The sun had yet to breach the horizon when the old man stirred.

  ?Zaek splashed icy water onto his face, the shock of cold banishing the remnants of sleep. He smoothed back his silver hair, threw on his worn coat, and stepped out into the biting morning air.

  ?“That’ll do,” he muttered, a cloud of vapor escaping his lips.

  ?The garden was quiet. Too quiet.

  ?Five years had passed since he first arrived, yet the silence this morning felt heavier than usual. The chill of yesterday's funeral still clung to the estate like a shroud.

  ?He stretched, his joints popping in a rhythmic staccato, when a sharp sound cut through the silence.

  ?Swish. Crack.

  ?Zaek paused. A frown tugged at his brow.

  ?Don’t tell me…

  ?He followed the noise, his boots crunching softly on the frost-covered gravel, until the trees parted to reveal the clearing.

  ?There she was.

  ?Aelira.

  ?She stood in the center, drenched in sweat despite the freezing cold. Her small frame swung the wooden sword with a ferocity that bordered on desperation. She wasn’t training; she was punishing the air itself.

  ?Each strike cut through the morning mist as if she were trying to split the world in half.

  ?“You’re going to break it,” Zaek called out, leaning casually against a tree. “You don’t have to push that hard.”

  ?Aelira flinched, freezing mid-swing. She turned, chest heaving, silver eyes wild.

  ?“…Good morning, Sensei.”

  ?“Morning,” he replied, his sharp eyes dissecting her stance. “You just buried someone yesterday, kid. Take a break. The world won’t end if you rest for a day.”

  ?“I can’t sit still,” she gritted out, tightening her grip on the hilt until her knuckles turned white. “Not now.”

  ?“You’re swinging with anger,” Zaek noted, his voice dropping an octave. “I’ve told you before. Anger makes your mana turbulent. You’re leaking power before you even strike.”

  ?“I know that!” Her silver eyes flashed with defiance. “Then teach me how to fight properly! I’m tired of basics!”

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  ?Zaek sighed, scratching the back of his head. “You’re not listening. You’re obsessed with the sword, but your foundation is crumbling. You’re trying to sprint before you can crawl. Unless you improve your mana control, we can't move forward.”

  ?“You’re just making excuses!”

  ?The old man went still.

  ?The wind died. The birds stopped singing. The air around him seemed to stagnate.

  ?“Excuses?”

  ?A dangerous amusement danced in his black eyes. He stooped down, picking up a thin, brittle twig from the ground.

  ?“Sensei…?” Aelira stepped back, her defiance wavering.

  ?“You want experience? Fine.” He pointed the twig at her like it was a legendary blade. “Come on. Hit me with everything you have. Don’t hold back.”

  ?Aelira narrowed her eyes. She shifted her stance, mana flaring around her limbs. She wasn’t afraid. She was eager.

  ?One step.

  ?Two steps—

  ?BOOM.

  ?It wasn’t a sound. It was a sensation.

  ?Gravity seemed to multiply instantly. The air turned into lead, crushing her lungs, forcing the breath from her body in a ragged gasp.

  ?Her knees buckled. She hit the dirt with a heavy thud.

  ?What… is this?

  ?She looked up, terror seizing her heart.

  ?Zaek hadn’t moved. He stood there, relaxed, smiling like a wolf looming over a trapped rabbit. The pressure radiating from him wasn’t just magic—it was the weight of death itself. It whispered a singular, undeniable truth:

  ?You are nothing.

  ?“What’s wrong?” Zaek’s voice sounded distant, distorted by the pressure. “Did you lose your coin? I thought you were going to kill me.”

  ?I can’t… breathe…

  ?“If you won’t come to me…”

  ?He took a single step forward.

  ?To Aelira, it felt like a mountain was collapsing on top of her. Every instinct screamed RUN, but her body refused to obey.

  ?“…Then I will.”

  ?“Ah—!” A pathetic whimper escaped her throat.

  ?Just as her vision began to blur, the pressure vanished.

  ?Gone. Like smoke in the wind.

  ?Aelira collapsed forward, gasping greedily for air, her hands clutching the grass.

  ?“Now do you understand?” Zaek asked softly, squatting down to her level. “Why you’re not ready?”

  ?“I… I…” Tears pricked the corners of her eyes—not from sadness, but from the sheer shock of survival.

  ?“Your will is strong, Aelira. I see that. You want to protect your family.” Zaek’s expression softened. “But if you temper steel too hot and too fast, it shatters. Why the rush?”

  ?She wiped her face, refusing to look at him.

  ?“Everyone… they looked so broken at the funeral. Grandpa, Uncle Celdric, even Lysric… I’ve never seen them like that. If I’m not strong enough to protect them…”

  ?“You think carrying the weight of the world on your shoulders will fix them?”

  ?Zaek ruffled her hair, a rare gentle gesture.

  ?“They’d be proud just seeing you try, kid. But don’t destroy yourself in the process.”

  ?He stood up, dusting off his coat. “By the way, your Uncle Lucien and cousin Cassian arrived last night. Just a heads up.”

  ?Aelira blinked, the mundane news pulling her back to reality. “They’re here?”

  ?“Yeah. Missed the funeral, but they made it.” Zaek turned toward the gate. “Well, that’s my cue. I’m starving.”

  ?“Wait! You’re leaving?”

  ?“Something came up.”

  ?“Can I come with you?” She scrambled up, desperation returning to her eyes.

  ?Zaek chuckled, waving a hand dismissively. “Did you forget the lesson already? Stay here. Recover.”

  ?She pouted, shoulders slumping.

  ?Zaek stopped. He glanced back over his shoulder, a small smirk playing on his lips.

  ?“…Fine. Next time. If you behave.”

  ?Her head snapped up. “Promise?”

  ?“Yeah, yeah. Promise.”

  ?As the old man disappeared down the path, muttering about getting food, Aelira remained in the clearing. The echo of his overwhelming power still lingered on her skin.

  ?She sat back down, closing her eyes, and began to meditate.

  ?‘I’m sorry, Sensei. I can’t stop.’

  ?I have to be a hero. Faster.