Now that I was finally home, I could breathe. The weight of everything that had happened over the past few days settled in, but for once, I wasn't running, bleeding, or fighting for my life. It felt strange. Almost too quiet.
At least I had a butler now.
I glanced around the mansion, the one I had practically stolen from the real estate market with legal money. It was still mostly empty, but I could already imagine it filled with the things I needed—security, comfort, a place to train, and maybe, just maybe, a place to actually live.
I called out, "Hey, butler."
The man appeared almost immediately, moving with that crisp efficiency you'd expect from someone who had spent years in the profession. His posture was perfect, hands clasped behind his back, expression neutral.
"What's your name?" I asked, folding my arms.
"Sebastian."
I blinked. "That's an ancient name."
He tilted his head slightly. "Perhaps. It was given to me by my former master."
Well, that was depressing. I didn't pry.
"Alright, Sebastian. You have three jobs in this house." I held up a finger. "First, take care of Raven. He's my family."
Sebastian nodded, his eyes flicking to the bird perched on a nearby chair. "Understood."
"Second." I raised another finger. "Take care of yourself. You're my family too now."
For the first time, his neutral expression cracked, just slightly. I wasn't sure if it was surprise, amusement, or just sheer confusion, but he straightened up and gave a slight bow. "I… appreciate that, sir."
"Which brings me to number three." I held up the final finger. "Cleaning. We can't afford to have strangers wandering in here. The less exposure, the better."
Sebastian nodded again. "Understood. I will ensure the house remains secure and well-maintained."
"Good." I waved him off. "Now, go pick whatever room you like and get some sleep."
He hesitated. "Are you sure, sir?"
I groaned. "Don't call me sir. And yes, I'm sure. Just go sleep. I'm tired."
He bowed slightly and left to find his room.
Now that all of that was over, I could finally deal with the real priority.
I took a deep breath and called out, "Raven, come here!"
A blur of dark feathers shot through the hallway. Raven landed on my shoulder, tilting his head and letting out a sharp caw. He was growing fast.
I scratched the top of his head, and he leaned into the touch. It was strange how much he understood me—or maybe he just understood my intent better than most people.
"Alright, you go play outside," I said, opening the door to the backyard. He flapped his wings, flew a small circle, then landed on the grass, hopping around curiously.
Seemingly satisfied, I headed to my own room.
It had been a long day. A long week. Hell, a long life.
I collapsed onto the bed and let out a sigh.
Asher's voice chimed in. "Don't worry. We're with you."
Solace, ever the rude one, simply said, "Sleep."
I frowned at the tone, but whatever. He was Solace, as always.
I closed my eyes, and for the first time in what felt like forever, I slept without the threat of death hanging over my head.
The next morning, I woke up feeling… normal.
That was new.
For a moment, I just lay there, staring at the ceiling, wondering what the hell I was supposed to do now.
And then it hit me.
Training.
I needed to learn another Link.
I pushed myself out of bed, stretched, and made my way to the bathroom. The usual morning routine commenced. Shower, brushing teeth, looking at my reflection and questioning my life choices. The water ran red for a while, as it had been lately. I had washed off more blood than dirt in the past few days.
Once I was done, I leaned against the sink and asked, "Alright, whose Link am I learning next?"
Solace answered immediately. "Mine."
That made sense. Solace was the most analytical, the most controlled. His Link would probably be something incredibly useful.
"But," Solace continued, "before that, you need to train Sebastian and Raven."
I frowned. "Sebastian I get, but Raven?"
"He understands you, right?"
I glanced at Raven, who had just flown in through the open window, landing gracefully on my shoulder. His beady black eyes stared at me like he was waiting for something.
"…Fair point."
I left the bathroom, dressed quickly, and called out, "Sebastian!"
The butler arrived within seconds, looking slightly out of breath. "Did someone attack?"
"No," I said, rolling my eyes. "Go get Raven and meet me on the terrace."
Sebastian looked down at Raven, who was still perched on my shoulder. "Sir, he is already with you."
I sighed. "Fine. Just follow me."
We reached the terrace a few minutes later. The air was crisp, the city skyline visible in the distance.
I turned to Raven first. "Alright, watch what I and Sebastian are doing."
Raven tilted his head.
Sebastian, standing beside me, looked unsure. "Sir, if I may ask… what exactly are we doing?"
I smirked. "Training."
He blinked. "Training… me?"
"Yes," I said. "And Raven."
The butler stared at me, then at the bird, then back at me. "I see."
No, he didn't.
I turned inward. "Solace, what should I teach them?"
Solace's voice was steady. "Start with the basics. Coordination, reaction time, efficiency. You will need them both to be at their best if they are to assist you in the future."
That made sense.
I cracked my neck. "Alright, Sebastian. First lesson—footwork."
He looked surprised. "Footwork?"
"Yes," I said. "You're a butler, right? You're used to moving with precision, carrying things, balancing objects. That's already a great foundation. Now we're going to improve it."
I took a stance. "Watch."
I stepped forward, quick but controlled. Then back. Side to side. Smooth movements, precise adjustments. I wasn't a martial arts master, but after all the fights I had been in, I knew the importance of moving correctly.
Sebastian observed carefully, then mimicked my steps. His movements were surprisingly fluid. He adapted quickly.
"Huh," I said. "Not bad."
"Thank you, si—" He caught himself. "Arthur."
I grinned. "Now, speed it up."
We repeated the exercise, increasing the pace.
Raven, still watching from the railing, flapped his wings.
I glanced at him. "You too."
The bird cawed, then took off, circling above us. He wasn't just flying randomly—he was mimicking the movement patterns, adjusting his positioning based on our footwork.
"Smart bird," I muttered.
Solace hummed in approval. "He will be a valuable asset."
We trained for a while longer, pushing Sebastian's reflexes, improving his movement, and making sure Raven got involved as well.
By the time we stopped, Sebastian was breathing heavily but still standing tall.
I nodded. "Alright. Good start."
He straightened. "What's next?"
I smirked. "Now? We test what you've learned."
Sebastian looked wary. "How?"
I pointed at Raven. "You dodge him."
Sebastian blinked. "…Pardon?"
Raven cawed, as if accepting the challenge.
I grinned. "Let's see if you can keep up with my bird."
And with that, training truly began.
Raven flew straight at Sebastian. It was predictable—but only if you ignored the fact that his speed was terrifyingly fast. After all, he was a peregrine falcon, even though he cawed like a raven.
Sebastian's eyes widened as the black blur closed in on him. He tried to dodge, twisting his body to the side, but it was already too late. Raven wasn't just fast—he was precise. His wings cut through the air with calculated efficiency, his beak nearly grazing Sebastian's ear as he whizzed past.
The force of the near impact threw Sebastian off balance. He stumbled, nearly losing his footing, but to his credit, he managed to regain his composure before hitting the ground. His stance adjusted, his weight shifting to better counter Raven's next move.
And that move came fast.
Raven spun mid-air and dived at him again, his talons extended this time. He wasn't trying to hurt Sebastian—at least, I didn't think so. He was just testing him, like a predator playing with its prey.
Sebastian reacted a little faster this time, ducking just in time to avoid a direct hit. But he was still a step behind. Raven looped around and came at him from a different angle, darting left, then right, then directly above him, his movements erratic and difficult to predict.
Sebastian swiped at the air, trying to deflect, but Raven easily dodged. Again and again, he struck from different positions, forcing Sebastian to stay in constant motion. It wasn't a real fight—just training. But training could still break you if you weren't prepared.
Sebastian wasn't prepared.
His breath grew heavier. His footwork started to slip. A fraction of a second too slow, and Raven's wing clipped his shoulder, sending him stumbling backward.
"Enough," I called out.
Raven let out a sharp caw but immediately flapped his wings, gaining altitude before landing on the terrace railing. His black eyes gleamed with something close to satisfaction.
Sebastian exhaled sharply, wiping sweat from his forehead. He didn't complain, didn't make excuses. That was a good sign.
I walked up to him and patted his shoulder. "You did alright."
"I failed to keep up," Sebastian admitted.
"Yeah. That's the point." I smirked. "This is just the start. You'll get better."
He gave a small nod, still catching his breath.
"Now," I continued, stepping back. "You need to focus on building your endurance and reflexes. Normal exercises won't cut it—you need something that forces your body to react without thinking. Something that makes dodging and countering second nature."
Sebastian straightened up. "What do you suggest?"
"For strength and durability, basic training will do—push-ups, planks, running, body conditioning. But for reflexes…" I tapped my chin, thinking. "You'll need to practice catching things. Fast things. Really fast things."
Sebastian's brow furrowed slightly. "Like what?"
I grinned. "Knives."
He blinked. "Pardon?"
I shrugged. "If you can dodge or catch something flying at you at full speed, you'll be able to react to anything in a real fight. Reflex training is all about instinct. You don't think. You just move."
Sebastian hesitated, then nodded. "Understood."
"Good." I gestured toward the terrace floor. "Start now. Twenty push-ups, then we move on."
Without hesitation, Sebastian dropped into position and began.
With him occupied, I turned my attention to Raven. The black bird sat on the railing, watching me intently.
"Alright, your turn," I said.
Raven tilted his head, waiting.
"You need to start feeling the wind," I told him. "Not just flying through it—with it. If you can unify with the air around you, you'll be faster, stronger, and harder to predict."
Raven gave a low caw, as if considering my words.
"You're a bird," I continued. "The sky is your battlefield. And if you can master the wind, you'll be unstoppable. If not…" I paused, letting the words sink in. "…you'll break."
For a moment, he was still. Then, without warning, he spread his wings.
And this time, there was something different about it.
The way he held them—there was a new control, a new stillness. His feathers barely shifted as he moved, his body becoming part of the air itself rather than fighting against it.
He hopped off the railing and soared upward.
But there was no flapping, no struggle. Just a single, effortless glide, carried by the currents.
He was getting it.
"Good," I muttered. "Keep going."
Sebastian, now finished with his push-ups, pushed himself up and looked toward Raven. "He's… adjusting?"
I nodded. "He's learning to flow."
We both watched as Raven maneuvered through the air in near silence, his movements smoother, more refined. He wasn't just flying—he was melding with the wind.
Sebastian exhaled. "That's incredible."
I smirked. "Yeah. He's gonna be a monster once he masters it."
Now that everyone was occupied, I turned my focus back inward.
"Solace," I asked, "what's the Link you're going to teach me?"
There was a brief silence before Solace's voice responded, calm as ever.
"Precision."
I frowned. "Precision?"
"Every movement. Every strike. Every action. Absolute efficiency. No wasted motion, no unnecessary force."
That sounded… interesting.
"And?" I pressed.
"It is more than just control," Solace continued. "It is mastery. The ability to direct every ounce of your power into the most effective outcome. To never miss. To never waste energy. To always act with purpose."
That… sounded very interesting.
I leaned against the railing, watching as Raven continued his silent flight and Sebastian prepared for the next stage of his training.
"Alright," I muttered. "Teach me."
Solace's voice was almost amused. "First, you must understand what true precision means."
I sighed. "Let me guess. A test?"
"Of course."
I rubbed my temple. "Fine. What's the test?"
"Hit a target. One hundred times. In the exact same spot."
I raised a brow. "That's it?"
"Without variance. Without fail. If even a fraction of an inch is off, you start over."
I let out a slow breath. That… was going to be annoying.
But, hell, when had anything ever been easy?
"Alright," I said. "Let's get to work."