The forest was quiet, but the tension in the clearing was not.
Morning sunlight filtered through the tall pines, casting long shadows across the uneven ground. The scent of earth and leaves filled the air, undisturbed—until the sharp sound of wood striking wood broke the silence.
Sora rushed forward.
Fast. Direct. Relentless.
His wooden sword cut through the air in a powerful downward strike aimed straight at Johan. There was no hesitation in his movements—only instinct and force.
Johan didn't step back.
He shifted.
A small movement.
Precise.
Sora's blade missed by inches, slamming into the ground and kicking up dirt. Before Sora could recover, Johan raised his hand slightly.
The air around him shimmered.
A faint pulse—
Sora felt it.
"…Tch."
He twisted his body just in time as an invisible force brushed past him, pushing against his side. It wasn't strong—but it was controlled.
Too controlled.
"You're too straightforward," Johan said calmly, stepping back. "Every movement you make is predictable."
Sora grinned, tightening his grip.
"Then stop predicting."
He dashed again.
Faster this time.
His footwork shifted, less rigid, more chaotic. He swung low—then abruptly changed direction mid-strike, forcing Johan to adjust.
Johan's eyes narrowed slightly.
"…Better."
He raised both hands now.
The ground beneath Sora's feet trembled slightly—not enough to knock him off balance, but enough to disrupt his momentum.
Sora stumbled for a split second.
That was all Johan needed.
A controlled push of aether—
Sora was forced back.
Sliding across the dirt.
He stopped himself with his foot, breathing heavier now.
"…You're annoying."
Johan exhaled softly.
"And you lack discipline."
Before Sora could respond—
A sharp sound cut through the clearing.
Clap.
Both boys froze.
Juluis stood at the edge of the clearing, arms crossed.
"…That's enough."
Sora clicked his tongue.
"We were just getting started."
Juluis walked forward slowly.
"No. You were just getting nowhere."
Johan remained silent, but his gaze followed Juluis carefully.
Juluis stopped between them.
"You fight like enemies."
Sora frowned.
"We are."
Johan didn't deny it.
Juluis sighed.
"…That's exactly the problem."
He stepped back.
"From today onward, you train together."
Silence.
Sora blinked.
"…What?"
Johan's expression didn't change, but there was a slight shift in his eyes.
Juluis continued.
"You rely on instinct. He relies on control. Alone, both of you are incomplete."
Sora scoffed.
"I'm doing fine on my own."
Juluis looked at him.
"Then why didn't you land a single hit?"
Sora froze.
"…Tch."
Juluis turned to Johan.
"And you—"
Johan met his gaze.
"…Yes."
"You're too dependent on control. What happens when something doesn't follow your expectations?"
Johan didn't answer.
Because he knew.
Juluis stepped back further, creating distance.
"…So we fix that."
Sora tilted his head.
"…How?"
Juluis looked at both of them.
"By forcing you to rely on each other."
Sora and Johan both frowned.
At the same time.
"…No."
Juluis ignored them.
He reached down and picked up a wooden sword.
"…Your goal is simple."
He pointed it at them.
"Land a hit on me."
Silence.
Then—
Sora grinned.
"…That's it?"
Johan's eyes sharpened.
"…Understood."
Juluis's stance shifted.
Subtle.
But everything about him changed.
The air felt heavier.
Not with aether.
But with presence.
"…Begin."
Sora moved first.
Of course he did.
He dashed forward with explosive speed, swinging his sword with full force. Johan followed a moment later—not rushing, but positioning.
Sora attacked head-on.
Juluis sidestepped effortlessly.
Too easily.
Sora's blade cut through empty air.
"…Slow."
Before Sora could react—
Juluis tapped his shoulder with the wooden sword.
Light.
Precise.
Sora froze.
"…What?"
Johan moved in from the side.
His timing was perfect.
He aimed for Juluis's blind spot—
But—
Juluis turned.
Without looking.
His sword intercepted Johan's strike with a soft tap.
"…Predictable."
Another light strike.
Johan stepped back immediately.
The exchange lasted seconds.
But it was clear.
They weren't even close.
Sora clicked his tongue.
"…Again."
Johan nodded.
They moved at the same time now.
Not together—
but not completely separate either.
Sora attacked from the front.
Wild.
Aggressive.
Johan moved from the side.
Calm.
Calculated.
For a moment—
their movements almost aligned.
Almost.
Juluis stepped between them.
Effortless.
A shift.
A turn.
Two taps.
One on Sora.
One on Johan.
Both missed again.
Sora stepped back, breathing harder.
"…This is stupid."
Johan frowned slightly.
"…No."
Sora glanced at him.
"…What?"
Johan looked at Juluis.
"…He's right."
Sora blinked.
"…Huh?"
Johan continued.
"We're not working together."
Sora frowned.
"…I don't need to."
Johan looked at him directly.
"…That's why we're losing."
Silence.
Juluis watched.
Sora clicked his tongue.
"…Tch."
He adjusted his grip on the sword.
"…Fine."
Johan stepped forward slightly.
"…You attack first."
Sora smirked.
"…Obviously."
Juluis raised his sword again.
"…One more time."
The wind passed through the clearing.
Leaves rustled.
The air shifted.
Sora moved.
But this time—
Johan moved with him.
Not separately.
Not perfectly.
But closer.
Sora attacked head-on.
Johan adjusted his position—
cutting off Juluis's escape route.
For the first time—
Juluis's movement paused.
Just slightly.
His eyes narrowed.
"…Better."
Sora swung.
Johan followed.
Two angles.
Two styles.
One target.
Juluis moved.
But not as easily as before.
The gap had closed.
Even if only by a fraction.
And that—
was enough to make him smile.
"…Now you're learning."
The clash continued.
Faster.
Sharper.
More intense.
Still far from victory.
But no longer hopeless.
And beneath the quiet forest—
two different paths had begun to move as one.
Even if only for a moment.
And that moment—
was the beginning.