Pain.
---
Faint.
---
Distant.
---
Like something his body had already decided to leave behind.
---
Thalren's eyes opened.
---
Slow.
---
A wooden ceiling.
---
Still.
---
Unfamiliar.
---
The air carried the scent of herbs and salt.
---
His body remained still for a moment.
---
Not from weakness.
---
From awareness.
---
Bandages wrapped across his chest.
---
His arms.
---
His side.
---
Tight.
---
Layered.
---
Faint red beneath white.
---
The wounds were deep.
---
They should have been worse.
---
But they weren't.
---
A breath.
---
Steady.
---
Then—
---
He moved.
---
Sitting up slowly.
---
Pain followed.
---
Sharp—
---
Then fading almost instantly.
---
Like it couldn't hold onto him.
---
Healing.
---
Too fast.
---
His feet touched the ground.
---
Cold.
---
Stable.
---
He stood.
---
For a moment—
---
His balance shifted.
---
Then corrected.
---
Naturally.
---
No hesitation after that.
---
He walked.
---
Out of the room.
---
Through the quiet hall.
---
No voices.
---
No movement.
---
Then—
---
The outside.
---
The sea stretched before him.
---
Endless.
---
Still.
---
Watching.
---
The wind brushed against him.
---
Cool.
---
Sharp.
---
He stepped forward.
---
Stopped near the edge.
---
And stood.
---
Silent.
---
Then—
---
Behind him—
---
Footsteps.
---
Steady.
---
Unhurried.
---
Kaizen.
---
"…You shouldn't be standing yet."
---
Thalren didn't turn.
---
"…I can stand."
---
A pause.
---
Kaizen stopped beside him.
---
His eyes shifted briefly—
---
Bandages.
---
Faint blood.
---
Healing.
---
Too fast.
---
"…That thing," Kaizen said.
---
"The Calamity."
---
Silence.
---
"…It left."
---
Thalren's eyes lowered slightly.
---
"…It saw something…"
---
A pause.
---
"…and chose to leave."
---
The wind passed.
---
Cold.
---
Kaizen's gaze didn't change.
---
"…Creatures like that don't choose."
---
Silence.
---
"…They react."
---
A pause.
---
"…So whatever it saw—"
---
He glanced at Thalren.
---
"…wasn't normal."
---
No answer.
---
But Thalren's fingers tightened slightly.
---
The sea moved quietly ahead of them.
---
Unbothered.
---
Unchanged.
---
Then—
---
Kaizen spoke again.
---
"…You have talent."
---
A pause.
---
"…but you don't know how to use it."
---
No emotion.
---
No exaggeration.
---
Just truth.
---
Kaizen stepped forward.
---
"…Come."
---
Thalren turned.
---
"…Where?"
---
Kaizen didn't stop walking.
---
"…If you stay like this, you'll die next time."
---
A pause.
---
"…I'm fixing that."
---
—
---
They moved away from the village.
---
Far enough that no one would hear the clash of weapons.
---
The ground hardened beneath their steps.
---
Loose stone.
---
Dry air.
---
An empty stretch of land near the coast.
---
Worn.
---
Used before.
---
Kaizen stopped.
---
Turned.
---
Nearby—
---
A training post stood half-buried in the ground.
---
Old.
---
Scarred.
---
A few wooden practice blades were stuck beside it.
---
He pulled one free.
---
Tested its weight.
---
Then—
---
He threw it.
---
Fast.
---
Straight at Thalren.
---
No warning.
---
Instinct reacted—
---
Too late.
---
Crack.
---
The wood struck his shoulder.
---
Hard.
---
His body shifted half a step back.
---
But didn't fall.
---
Silence.
---
"If you can't block…"
---
A pause.
---
"…you shouldn't hold a sword."
---
The wooden blade dropped at his feet.
---
Thalren looked down.
---
Then picked it up.
---
Grip steady.
---
No complaint.
---
No reaction.
---
He stepped forward.
---
Ready.
---
Kaizen drew one blade.
---
Calm.
---
Precise.
---
"This isn't about power."
---
Thalren faced him.
---
Listening.
---
"You already have something abnormal."
---
A pause.
---
"I'm not teaching you how to hit harder."
---
The blade lifted slightly.
---
"I'm teaching you how to survive."
---
Silence.
---
"…Attack."
---
No delay.
---
Thalren moved.
---
Fast.
---
The ground cracked under his step—
---
Distance closed instantly.
---
His wooden blade cut forward.
---
Direct.
---
Clean.
---
Kaizen shifted.
---
Not back.
---
Sideways.
---
Minimal.
---
The strike passed.
---
A small movement—
---
The attack was redirected.
---
Thalren's balance broke.
---
Just enough—
---
Kaizen stepped in.
---
Close.
---
Too close.
---
The flat of his blade struck Thalren's wrist.
---
Sharp.
---
Controlled.
---
The wooden sword slipped.
---
Fell.
---
A moment.
---
That was enough.
---
Kaizen's blade stopped at his throat.
---
"…Dead."
---
Silence.
---
"…Pick it up."
---
Thalren bent.
---
Picked it up.
---
Reset.
---
Again.
---
—
---
The second attack came harder.
---
Faster.
---
Still direct.
---
Still predictable.
---
Kaizen moved.
---
Effortless.
---
Redirect.
---
Break.
---
Open.
---
Blade at throat.
---
"…Dead."
---
Again.
---
And again.
---
No anger.
---
No frustration.
---
But something inside Thalren tightened.
---
Not emotion.
---
Recognition.
---
He stepped back.
---
Grip adjusted.
---
Breathing steady.
---
Eyes sharper.
---
He moved again.
---
Not faster.
---
Different.
---
Angle shifted.
---
Timing changed.
---
Less force.
---
More intent.
---
Kaizen watched.
---
Closely.
---
Their weapons met—
---
And held.
---
For a moment.
---
Longer than before.
---
Then—
---
Kaizen twisted.
---
Controlled.
---
Precise.
---
Thalren's balance broke—
---
But less this time.
---
A low strike came—
---
Fast.
---
Thalren reacted—
---
Late.
---
Impact hit his side.
---
Bandages tightened.
---
Pain surged.
---
Sharp.
---
Real.
---
His body tensed—
---
And for a moment—
---
Something moved beneath his skin.
---
Dark.
---
Thin.
---
Like veins that didn't belong.
---
Gone.
---
Kaizen saw it.
---
But said nothing.
---
"…Too slow."
---
Thalren steadied himself.
---
Adjusted.
---
"…Again."
---
—
---
Time passed.
---
Strike.
---
Break.
---
Reset.
---
Again.
---
And again.
---
The sun climbed.
---
Then began to fall.
---
Thalren's movements changed.
---
Less force.
---
Less waste.
---
Still flawed.
---
Still incomplete.
---
But no longer blind.
---
He started seeing.
---
Small shifts.
---
Weight.
---
Intent.
---
Openings.
---
Kaizen stepped back.
---
Watching.
---
"You rely on it."
---
Thalren stopped.
---
"…What?"
---
"That power."
---
Silence.
---
"It saved you once."
---
A pause.
---
"Now you're waiting for it."
---
The words settled.
---
Heavy.
---
Thalren looked at his hand.
---
For a moment—
---
Darkness flickered.
---
Quieter.
---
Contained.
---
"…Then what should I rely on?" he asked.
---
Kaizen answered instantly.
---
"Something that won't hesitate."
---
A pause.
---
"Yourself."
---
—
---
Thalren stepped forward again.
---
Slower.
---
Measured.
---
His blade moved.
---
Not to overwhelm—
---
To understand.
---
Kaizen met it.
---
Their weapons pressed—
---
Held.
---
A second.
---
Then—
---
Kaizen broke it.
---
Spun.
---
Strike came low—
---
Fast—
---
Thalren saw it—
---
Moved—
---
This time—
---
He blocked.
---
Not perfect.
---
But enough.
---
The impact pushed him back.
---
But he didn't fall.
---
Silence.
---
Kaizen looked at him.
---
A brief pause.
---
"…Again."
---
—
---
The sun dipped.
---
Shadows stretched.
---
Their movements continued.
---
Sharper.
---
Cleaner.
---
Still imperfect.
---
But changing.
---
Slowly.
---
—
---
Night approached.
---
Kaizen lowered his blade.
---
"That's enough."
---
Thalren stood still.
---
Breathing steady.
---
Wounds shallow.
---
Controlled.
---
Progress.
---
Small.
---
Real.
---
Kaizen turned slightly.
---
"…You're not weak."
---
A pause.
---
"But you're not dangerous either."
---
Thalren looked at him.
---
Silence.
---
"…Not yet."
---
The wind carried the sea again.
---
Distant.
---
Endless.
---
Unchanged.
---
Kaizen sheathed his blade.
---
"Tomorrow," he said,
---
"…learn to see."
---
Silence.
---
"…Understood."
---
—
---
Far beyond the shore—
---
The ocean remained.
---
Dark.
---
Endless.
---
Watching.
---
—
---
And within Thalren—
---
The darkness lingered.
---
Not silent.
---
Not active.
---
Waiting.
---
Patient.
---
For the moment—
---
He would either control it.
---
Or be consumed by it.