The ocean, a vast canvas of shifting colours, shimmered as the first rays of golden dawn broke through the clouds. The air thrummed with life, the chirping of unseen birds blending with the gentle whispers of the waves.
Sol stood atop the crow's nest, his gaze fixed on the golden-painted horizon. The boy who once resembled a shadow of despair now looked entirely different. Gone were the torn clothes, the unhealed wounds, the dark circles under his eyes, and the dust that clung to his hair.
He was no longer the malnourished child scavenging in the waste-yard. Instead, he stood tall—a healthier, more confident version of himself. His neatly cut hair caught the breeze, and his clean face bore a determined expression. Proper meals and relentless training over the last four months had given his growing body the strength it sorely lacked.
Everything about life aboard the ship fascinated him. Every sunrise, every fleeting wave, every whisper of the wind felt like a gift. His eyes sparkled as he took in the breathtaking view.
Beautiful...
He never grew tired of admiring the world around him, and he never hesitated to say so. Yet, his moment of peace didn't last. He quickly snapped back to reality, remembering his purpose.
His wooden sword lay beside him, and he grabbed it with swift determination. Leaping lightly to the edge of the crow's nest, his eyes locked onto Alex, who stood in the sparring area below. Alex was waiting, arms crossed, radiating calm authority.
Sol's grip tightened on his sword as he crouched slightly, preparing to pounce.
Huff, huff... Don't close your eyes...Don't close your eyes. Breathe. Stay sharp.
His breathing quickened as he focused on the moment, forcing himself to calm down. His lips moved in silent repetition as he built his courage.
Now !
With a sharp inhale, Sol launched himself from the crow's nest. Midair, he gripped his wooden sword with both hands, his eyes locked on Alex. He encased his lower body in a faint blue aura, bracing for the impact with the ground. The aura shimmered faintly, a testament to his growing mastery over his essence.
A grin tugged at his lips as he neared his target. With a loud cry, he swung his sword downward with all his might.
[ Thud ! ]
Alex, however, moved effortlessly. With a single fluid motion, he deflected Sol's strike, the sound of wood meeting wood echoing across the deck. The force sent Sol spiraling upward, but Alex was relentless. In a blur of motion, he appeared behind Sol midair and delivered a precise hand chop.
"Urgh!"
Gritting his teeth, Sol barely managed to block the blow, though the impact sent him twisting and crashing onto the ground. Rolling to a stop, he pushed himself onto his knees, his breathing labored. The strain of controlling aura during combat was far more taxing than he anticipated. Sweat dripped from his face as he forced himself to stand.
"Tsk, almost got you," Sol muttered, catching his breath. His eyes darted to his fallen sword, lying much closer to Alex than to himself.
Alex smirked, his expression calm but tinged with pride. "
You're far from reaching me, kid."
The vice-captain bent down and picked up Sol's sword, pointing it toward him.
"Still, it's impressive. Controlling your aura during combat is no small feat. The Imperial Academy would kill to have someone like you as a student."
"Yeah, yeah, I've heard that a hundred times." Sol grumbled, wiping sweat from his brow. Weaponless, he raised his fists, stepping forward with renewed determination.
Alex's grin widened. "Confidence is good, but you're still facing me. You'll need more than that to win."
In the blink of an eye, Alex closed the gap between them, his fist hurtling toward Sol's face. Sol's heart raced as the blow approached, but instead of panicking, his eyes flashed with resolve.
Don't miss this...!
At the last moment, Sol twisted his body, hooking one leg around Alex's arm and latching onto it like a monkey. Using his hooked leg as leverage, he swung his free leg toward Alex's face.
"Got you....Vice-Captain~" Sol taunted, his voice small but triumphant.
Alex easily blocked the kick and grabbed Sol's leg. With a powerful swing, he hurled Sol across the sparring area. Sol's body crashed to the ground with a loud thud, but unlike before, he didn't falter. Gritting his teeth, he used the momentum to roll closer to his fallen sword. His outstretched hand almost touched the hilt.
Almost.
Alex appeared in front of him with lightning speed and delivered a sharp kick to Sol's stomach. The force sent him flying into a stack of wooden boxes outside the sparring area. The boxes splintered on impact as Sol crumpled to the ground, clutching his stomach. His body screamed in protest, but he refused to let the pain win.
"Urgh..."
Drenched in pain, Sol twisted and rolled on the ground, trying to soothe the sharp ache that coursed through his body. The blow had been devastating, carrying a force far greater than he could withstand.
His body screamed in agony, and he could no longer suppress his reaction. Tears pricked at his eyes, and his vision blurred, yet Sol refused to give up, even as he hovered on the edge of consciousness.
Alex, on the other side, kept his expression steady, but his mind was a storm of conflicted emotions. Worry churned inside him, but he couldn't let it show. It was his responsibility to push Sol to his limits, to teach him the resilience and strength he would need to survive. As Sol's mentor, Alex knew he couldn't hold back.
Sol's will pushed him forward, ignoring the pain, but his body was nearing its limit. Shaking terribly, he tried to stand, his legs trembling under the strain. With a determined yet trembling hand, he strangely reached out his hand toward Alex, his fingers splayed wide.
But as Alex watched Sol's trembling hand stretch toward him, a flicker of doubt crept in. He admired the boy's unyielding determination, the way he refused to back down despite the injuries and exhaustion. It stirred something in Alex's heart and considered stopping the fight.
"Okay, that's eno—"
Suddenly, Alex froze. His words caught in his throat. His legs, his arms, his entire body refused to move. It was as if an invisible force had seized control, locking him in place.
What the hell is happening? I can't move… What about Sol?