As the sun climbed higher in the sky, Kevin and Roy paused to catch their breath, sweat glistening on their brows. The morning's training had been intense, and both could feel the exhaustion in their muscles. Roy leaned against a tree, his daggers still in hand, as he watched Kevin, who was standing in the middle of the clearing, his head tilted slightly upward as though listening to something only he could hear.
"You're getting better, Kevin," Roy said, smiling. "At this rate, you'll be swinging that sword like a master in no time."
Kevin chuckled, shaking his head. He knew that becoming a master would take much longer than Roy joked, but still, the rate at which Kevin was improving without his eyesight was remarkable.
Kevin smiled, his hands brushing against the hilt of his sword. "Thanks, Roy. It's strange, though. Sometimes it feels like I can sense everything around me. It's not clear, more like... whispers in the dark."
Roy nodded thoughtfully. "It must be the cultivation technique. Whatever that power is, it's definitely not normal." He paused, looking at Kevin with a teasing glint in his eyes. "I mean, you're already a bit weird—like that time you managed to sense the rabbit behind you without seeing or hearing it, and somehow tripped over nothing when trying to show off. So yeah, it suits you."
Kevin laughed, shaking his head. "You just can't help yourself, can you?"
"Nope," Roy replied, grinning. "Anyway, let's take a short break. We've been pushing ourselves hard."
They settled down near a patch of grass, the forest around them alive with the sound of rustling leaves and distant birdsong. It had been one week since they started their training together. The two moons had faded into the brightness of the day, leaving behind the serene golden light of the sun. Roy lay back, crossing his arms behind his head as he gazed up at the sky, while Kevin sat cross-legged, focusing on his breathing.
After a while, Kevin spoke, his tone more reflective. "Roy, I've been thinking... about what we're doing. About where we're going."
Roy turned his head slightly, glancing at Kevin. "Yeah? What about it?"
"We can't just wander forever," Kevin said, his brow furrowing. "If I'm going to become the world's best swordsman, and if you're going to... well, do whatever it is you want to do, we need a plan. We need to find somewhere we can train properly."
Roy nodded slowly, considering Kevin's words. "You're right. We can't keep running blind. We need resources, a place where we can grow stronger without having to look over our shoulders all the time." He paused, a thoughtful expression crossing his face. "There are sects out there—places where people train, learn, and grow. If we could find one that aligns with our goals, maybe that's where we need to go."
Kevin tilted his head, a look of curiosity crossing his features. "A sect? Do you think they'd accept someone like me? I mean..." He gestured to his eyes, still bandaged. "Not exactly what you'd call a promising recruit."
Roy shook his head. "Don't underestimate yourself, Kevin. Anyone with a spirit like yours would be a valuable asset to any sect. And besides, they'd be lucky to have the world's future best swordsman." He gave Kevin a reassuring smile, then added in a more teasing tone, "Plus, you've got me. Who wouldn't want the most charming and skilled dagger-wielder around?"
Kevin laughed, shaking his head. "Right, because you're such a humble guy."
Roy winked. "I call it confidence." He leaned forward, his expression turning slightly more serious. "But you're right—we need to find a place. Somewhere we can properly focus on our training. Maybe we can start asking around in the city. See if we can get any leads on a sect that might suit us."
Kevin nodded, a determined expression crossing his face. "Yeah, that sounds like a good plan. We need to keep moving forward, and this is the best way to do it." He paused, his tone softening slightly. Kevin knew that they would have to face multiple challenges—both from Roy's past and his own. There were still shadows lingering from their histories, unfinished business that would undoubtedly catch up with them. If they were going to face all of that, they needed to be ready. He looked at Roy, determination evident in his voice. "If we're going to face the kind of challenges ahead of us, we need to be ready."
Roy smiled, reaching out to give Kevin a light punch on the arm. "We will be, Kevin. We're just getting started."
They sat in silence for a while longer, the warmth of the sun washing over them.
Roy eventually broke the silence, a smile on his face. "Kevin, I think you're ready to start cultivating. You've been practicing sensing your environment without your eyes during your sword training, and you've also been working on sensing and moving the aura through the meridians."
Kevin's face lit up with a mixture of excitement and determination. He knew that this was a big step forward. The training they had been doing had already shown remarkable progress, and the thought of advancing further filled him with renewed motivation.
Kevin agreed eagerly. He sat down in a lotus position and began to follow the method Roy had taught him about the Bone Forging stage. He focused on his breathing, channeling his awareness inward, and began guiding the aura through his body, tempering his bones.
Roy watched Kevin for a few moments, ensuring he was on the right path before nodding to himself.
With a satisfied smile, Roy found a spot nearby, sat down, and began his own cultivation. He closed his eyes, letting the world around him fade away, until all that remained was the rhythmic pulse of his own breath. Deep within, he focused intently on the aura lump inside his body—a shimmering, formless energy that danced like liquid starlight, gathering its essence from every corner of the body.
Slowly, Roy began moving the aura, channeling it into each individual cell of his bones. The aura flowed like molten silver, sinking into the marrow, saturating the very core of each cell until it felt almost ready to burst. Just as the pressure reached its peak, Roy would guide it forward, moving the energy to the next cell, leaving behind a tempered strength that shimmered in his bones. It was a grueling process, each movement demanding every ounce of focus and control he could muster.
This meticulous method was the essence of Bone Forging—a slow, deliberate process of imbuing every part of his bones with energy until they became as resilient as iron. Yet, what Roy was doing was far beyond the ordinary. Most cultivators would spread the aura quickly across their bones, treating the whole as a single unit. Roy, however, went cell by cell, taking the time to push each one to its limit, to make each fragment of himself as strong as possible. This was why Roy's power stood above others—he was willing to endure the painstaking grind, to do what others would not, all to ensure that his strength was truly his own.
The next six months went by in a similar pattern. Each day, Roy and Kevin would rise early, sharing a simple but satisfying breakfast, often joking and teasing each other as they did. Their mornings were filled with intense training sessions—Kevin adapting to his blindness, honing his senses, and practicing his swordsmanship and also cultivating, while Roy perfected his dagger techniques and worked on his cultivation as well.
They would take breaks during the day, eating together, and taking time to enjoy their surroundings, often finding humor in small things—the chirping of birds, or Kevin accidentally bumping into Roy when he got a little too confident in his new senses. Despite the challenges, there was a sense of camaraderie and joy that filled their days.
Afternoons were dedicated to cultivation. Kevin would sit cross-legged, focusing on the aura within him, working diligently on the Bone Forging stage, moving the energy cell by cell just as Roy had taught him. Roy would sit nearby, his own aura shimmering like liquid starlight as he continued his meticulous process of strengthening every part of himself. It was grueling work, but neither of them complained; they pushed each other, supported each other, and grew stronger together.
Evenings were more relaxed—spent around a campfire, sharing stories, laughing, and sometimes discussing their future plans. Kevin would often joke about becoming the world's best swordsman, knowing full well how long the journey ahead of him was, while Roy would cheerfully remind Kevin that he was there to keep him on his toes.
Six months of hard work, fun, and unwavering determination passed in this way. Both of them grew stronger, not only in terms of their abilities but also in their bond as friends. They knew that soon, they would need to take the next step—to find a sect, to seek out new challenges, and to continue their journey towards their ultimate goals.