As they continued, the landscape changed. They passed a winding river, its crystal-clear waters reflecting the sky and birds flying in formation. They crossed an old wooden bridge that creaked under their weight. Forest animals peeked out from the bushes to watch the unusual race.
Exhaustion eventually overcame Kayn. His legs grew heavy. Unable to continue, he stumbled and fell to his knees, planting his hands on the ground to catch his breath. He let himself collapse onto the soft grass, staring up at the clear sky.
Finn stopped a few meters away, turning back with a serene smile on his face. He walked calmly toward Kayn, as if he hadn't been running at all, and stopped in front of him.
"You're a cheater," Kayn managed to say between gasps, lifting his gaze to meet the elf's eyes. "I'm sure you were using magic. There's no way you're that fast."
Finn smiled, clearly enjoying Kayn's frustration. His carefree demeanor reminded Kayn a little of his father.
"Good observation. I've been using wind magic to propel myself. I thought it would make it easier for you to catch me if I did that instead of strengthening myself with anima."
Wait, he could go faster than that? Seriously?
"Anyway, I never intended for you to catch me," the elf added, sitting down on a nearby rock. "I just needed to tire you out a bit."
"Why would you need me to exhaust myself before training? That makes no sense."
Finn interlocked his fingers, resting his elbows on his knees.
"Before we begin, you need to understand something fundamental," he said, placing a hand on his chest. "Anima is a radiant energy that resides in our bodies and flows through us at all times. Even right now, it's dispersed everywhere."
"Flowing through my body?" Kayn murmured, holding his hands in front of his face and examining them curiously. "I don't see anything."
"Don't worry, you will," Finn replied. "As I mentioned earlier, when anima isn't infused with mana, it's much more unstable. To use this power properly, you need to keep it under your control at all times. And the first step is to become aware of your anima. In other words, you need to feel it if you want to use it."
"Feel it? How am I supposed to do that?"
The elf stood up, extending a hand to help Kayn rise.
"Humans have a natural aptitude for this, so I don't think it'll be too difficult for you. We'll start with a simple exercise." He pointed to a large rock beneath the shade of a nearby oak tree. "First, I want you to sit there."
Kayn took Finn's hand and stood up, his legs still trembling slightly. He walked to the rock and settled onto it, feeling its cold, smooth surface beneath him.
"Now close your eyes and focus on your senses. Try to feel the energy flowing within you. Don't worry if you can't sense it right away—this is just the first step."
Obeying, Kayn closed his eyes and took a deep breath. At first, he only noticed the air filling his lungs, the steady rhythm of his heartbeat, and the gentle whisper of the wind brushing against his skin. But after a few minutes, something else began to emerge. A warm sensation coursed through his body, startling him and causing him to lose focus. Surprised, he opened his eyes.
"Well?" Finn asked, watching him closely. "Did you feel it?"
"Yes… It was like a faint flame warming me from the inside."
"Congratulations. You've managed to sense your anima."
"That was easier than I thought," Kayn said, a hint of arrogance creeping into his voice. Finn didn't seem bothered.
"Don't get too comfortable. The real training starts now," Finn murmured with a mischievous smile Kayn didn't notice.
"Now that you've sensed your anima, the next step is learning to control it without losing focus. To do this, I need you to compress all that energy into a single point in your body. For now, try to gather all your energy in one place. You'll need to maintain it for a full minute."
Kayn nodded and closed his eyes again. He tried to feel the warm sensation from before. The energy began to move within him, swirling like a turbulent river flowing in multiple directions. Controlling it proved more challenging than he had anticipated. He took a deep breath, attempting to calm the storm.
He began guiding the anima to a single point, forming a luminous sphere within himself. However, the energy wavered and fluctuated as if it had a will of its own, resisting his control.
"I think I almost have it…"
A sudden sharp pain in his head shattered his concentration. The blow caught him off guard, destabilizing his anima. The energy dispersed chaotically through his body, leaving him breathless and staggering forward.
"What are you doing?" Kayn exclaimed, rubbing his head and glaring at Finn in disbelief.
"You mustn't lose focus for even a second. If I see your anima starting to become unstable, even slightly, I'll hit you. Understood?"
"Couldn't you have told me that before you hit me?" Kayn protested.
"What fun would that be?"
The sun climbed higher in the sky as Kayn repeated the exercise over and over, failing each time and earning another hit from Finn. Fatigue began to take its toll, but he refused to give up.
At one point, he felt he was close to succeeding. His breathing was heavy, and sweat dripped down his forehead, but he remained focused. Finn stood beside him, watching closely for any sign of fluctuation in his anima. Just as Kayn thought he had finally succeeded, the energy wavered for a moment.
Damn it.
"Twenty seconds."
Without hesitation, Finn delivered another blow, this time to Kayn's abdomen. The impact completely disrupted his concentration, causing his anima to scatter violently throughout his body.
"I almost had it!" Kayn shouted in frustration. He struggled to stand, searching Finn's face for some hint of approval, but found only the same impassive expression.
"That's enough for today," Finn said, standing up from the rock he'd been sitting on. "You've been overusing your anima."
"What are you talking about? I'm fine."
He tried to get to his feet, but his legs gave out beneath him. Exhaustion coursed through his body, forcing him back to the ground.
"See? That's what happens when you fail to control your anima's flow. It escapes your body without serving any purpose, draining your energy. Before you can wield that power, you need to control it so nothing goes to waste." Finn turned, heading toward the house. "Come on, you'd better rest. That wound of yours won't heal if you keep pushing yourself."
Kayn watched Finn's back as he walked away. He knew the elf was right, but frustration and fatigue clouded his thoughts. Accepting defeat, he decided it was best to stop for now.
The sun dipped below the horizon, painting the sky in hues of orange and gold. Kayn pushed open the door to the house, and a warm, comforting aroma enveloped him, reminding him that he hadn't eaten since breakfast. He had been too focused on training to think about food.
He collapsed into a chair at the worn wooden table. Finn approached and placed a steaming bowl of stew in front of him, much like the one he'd had that morning.
"Eat something. You need to regain your strength."
Kayn nodded silently, taking the spoon with trembling hands. The warm steam brushed against his face, but before taking his first bite, his thoughts drifted elsewhere. He remembered dinners with his family, the shared laughter, and the warmth of home—now distant echoes. A hollow ache settled in his chest. He lifted his gaze and saw Finn sitting on the old sofa, a newspaper in his hands.
"Aren't you going to eat?" Kayn asked.
"Don't worry about me. You worked hard today, so you need it more than I do. Besides, I'm not that hungry."
"It's still not enough," Kayn muttered, stirring the stew as he watched the chunks of meat and vegetables swirl in the broth. "I need to push myself harder."
"You shouldn't pressure yourself so much. Controlling your anima isn't something you can master overnight."
A heavy silence filled the room, broken only by the crackling of the fire. Kayn sighed, glancing at the dancing flames and losing himself in thought. After a moment, he spoke without taking his eyes off the fire.
"There's something I've been wondering... Why do you live here alone? I thought elves usually lived together in hidden forest villages."
Finn stared at the newspaper for a few seconds, seemingly ignoring Kayn's question. Finally, he set it aside, leaning back against the sofa.
"I used to live in an elven village not far from here. But that was a long time ago."
"Why did you leave?"
"We simply didn't share the same views. I felt that if I stayed any longer, I would regret it sooner or later," Finn replied.
Kayn remained silent, sensing he had touched on a sensitive topic, but he still wanted to know more about Finn.
"Did you ever think about going back?"
Finn sighed, looking out the window where the first stars were beginning to appear.
"I tried, but the place I left behind no longer exists. I have no idea what happened to my companions. Maybe the village was destroyed, or they moved to another forest. Perhaps it's better this way. I don't mind how things are now."
Kayn nodded, understanding Finn's situation. He set aside his questions and focused on finishing his stew. When he was done, he stood and headed toward the door leading to the bedroom. Before crossing the threshold, he glanced back at Finn.
"Good night."
"Rest well," Finn replied, setting down the newspaper. "Tomorrow will be another tough day."
Kayn offered a faint smile and nodded. He stepped through the door and entered the bedroom. The space was simple but cozy: a bed with thick blankets, a small window letting in the moonlight, and a table with an unlit candle.
He sank onto the mattress, feeling every muscle protest from the day's training. Closing his eyes, his mind remained active, replaying the events of the day.
"Tomorrow, I'll get it right."