Arvid's stance before each throw was consistent. The angle of his feet, the movement of his shoulders, and the subtle tremor in his hands offered clues about the direction and arc of the next attack. Evan decided to adjust his use of simulate, activating it the moment Arvid began preparing his throw. This time, instead of focusing on the spear's trajectory, he analyzed Arvid's body and the signals preceding the attack.
The next throw came, and Evan read the movements more precisely. He dodged before the spear was fully launched, moving to the exact spot where the projectile would pass.
"This is better," he murmured, feeling his heart race.
Still, the process wasn't perfect. Arvid noticed Evan was adapting and began varying his movements. Some attacks came from unusual angles, forcing Evan to move quickly. He suffered cuts on his arms and legs as he adjusted his timing, but with each attempt, he became more efficient.
The rune-enhanced boots played a crucial role. Even without obstacles for cover, Evan managed to move with greater agility and fluidity. The lightness the runes provided allowed him to dodge with precision, adjusting his rhythm to avoid the more dangerous attacks.
However, the lack of obstacles was still a problem. Without cover, Evan had to rely entirely on his reflexes and his ability to read Arvid's body. The effort was exhausting, and as each minute passed, his muscles burned more intensely.
"You're doing better than I expected," Arvid said with a neutral expression. He yanked another spear from the ground and prepared to throw it. "But let's see if you can keep this up."
Evan didn't respond. He was focused on observing every movement, every detail of Arvid's body. He activated simulate again, adjusting the mental projection to match the intermediate apprentice's initial movements. When Arvid launched the next spear, Evan was already moving, dodging with precision.
Over time, Evan began to understand the rhythm of the training. Each of Arvid's attacks required less effort to dodge. He was adapting, anticipating the throws, and minimizing the damage he took. However, the accumulated physical strain took its toll. The cuts on his arms and legs stung, and sweat dripped down his face, mixing with dried blood.
"One more round," Arvid said, pulling one final spear from the ground. "Let's see if you can last."
Evan took a deep breath, activating simulate once more. He watched Arvid's body, adjusted his stance, and waited. The spear was thrown, but this time, Evan didn't just dodge; he stepped forward, moving quickly to the side and spinning his body with fluidity. He avoided the attack efficiently.
Arvid stopped, observing him with a discerning gaze. The vines around him began to wither, retreating into the ground. "You learned quickly," he said. "Few can keep up with my pace."
Evan collapsed to his knees, exhausted but relieved that the training was over. Even so, he found the strength to respond.
"Maybe… I'm more stubborn… than I look," he said between heavy breaths.
Arvid shrugged, but this time, a faint smile crossed his face. "Maybe. Or maybe you're just lucky." He paused, scrutinizing Evan. "But don't get too cocky, okay?" With that, he took a few steps back, picking up another spear he had prepared.
Evan sighed, preparing for what seemed to be another routine attack. Arvid assumed his usual throwing stance, but something was different. The spear in his hands looked denser, with smaller thorns and a faint glow along its shaft. Evan narrowed his eyes, attempting to activate simulate to predict the movement.
When Arvid launched the spear, Evan instinctively began to move, but before he could take the first step, vines sprouted from the ground, wrapping around his legs and trapping him in place. "What?!" Evan exclaimed, struggling to free himself. The vines tightened, completely restricting his mobility.
The spear flew toward him rapidly, leaving Evan with no choice. He raised the wooden disc to block the impact. However, as soon as the spear hit the target, it exploded in a wave of force and fragments. The disc shattered, and Evan was thrown back, flying about two meters before crashing hard onto the ground.
His entire body throbbed with pain. He tried to get up, but his arms and legs felt like they had lost all strength. Air escaped his lungs in uncontrolled gasps as he stared at the sky, trying to process what had just happened.
Arvid calmly approached, stopping beside Evan. He crouched down, resting one hand on his knee, and spoke in a casual tone: "Jonas wouldn't let it slide if he knew you did so well. This was to help balance things out." He glanced at Evan one last time, a faint smile on his lips. "See you around."
With that, Arvid stood and walked away from the field without looking back, while the vines around Evan slowly withered and disappeared into the soil.
Back in his cabin, Evan used the last of his strength to treat his cuts and pain with the healing salve he still had. Every part of his body seemed to protest from the impact, but he knew the training, brutal as it was, had made him stronger. He felt exhausted, but something inside him was changing.
---
As he lay on his makeshift bed, staring at the patched fabric of his tent roof swaying slightly with the evening breeze, Evan felt a mix of exhaustion and determination. The day's brutal training had left its mark on his body, but his spirit burned with a renewed fire. He was tired of simply dodging and surviving. The lessons he had learned from Arvid, and even from the deadly encounter in the forest, made one thing clear: it was time to push himself further.
For too long, he had avoided learning spells, discouraged by his struggles with connecting magic to his core. But now, the thought of remaining stagnant was unbearable. If he was going to thrive, he needed to move beyond being a target and start using the power of his Runes to fight back.
"No more running," he whispered to himself, his voice steady despite his fatigue. "It's time to learn."
With that, he closed his eyes, the faint pulsing of his core echoing his resolve. Tomorrow, he would begin again, not as someone who merely avoided danger, but as a mage determined to harness his potential.