*Slash.*
*Slash.*
Sweat stread down Adrian’s bare torso, tracing the hard lines of muscle as he swung the heavy blade in a clean vertical arc. The sound of steel slicing through the air echoed faintly across the open field, rhythmic and steady, almost ditative.
Each movent followed a strict pattern.
Whenever he pulled the blade back, his feet ca together, grounding his stance. His grip tightened, shoulders rolling back as he drew in a sharp breath.
"Haa!"
As the blade descended again, his right leg slid forward just enough to stabilize the swing, weight shifting smoothly through his hips. There was no wasted motion. No flourish. Just repetition honed through discipline.
Adrian was lean, almost deceptively so, but anyone who looked closely could tell he had never once neglected his training. Morning after morning, regardless of fatigue or circumstance, he had put his body through punishnt. That dedication had carved him into sothing practical rather than impressive—muscles built for endurance and control, not display.
Valor watched silently from the side, arms crossed, eyes sharp.
It wasn’t hard for him to tell. This wasn’t the body of soone who trained for pride or recognition. It was the body of a man who had survived battles, who had learned—often painfully—what worked and what didn’t. Every scar, every line of tension spoke of experience.
"Now, switch," Valor said at last.
With a casual flick of his wrist, he tossed another blade toward Adrian.
The brown-haired man barely managed to catch it. The mont his fingers closed around the hilt, his arm dipped under the unfamiliar weight.
"This..." Adrian muttered, jaw tightening as he steadied himself. "This is as heavy as you."
His hand trembled, only slightly, but enough to be noticeable.
His entire body was drenched in sweat. His chest rose and fell unevenly, breath coming harsher now. He had been swinging the blade for two straight hours without pause, and the strain was beginning to show. The world tilted faintly at the edges of his vision, a subtle reminder that he was nearing his limits.
Valor noticed the sway in his stance.
For a brief mont, guilt flickered across his face. He hesitated before asking, "Do you want to take a break?"
Adrian shook his head imdiately.
"No... it’s okay."
The words ca out hoarse, but firm.
He knew better than anyone that improvent never ca from comfort. If he stayed within familiar boundaries, he would stagnate. To move forward, he had to push, to strain, to cross the line where his body protested.
And there was sothing else driving him now.
The anger hadn’t cooled. Not even slightly.
Those finger marks on Ariana’s neck. The mory burned behind his eyes. Annabelle’s pale face, drained of color. The helplessness. The tears he had shed afterward, alone, when no one could see.
None of it had faded.
It was all still there, raw and sharp, coiled tightly in his chest.
Drawing on that rage, that frustration, Adrian lifted the sword over his head once more. His arms scread in protest as he held the weight aloft, muscles trembling, breath hitching.
He gathered himself.
Then he swung.
*Slash.*
The blade cut downward, slower than before but still precise. Even as exhaustion clawed at him, his form didn’t collapse.
Valor remained seated nearby, watching intently. He could feel it—the raw, almost violent energy radiating off Adrian. It wasn’t wild, nor reckless. It was focused, compressed, like a storm being held back by sheer will.
His heart trembled.
There were many strong warriors he had t in his long life, many powerful mages and monsters alike. But very few had earned his genuine admiration.
Adrian was one of them.
’You’ve changed, Avirin,’ Valor thought quietly. ’And I can tell... this version of you will reach heights no mortal was ever ant to touch.’
....
[In the Common Hall]
[Runebound Academy]
The common hall buzzed with quiet conversation, trays clinking against tables as students gathered for their als. Among them, Elana and Aries sat close together as usual, their presence naturally drawing attention.
Around them clustered several juniors—a sight that had beco increasingly common. It seed that wherever Aries went, others followed, much like ducklings trailing behind their mother.
Elana, on the other hand, preferred peace. Silence. She liked to eat without interruption, to let her thoughts wander freely. Unfortunately, that preference rarely survived Aries’ arrival.
"So," a red-haired girl asked, leaning forward slightly, "any news on when the final exams will resu?"
It was Altia—the sa girl who had fought alongside them during the contest a few months ago.
Aries tilted her head, thinking. "Hmm. I heard the third assessnt might start next week."
Her tone was casual. It was, after all, just a rumor.
The ambush had thrown everything into disarray. The final exams had been postponed, and now there was growing concern that the academy wouldn’t give first- and second-year students much ti to prepare between assessnts. If they failed to wrap things up before the end of next month, the next sester would start late, and from there, everything would spiral into chaos.
"Do you think the sudden move by the other academies has anything to do with the delay?" Allen asked.
The black-haired youth glanced between Aries and Elana as he spoke.
Elana didn’t respond. She continued eating, expression unreadable.
Brendon, a first-year who had also participated in the contest, hesitated before speaking. "I... I received a few invitations."
The table fell silent.
Olivia was the first to react. Her eyes widened as she raised her voice. "They’re sending invitations directly to students now? How shaless."
The others exchanged looks.
Sylvie, after a brief pause, spoke softly. "Olivia... if I’m not mistaken, everyone here has received one."
The green-haired girl blinked, startled. She looked around the table, one face after another. No one denied it.
Her shoulders slumped.
"I suddenly feel... worthless," she muttered.
Allen chuckled lightly and tried to reassure her. "We got them because we appeared during the contest. And Sylvie is royalty."
Altia nodded enthusiastically. "Exactly. You’re an asset to Runebound, prez."
Olivia puffed her cheeks slightly, still sulking. She turned toward Elana, clearly wanting to ask sothing—but stopped herself.
Aries caught it imdiately.
"Elana," she said with a grin, "Olivia wants to know if you received any invitations."
Olivia spun toward her, panicked, glaring furiously. It only made Aries grin wider.
Brendon laughed quietly. "That’s like asking whether moths gather around a lantern when it’s lit."
Everyone understood the aning.
If there was one student every academy would want, it was Elana. Her performance during the second assessnt had been nothing short of overwhelming. It reminded everyone exactly why she was hailed as Runebound’s strongest student.
Elana finally finished her al. She set her spoon down gently and looked up.
She didn’t focus on any one person as she spoke.
"The real question is," she said calmly, "what is your response to the invitation?"
Silence fell over the table.
Were they considering leaving?
Did they truly believe Runebound was no longer safe?
Had they enrolled here only because they had no better option?
Would they seize this chance to transfer to the academy they had originally wanted?
"What about you, Senior Elana?" Allen asked. "Would you leave?"
She looked directly at him.
"That would be like betraying my family," she said without hesitation. "And that is worse than any cri."
Altia lowered her head at those words.
Sylvie remained composed—she shared similar sentints. Aries simply smiled.
"Is it because of Professor Adrian?" Aries asked lightly.
Olivia’s ears perked up.
Elana humd. "Not only because of him. But yes, he’s a major reason." She leaned back slightly. "Professor Adrian is part of Runebound. And I’m sure all of you have soone or sothing you don’t want to lose. Think carefully before you decide."
With that, she stood and walked away, fully aware of the many ears listening in the hall.
She knew exactly what she had done.
Runebound had given them a chance when no one else had. A place to belong. A ho.
She wouldn’t force anyone to stay—but she wouldn’t let them forget that either.
And more than anything, she didn’t want her professor to be hurt.
’Now it’s up to you.’
....
"Huff... huff..."
Adrian sat on the soft grass, chest heaving, eyes closed. His breath ca in uneven bursts as exhaustion finally caught up to him.
Valor remained nearby, a water pouch in hand, waiting patiently.
Five swords.
Five hundred and one swings from each one.
Each blade heavier than the last.
The final two had nearly broken Adrian.
His muscles had spasd violently, body screaming in protest. He had stumbled more than a dozen tis, barely catching himself before collapsing. And yet, his focus never wavered.
Through sheer will, he completed the final hundred swings.
Nearly three hours had passed.
There were still three more to go.
Adrian slowly cald his breathing and extended a hand.
Valor passed him the water. He drank greedily, the cool liquid burning its way down his dry throat.
Once he recovered slightly, Valor held out sothing else. "Swallow this. Verna Herb. It aids recovery, improves stamina, and strengthens the core."
Adrian raised a brow. "Side effects?"
Valor smiled awkwardly. "Just... don’t get aroused."
Adrian snorted. "I’ll eat it later, then."
"Better when your mana nodes are active," Valor replied.
Adrian stored it away. "So what’s next?"
Valor studied him. "How are you in hand-to-hand?"
Adrian thought back to the contest, to the gauntlets, to that bastard. "A little above average."
"Then let judge," Valor said.
Adrian stood.
His legs trembled.
"You can reinforce yourself with mana," Valor added.
Adrian froze. "You knew?"
"Of course," Valor replied. "Avirin could too. It was obvious."
Adrian exhaled. "So much for secrets."
He took his stance, mana flooding his muscles.
"Ready when you are."
User Comments
0 comments from readers