibly. "Do you really want that?"
Kazuki's expression hardened. "No. I want to live. But I also want to be strong enough to survive here. Strong enough to protect myself—and maybe even others."
Lira's eyes flickered with something Kazuki couldn't quite place. She looked away, her gaze distant. "Protection isn't always possible in this world, Kazuki. Sometimes, power is about survival, nothing more."
He regarded her thoughtfully, wondering what burdens she carried beneath her cold exterior. But before he could say anything, a faint rustle broke the silence.
Lira's head snapped toward the sound, her eyes narrowing. "We're not alone."
Kazuki gripped the Wraithblade instinctively, summoning it without hesitation. This time, the blade held firm in his grasp, its ghostly light illuminating the shadows around them.
"Who's there?" he called out, his voice steady.
A deep, rumbling laugh echoed from the darkness, a sound that sent a chill down Kazuki's spine. Out of the shadows stepped a figure clad in dark armor, his face obscured by a twisted helmet with a jagged visor. His presence radiated a suffocating, malevolent energy that made Kazuki's stomach churn.
"Well, well, what do we have here?" the armored man sneered, his voice thick with derision. "A couple of lost little mice, playing with powers they barely understand."
Lira's expression darkened, her posture tense. "Kazuki," she murmured, keeping her gaze locked on the newcomer. "Stay close. This man… he's not someone you can face alone."
The armored figure laughed again, raising a massive, blood-stained blade that seemed to pulsate with a dark aura. "You have a sharp eye, girl. But then, you're the Bloodbound Sorceress, aren't you? I've heard tales of you… and your little spells."
Lira's eyes narrowed, her hands glowing with a faint crimson light. "You should leave. Now."
"Leave?" The man let out a mocking snort. "I was just starting to enjoy myself."
Without warning, he lunged forward, his blade slicing through the air with a speed that belied its size. Kazuki barely had time to react before Lira grabbed his arm, yanking him back. Her magic flared, forming a shield of crimson energy that deflected the attack with a loud crack.
"Stay behind me!" she hissed, her voice urgent.
Kazuki gritted his teeth, his pride stinging. "I can help, you know. I'm not completely useless."
"Not completely, but close enough," she replied sharply. "This isn't the time for ego, Kazuki. This man… he's beyond either of us."
The armored figure laughed, watching them with predatory eyes. "Oh, this is adorable. The Bloodbound Sorceress, reduced to protecting a child. How pitiful."
Lira's expression remained steely, her gaze fixed on their opponent. "Kazuki, listen to me. Focus on control. Do exactly as I taught you, and maybe… just maybe, we'll get out of this alive."
Kazuki nodded, forcing himself to focus. He took a deep breath, feeling the Wraithblade's energy flow through him, not fighting it, but allowing it to merge with his own essence. The blade solidified in his hand, and he could feel its power resonating with him, no longer a burden, but an extension of his own will.
The armored man's gaze shifted to him, his expression twisted into a smirk. "So, the little pup has some fight in him after all."
Kazuki raised the Wraithblade, meeting the man's gaze. "You don't scare me."
"Oh?" The man tilted his head, amusement glinting in his eyes. "Then let's see what you're made of."
He lunged forward, his blade descending in a brutal arc. Kazuki sidestepped, barely avoiding the strike, and countered with a swift swing of his own. The Wraithblade connected, slicing through the air with a ghostly hum, but the man blocked it effortlessly, his laugh echoing through the clearing.
"Pathetic," the man sneered, his grip tightening on his weapon. "Is this all you've got?"
Kazuki clenched his teeth, feeling the drain of energy as he held the Wraithblade steady. But he refused to back down. He could feel Lira's presence beside him, her magic flaring as she prepared another spell.
"Hold him off for a moment," she murmured, her voice low and urgent. "I need time to cast this."
Kazuki nodded, stepping forward to face the armored man. He raised the Wraithblade, forcing himself to focus, to push past the exhaustion creeping into his limbs.
The man sneered, watching him with a mocking expression. "You're wasting your time, boy. You're no match for me."
"Maybe not," Kazuki replied, his voice steady. "But I'm not fighting alone."
He lunged forward, swinging the Wraithblade in a rapid series of strikes. The man blocked each one effortlessly, his expression growing more amused with each failed attack.
"Is this all you can do?" the man taunted, his voice dripping with contempt.
Kazuki gritted his teeth, refusing to give in to frustration. Stay calm. Focus.
Suddenly, he felt a surge of energy behind him, and Lira's voice rang out, clear and commanding. "Now!"
In a split second, Kazuki dropped back, and Lira unleashed her spell. A wave of crimson energy shot forward, forming a series of blood-red chains that wrapped around the man, binding him in place.
The man let out a roar of rage, struggling against the chains. "You… wretched sorceress! Release me!"
Lira's expression was calm, almost serene, as she tightened her hold on the chains. "You underestimate us, and that was your first mistake."
Kazuki seized the opportunity, stepping forward to deliver a powerful strike with the Wraithblade. This time, the blade struck true, cutting through the man's armor and drawing a dark, inky blood that hissed and sizzled as it hit the ground.
The man howled in pain, his eyes blazing with fury. "You… you'll regret this…"
But before he could break free, Lira tightened the chains further, her voice a low, commanding whisper. "Begone."
With a final surge of energy, she forced the man back, sending him stumbling into the shadows. He glared at them, his expression twisted with fury and hatred.
"This isn't over," he snarled. "I'll be back… and next time, you won't be so lucky."
With that, he melted into the darkness, disappearing from view.
Kazuki let out a shaky breath, dismissing the Wraithblade as he sank to his knees, exhaustion overwhelming him. "That… was intense."
Lira nodded, her own breathing heavy. "He was a Shade Knight. One of the Void Reaver's servants. They're not easily defeated."
Kazuki looked up at her, his brow furrowing. "Void Reaver?"
Lira's expression darkened. "A powerful being… ruthless, and insatiable in his hunger for power. If he's sending his knights after us, it means he considers you a threat."
Kazuki swallowed, the weight of her words settling over him. "Then I'll have to get stronger."
Lira studied him for a moment, her gaze softening slightly. "Strength alone won't be enough. This world demands more than power; it demands sacrifice, resilience… and sometimes, a willingness to face the darkness within yourself."
Kazuki met her gaze, feeling a strange sense of camaraderie between them. "Then teach me. Whatever it takes, I'll learn."
Lira's lips curved into a faint smile, one that held a hint of sadness. "Very well, Kazuki. But remember… once you step onto this path, there's no turning back."
Kazuki nodded, his resolve unwavering. "I'm ready."
As the two of them stood there, side by side in the silent clearing, Kazuki felt a new sense of purpose stirring within him. The road ahead was dark, treacherous, and filled with unknown dangers, but he knew, without a doubt, that he would face it head-on.
Whatever this world threw at him, he would endure. And maybe, just maybe, he would find the strength to overcome it.