Turning Chapter 1266

He must have co fully prepared, knowing this wouldn’t be easy. But just because he braced himself—was he supposed to train only within the limits of what he’d anticipated?

lvern’s ability was one that had to be considered deeply affected by the user’s willpower and endurance. Which ant Yuder couldn’t let him believe this much was manageable. As long as he thought that, there would be no progress.

Yuder tilted his head as he drew the sword hanging at his waist.

“Can’t do it?”

He had once said he could endure anything for the sake of Crown Prince Ezein. That ant he wouldn’t admit defeat here.

Just as Yuder had expected, lvern bit his lip, clenched his fists tightly, and shook his head.

“I can do it!”

“Good. I’ll only be using the sword today, so it should be easy. Try to dodge well.”

The mont he finished speaking, Yuder thrust the sword forward. If lvern hadn’t reflexively pulled back, it would’ve pierced straight through his shoulder.

“Agh...! W-We’re starting already?!”

Yuder didn’t respond. He simply continued swinging the sword, and lvern rolled and kicked off the ground, desperately dodging.

“At least give a signal or sothing before—! No, never mind!”

The space might not have been as wide as outdoors, but for an indoor training room, it was quite large. Yuder carefully observed lvern’s movents as he quickly avoided the blade, even while looking like he was on the verge of tears.

Contrary to his usual image of a talkative and mild-mannered attendant, lvern looked quite accustod to combat. His awareness of his surroundings was sharp, and his judgnt was solid. Yuder wasn’t attacking with full force, but he wasn’t going easy enough to allow soone to dodge this well unless they were actually capable.

Not all forr spies moved this well. This was pure talent and skill on lvern’s part.

‘Well, I suppose it’s only natural if he’s been by Ezein’s side for so long.’

His master, Ezein, had lived his whole life surrounded by enemies. Anyone serving such a person would inevitably have to beco accustod to unexpected combat situations and improve accordingly.

‘He doesn’t have a weapon in hand, but if he were holding even a dagger, this might’ve been fun.’

But this wasn’t a spar for enjoynt. Yuder swung his blade at lvern and asked:

“How long do you plan on just dodging?”

“Gah! Hah! W-Well... I’ve never tried to use my ability in such a pressing situation before...! Ugh!”

Conversation naturally disrupted concentration. lvern’s sleeve was torn by the blade. Yuder rcilessly swung at the man rolling across the ground.

“Just attempting to use it is already part of the training.”

You don’t always get the perfect conditions to use your power. lvern hadn’t even made an attempt yet—aning the real training hadn’t even begun.

“Don’t focus on my attacks. Focus on the thought that you must use your ability.”

“I-I’d like to do that, but how?! You’re attacking so fast I can’t think of anything else!”

“You’re more dramatic than you look.”

He was leaving enough of a gap for him to answer, so how could he say there was no ti to use his power? He had just beco too used to calmly standing still and activating it under controlled circumstances, unable to adapt to anything else.

lvern clenched his teeth and desperately tried to activate his power. But the energy flowing from his hands was faint. A few tis it looked like it might spark to life, but every ti his movents dulled, Yuder pounced with relentless attacks, shattering his focus.

Try—fail—try—fail—over and over again.

Even the watching mages began to show exhausted expressions as lvern rolled, dodged, and got hit endlessly. His previously pleasant-looking face gradually cracked under the stress of the killing aura that disrupted him every ti he seed to be making progress.

“Damn it...”

Yuder nodded as he saw lvern curse under his breath.

‘Good. That look in his eyes is finally getting better.’

Anyone else might’ve lost patience much sooner. Perhaps because he’d been a spy, lvern’s tolerance was impressive.

His condition had beco a ss. His clothes were torn to rags, and his skin was covered in thin scratches from grazing blades. His breathing was ragged and pained, but Yuder—the one responsible for all of it—showed no hint of sympathy.

This was training. And lvern hadn’t given up. So there was no reason to pity him.

And finally—

“Shit! Why the hell isn’t it working?! Just this much—!”

As lvern flung himself to avoid another attack, releasing a burst of pent-up frustration, a bright light suddenly surged from between his hands.

It was so strong that even the mages, who had been watching with bored expressions, jumped to their feet in surprise.

“Oh!”

“Whoa!”

“...!”

But the person himself, lvern, flinched in shock—and the light imdiately flickered and disappeared.

“Ah...!”

lvern collapsed awkwardly to the floor, a regretful look on his face. He stared down at his empty palms and clenched them into fists with a bitter expression. Yuder lowered the sword he’d been aiming at his head.

“lvern. What were you thinking just now?”

“...Excuse ?”

“Weren’t you about to say sothing?”

“I, uh...”

“Even if you were about to curse , I wouldn’t mind. Just answer honestly.”

At that, lvern furrowed his brow.

“...I thought—if I can’t even succeed at this pathetic first round of training, I wouldn’t be able to face the Prince later... I an, my master. I felt... ashad and humiliated...”

“Now you’re starting to get it.”

“...Pardon?”

“Understanding how your ability is triggered—and what serves as the key to activating it—is a very important matter. What you just felt, lvern, was the answer. So? Are you starting to grasp it now?”

He repeated the question. Only then did lvern slowly blink. Surprise and realization began to dawn across his bewildered face.

“...I see!”

It’s not about your physical circumstances.

Whether you're being attacked, whether the weather is bad, whether you’re on the verge of death—it doesn’t matter. None of that is a valid reason for failing to use your ability.

“My ability is ant for my master... So all I need is to long for him! Not just vaguely thinking I should use it, not letting my mind wander while dodging attacks...”

lvern’s face lit up with exhilaration as he spoke breathlessly about the revelation he’d just had.

‘Right. Just wanting to contact Crown Prince Ezein isn’t enough. A true yearning isn’t born from the head alone.’

At the base of powerful longing, there’s always strong emotion. The sha and self-bla lvern just experienced were probably crucial factors in triggering his power.

‘But it’s aningless if I’m the one telling him that. He has to keep figuring it out for himself.’

Yuder raised his sword again.

“Alright. Then let’s go again—until you succeed for real this ti. Don’t forget what you just felt. Hold on to it.”

“H-Huh? Already?”

What do you an, “already”? He’d had more than enough ti to catch his breath.

Without replying, Yuder swung his sword. lvern scread and dove to the ground.

That day, lvern kept rolling until his legs gave out. He didn’t manage to call upon Crown Prince Ezein—but he did succeed in producing light perfectly even while under attack, and managed to attempt a connection.

That was more than enough for a first training session.

“...Whew.”

lvern was sent down to the infirmary first. «N.o.v.e.l.i.g.h.t» A formal notice had already been sent ahead to Inon and Lusan explaining the situation, so they would treat him properly while keeping his identity confidential.

As Yuder wiped the sweat from his forehead, Kishiar approached and naturally pulled out a handkerchief. Expecting to receive it, Yuder extended a hand—only to freeze as Kishiar gently wiped his forehead for him.

Normally, he would’ve just accepted it. But right now, two mages who had yet to leave were still nearby. They were deep in animated discussion about the training they’d just witnessed and likely hadn’t noticed—but Yuder didn’t want Kishiar to risk looking foolish in front of them.

“...I can do it myself.”

“There are spots you can’t reach easily. Don’t refuse. The back of your neck is a ss.”

His mild protest was imdiately shot down. With a sigh, Yuder quietly accepted Kishiar’s touch. Only after he’d wiped him to his satisfaction did Kishiar finally step back with a pleased expression.

“What did you think?”

“Of the training?”

“Yes.”

“...Honestly, I’m jealous.”

“...Huh?”