The forest was eerily still, the remnants of battle lingering in the air like an unspoken threat. The scattered remains of the skirmish—the bloodied earth, the scent of steel and death—were proof of their victory. Yet, even in triumph, the weight of something unseen pressed against them.
The Iron Fangs had faced enemies before, but this felt different.
A beat of silence.
It settled over them like a weight.
Felix was the first to break it, his voice unusually serious. "You're saying this is civil war?"
"Not yet," Roderic replied. "But House Aldric is preparing for something. Whether it's to move against the Duke or someone else… we don't know yet."
Gareth exhaled. "If Aldric's involved, this isn't just about stolen cargo. They're planning something big, and they're hiding it from the crown."
Felix smirked, stretching his arms lazily. "Well, I'd say we earned our coin today."
But beneath the humor, Alex saw it—the glint of unease in his eyes.
Roderic nodded. "We'll set up camp here for the night. Move out at dawn."
One by one, the group dispersed to set up camp, their minds weighed down by the knowledge of what they had just uncovered. Alex cast one last glance at the fallen bandit leader, the echo of something unknown still lingering in his mind. Something far bigger than them all had begun to unfold. And whether he wanted to or not, he was now part of it.
As the sun dipped beneath the treetops, the team quickly gathered materials to set up camp.
Rivka and Selene secured the perimeter. Gareth and Dain handled firewood and shelter, while Felix—grinning all the while—looted the fallen bandits for anything useful.
Alex found himself lost in thought, replaying the fight, the strange whisper in his mind, and the sensation of something being pulled from the bandit leader.
The air felt charged, almost as if his body was more attuned to something invisible. He clenched his fist, feeling stronger than before.
And yet… he didn't understand why.
Intrigued by the vast world unfolding before him, Alex realised there is still much more to learn about this new world.
Later that night, as the others drifted into uneasy sleep, Alex took the first watch, his mind restless, frustration simmering beneath the surface.
What was the voice that whispered in his mind? Why had it chosen now to awaken?
He closed his eyes, reaching inward, searching for some flicker of understanding—some connection to the force that had stirred within him.
He needed to know what had happened during the fight. He needed to know if he had imagined it—or if something inside him had truly awakened.
"You can feel it, can't you?"
His breath hitched. The whisper wasn't gone. It had never been gone.
He swallowed, clenching his spear.
'Whatever this power is, I need to control it.'
He exhaled slowly, shutting his eyes.
He focused. Reached inward. Tried to summon whatever had stirred inside him.
Nothing.
Frustration bubbled beneath his skin. He had felt it before, raw and uncontrollable, but now that he wanted it—nothing.
He tried again.
And again.
And then—
A pull.
A weight pressing against his ribs, like something deep inside him had shifted. His breath came quicker.
Then—pain.
It burned through his veins, not like fire but something colder, something deeper. His hands trembled. The air around him felt heavier.
Then, just as quickly as it had come—it vanished.
His breath came in ragged gasps, his body slick with sweat.
He gritted his teeth.
Too unstable.
He wasn't strong enough yet.
"You're pushing too hard."
Alex startled, looking up to find Roderic standing a few feet away, watching him.
Alex exhaled, trying to steady himself. "You were awake?"
"I don't sleep easily," Roderic said simply. He stepped closer, arms crossed. "Trying to tap into it, aren't you?"
Alex hesitated, then nodded.
Roderic studied him for a long moment, then sighed. "Essence isn't just about force. It's about understanding. You can't brute force your way into control."
Alex clenched his jaw. "Then how do I learn?"
Roderic smirked. "Patience. Discipline. Training."
Alex scowled. "I don't have time for patience."
"Then you'll break yourself before you even begin."
Alex exhaled sharply, his frustration barely contained.
Roderic chuckled. "Don't get ahead of yourself, kid. If you're serious about learning, then I'll show you the first step."
He stepped back, drawing his sword.
"Stand up. You wanted to understand Essence?" His smirk sharpened. "Then let's start from the beginning."
Alex met his gaze and rose to his feet, grip tightening on his spear.
Tonight, he would take his first step. No matter how long it took, no matter how much he had to endure—he would master whatever power had awoken inside him.
The wind whispered through the trees, carrying the scent of damp earth as it rustled the leaves in restless waves, sending fleeting shadows shifting across the clearing.
Alex tightened his grip on his spear, his heart pounding as he faced Roderic. The older warrior stood a few feet away, his sword resting lightly in his grip, completely at ease. A faint silver glow pulsed around him—his Essence barely flickering, as if he wasn't even trying.
Yet Alex hesitated. His instincts screamed warnings, his body tensing under the weight of something unseen. The aura radiating from Roderic wasn't oppressive, but it was there, steady and unshaken, like an immovable force waiting to strike.
"Last chance," Roderic said. "Come at me, or sit down and keep guessing."
Alex stopped hesitating.
Right then and there he decided to lung.
His spear shot forward, aiming straight for Roderic's chest—fast, precise, everything he had drilled into himself in the pits.
Roderic didn't move.
At least, Alex thought he didn't.
The next moment, Alex's spear missed completely, cutting through empty space. Roderic was already gone.
Alex barely had time to react before something slammed against his side. The impact sent him stumbling back, the wind knocked from his lungs.
"You're too slow," Roderic remarked, lowering his sword. "Try again."
Alex gritted his teeth.
This time, he adjusted. Instead of a direct strike, he feinted—then pivoted, sweeping the spear low toward Roderic's legs.
A flash of movement.
Gone again.
A sharp pain cracked against the back of Alex's knee. His leg buckled, and he hit the dirt with a grunt.
Roderic sighed. "Sloppy. Your movements are predictable."
Alex spat out dirt, frustration boiling beneath his skin. "You're too fast."
"No," Roderic said. "You're too slow."
Alex pushed himself up, panting. "That's the same thing."
Roderic smirked. "No, it isn't."
Alex narrowed his eyes. "Then tell me—how are you moving like that?"
Roderic exhaled and finally lowered his sword. "Now you're asking the right questions."
He gestured for Alex to sit. "Lesson one: Essence."
Alex sat cross-legged, still catching his breath, as Roderic took a seat on a nearby rock.
"Essence," Roderic began, his voice steady, "is the foundation of life. Everything—earth, sky, animals, people—has it within them."
Alex frowned. "Then why can't everyone use it?"
"They can," Roderic said simply. "They just don't know how. Essence flows through all living things, but for most, it remains dormant—like water seeping through the cracks of a broken vase. Leaking. Wasted."
Alex leaned forward, eager. "So how does someone awaken it?"
"There's no single path," Roderic admitted. "But the most common way? Pushing past your limits. The body has natural restraints—boundaries meant to keep it from breaking. A warrior who fights long enough, hard enough, can shatter those limits. When that happens, Essence stirs. Awakens."
Alex absorbed the words but hesitated. "That can't be the only way."
Roderic leaned back slightly, watching him. "It's not. Some awaken through desperation—when death is moments away, and the body has no choice but to reach for something beyond itself. That's why warriors say battle is the greatest teacher."
Alex nodded slowly. That made sense. He had felt it—on the streets, in the pits, in that last fight.
Roderic continued. "But then… there are the rare ones."
Alex's brows furrowed. "Rare ones?"
"Some awaken through meditation, through introspection. Monks who spend decades in silence, connecting to the world until Essence naturally unfolds within them. Others…" He paused. "Others are simply born with it."
Alex's thoughts wandered, the memory of that whisper in his mind returning. Had he already awakened his Essence? Was that voice—whatever it was—part of the process?
"And how do I control it?" he asked, watching the faint glow flickering around Roderic's body.
Roderic smirked. "That part? You learn by doing." He rolled his shoulders, lifting his sword slightly. "I suspect you've already awakened something. But the best way to figure it out?"
His stance shifted, Essence flaring brighter.
"Keep fighting me until you do."
Alex groaned.
"Get up," Roderic ordered.
Alex stood, shifting his stance. This time, he didn't just charge blindly.
He watched.
Waited.
Then—he moved.
His spear lashed out again, but this time he was focused—not just on Roderic, but on something inside himself. He tried to feel what Roderic had described.
For a moment, something stirred.
His senses sharpened.
His movements felt smoother—like a door had cracked open inside him.
Then—
Roderic's sword slammed against his wrist, knocking his spear aside.
"Too rigid," Roderic said. "You're still trying to force it."
Alex gritted his teeth. "Then how do I let it flow?"
"By trusting it," Roderic replied. "Essence isn't brute force. It's control. You're still thinking of it as just power—but it's not. It's movement, instinct, reaction."
Alex frowned, adjusting his grip.
He tried again.
This time, he let his body move freely. Instead of forcing his spear forward, he let himself react.
And suddenly—he felt it.
A shift in the air.
The moment Roderic moved, Alex felt the attack coming before it happened.
He dodged—just barely.
Roderic actually looked pleased. "Not bad."
Then, he disappeared—and Alex took a fist to the ribs.
He collapsed to the ground, coughing.
Roderic smirked. "Lesson two: Expect pain."
Alex groaned, lying flat on his back. "So what now?"
"Now, we talk about what makes a real warrior," Roderic said. "You know how to fight. But if you want to survive against Essence users, you need techniques."
Alex sat up, wincing. "Like your attack before? That Piercing Iron Fang thing?"
Roderic nodded. "Battle techniques are a warrior's Essence refined into an attack. Some enhance our strikes, some defend us, and the strongest ones can change the battlefield itself."
Alex exhaled. "And those are written down somewhere?"
Roderic smirked. "Yeah. They're called Codex Manuals. Each one teaches how to shape Essence into something greater. The best warriors don't just rely on instinct—they study, refine, and master these techniques over time."
Alex felt a fire ignite in his chest. "Where do I get one?"
Roderic laughed. "Patience, kid. You're not ready for one yet."
Alex scowled but didn't argue.
"One last thing," Roderic said. "You need to know where you stand."
He raised four fingers. "There are nine ranks of warriors. But for now, you only need to care about the first four."
"Rank 1 - Novice: Barely awakened. Essence is unstable. You're still just a fighter."
"Rank 2 - Initiate: Essence starts flowing. You can enhance your strength and speed."
"Rank 3 - Adept: Full control. Battle techniques become instinctive."
"Rank 4 - Elite: Your Essence becomes something more. You start tapping into elemental forces."
Alex absorbed the knowledge, then asked, "What rank are you?"
Roderic smirked. "Peak of Rank 2. Just waiting for the right opportunity to break through. For you Right now? You're not even Novice."
Alex clenched his fists. "Then what am I?"
Roderic smirked. "A beginner."
Alex sighed, rolling his shoulders. His body ached, but his mind was sharper than before.
"So what now?" he asked.
Roderic tapped the hilt of his sword. "Now? You spar with me every night until you can land a hit."
Alex blinked. "That's it?"
Roderic grinned. "That's the first step."
Alex exhaled. His real training had begun.
And no matter how long it took, no matter how many times he fell—
He would master whatever had awakened inside.