The cabin was filled with a sweet, tantalizing aroma, and Hiro could hardly wait to eat. His hunger grew stronger with every passing minute, the mouthwatering scent teasing him mercilessly.
Zenith worked quietly, focused on her cooking. Hiro found himself watching her movements—each one precise and deliberate, as if she were performing a flawless, graceful dance.
Her every step seemed to flow seamlessly into the next, light as a feather yet commanding attention.
Her raven-black hair shimmered like the midnight sky embracing a luminous full moon—or at least, one full moon. There were five moons that adorned the heavens, and yet Zenith seemed like a sixth, her presence radiant and otherworldly.
'Beautiful'
Hiro wasn't unfamiliar with beauty. Most members of his clan were considered above average in appearance, their elegance a point of pride.
But compared to Zenith, they all seemed ordinary. She didn't just possess beauty; she embodied it, eclipsing everything else in his world.
But then, her movements stilled for a brief moment. Zenith reached for a wooden bowl, crafted from the same type of timber as the cabin itself. With careful precision, she ladled the steaming stew into the bowl and set it on the table beside Hiro.
The dish was a creamy rabbit stew, rich and fragrant, with an array of vibrant vegetables mixed in.
The warmth wafted up, gently heating Hiro's face as he prepared to eat. Taking the wooden spoon Zenith had provided, he cautiously dipped it into the stew, mindful not to burn himself.
The first taste was exquisite. The savory flavor wrapped around him like a comforting embrace, its warmth sinking into his very core. The tender rabbit meat melted in his mouth, while the vegetables offered a perfect balance of texture and taste.
Hiro quickly found himself entranced, unable to resist devouring the stew with the fervor of a starving animal. And in truth, he was—days had passed since his last meal, and his ravenous hunger justified his eagerness.
A soft chuckle broke through his focus, and Hiro froze mid-bite. He had completely forgotten about Zenith in his food-induced trance.
"I'm glad you enjoyed it,"
she said, her voice tinged with amusement.
"I'm not the greatest cook, but I do pride myself on making a good stew."
"Your pride is more than justified, This is... the best food I've ever tasted! It's really good!"
As the words left his mouth, Hiro felt a twinge of embarrassment. He realized how crude he must have seemed in front of the War Maiden.
"I'm sorry for my manners,"
he added quickly, lowering his gaze.
Zenith waved off his apology with a warm laugh.
"You don't need to apologize. I don't exactly have the best manners myself."
Her laughter filled the cabin, light and carefree.
Hiro still felt a little embarrassed, but her words eased his tension.
Hiro continued eating until the bowl was completely empty. He leaned back, feeling full but content in a way he hadn't experienced in days.
Zenith quietly took the bowl, setting it aside before pulling a chair in front of him. She sat down, her expression calm yet serious.
"Now that you've finished eating, we need to discuss your training."
Hiro straightened in his seat, anticipation sparking in his eyes.
"First, we'll focus on strengthening your body. You'll start with daily exercises until your physical endurance is where it needs to be. Once you're ready, we'll add meditation to your routine to sharpen your mind."
Hiro listened intently as Zenith continued, her tone steady but purposeful.
"After you've gained the knowledge of the third ritual, we'll move on to strengthening your soul. And once all of that is complete, I'll teach you how to wield fate. But,"
she added with a slight smile,
"That's a long way off."
"Let's start with the basics,"
Zenith said, her tone firm but encouraging.
"You'll do 10 pushups, 10 sit-ups, and a 1-kilometer run every day for the next two weeks. After that, you'll add another 10 pushups, 10 sit-ups, and 1 kilometer to your run every two weeks. You'll keep increasing until you're doing 100 pushups, 100 sit-ups, and running 10 kilometers daily. Once you hit that, you can add more if you want, but for now, that's all you'll need to build a strong foundation."
Hiro listened closely, the weight of her words sinking in. It sounded like a grueling challenge—far more than he thought he could handle. Doubt crept into his mind: could he really do this?
As if reading his thoughts, Zenith spoke again, her voice cutting through his uncertainty.
"Don't doubt yourself. I know you can achieve this. You want to get stronger, don't you? Then train. Every single day. Push yourself until you think you can't go any further—and then push just a little more."
Her words lit a spark in Hiro's chest, replacing his doubt with determination.
"Okay then! I'll get stronger—one step at a time!"
"Good, but for now, you need to rest. You still don't look well."
Hiro opened his mouth to protest, but her stern gaze silenced him. Reluctantly, he lay back down.
As he stared at the ceiling, Hiro couldn't help but wonder
'Could she read my mind?'
He had been planning to start training immediately, but somehow, she had stopped him before the thought was even fully formed.
- - -
Hiro rested for three days. They were uneventful, mostly filled with eating more of Zenith's cooking, recovering his strength, and talking with her.
In that time, Hiro learned a great deal about Zenith—things that both fascinated and surprised him. Among them was the revelation that she was the daughter of a goddess and a dragon. At first, he hadn't believed her, brushing it off as a joke. But as she elaborated, providing intricate details, he realized she wasn't lying.
He also learned that Zenith had siblings, two around his age. The idea of meeting them someday intrigued him, especially if they were as captivating as she was. A fleeting thought crossed his mind
'If they're anything like her... maybe I could become part of her family someday'
But Hiro quickly shook his head, chastising himself.
'No! Extinguish those thoughts, Hiro. Get a grip! She's your savior and master now!'
Another detail he uncovered was that Zenith was only 20 years old. While not particularly shocking—she did look to be in her prime—it added another layer to the mystery of her strength and wisdom.
With each passing day, Hiro absorbed more about the enigmatic War Maiden, all while preparing himself for what lay ahead.
Tomorrow marked the first day of his training, and he was certain it would be as grueling as he had envisioned.