Riser didn't go to the training yard immediately.
That alone was strange.
Normally, the moment he woke up, his thoughts were already moving toward training—toward improvement, toward closing the gap he could practically feel pressing down on him from the future.
But today—
He was waiting.
And that made everything feel slower.
More deliberate.
"…Yubelluna."
She appeared before he even finished saying her name.
That was becoming a pattern.
"Yes, young master."
Riser leaned back slightly in his chair, studying her for a moment.
Composed.
Controlled.
Sharp.
Even standing still, she looked like someone who could react to anything in an instant.
"…You're strong, right?"
Yubelluna blinked once.
"That is a broad question."
"Answer it anyway."
A pause.
Then—
"Yes."
No hesitation.
No false humility.
Just fact.
Riser nodded.
"Good."
He stood up.
"Then spar with me."
That—
Actually surprised her.
It was subtle.
Most people wouldn't notice.
But Riser did.
Because he was looking for it.
"…Young master?"
"You heard me."
He stretched his arms slightly, rolling tension out of his shoulders.
"Training alone is fine. But it doesn't mean anything if I can't apply it."
Yubelluna watched him carefully.
Not refusing.
Not agreeing.
Evaluating.
"…You understand the difference in ability between us."
"Yes."
"Then why?"
Riser smirked faintly.
"Because losing is still useful."
That answer—
Landed.
Not fully.
But enough.
After a moment—
Yubelluna nodded.
"…Very well."
Training Yard
The air was warmer than usual.
Not because of the environment.
Because of tension.
Riser stood at one end of the training field.
Yubelluna stood opposite him.
Distance.
Clear.
Defined.
"Rules?" she asked.
"None."
"Restrictions?"
"Don't kill me."
That earned him the smallest pause.
"…Understood."
Riser exhaled slowly.
Then—
"Come at me seriously."
That was a mistake.
He realized it the moment she moved.
First Exchange
He didn't see the start.
He saw the result.
A blur.
A shift in air pressure.
Then—
Impact.
Riser's body twisted violently as something struck his side.
Hard.
Precise.
Controlled.
He was sent sliding across the stone before he even processed what happened.
"—!"
He caught himself barely, feet scraping against the ground.
Pain flared along his ribs.
Not enough to break.
More than enough to remind him.
She didn't move.
Didn't follow up.
Just stood there.
Watching.
"…That was one strike," she said calmly.
Riser straightened slowly.
Breathing steady.
"…Good."
His eyes sharpened.
"Again."
Second Exchange
This time—
He moved first.
Hellfire flared around his hands.
Not explosive.
Controlled.
Compressed.
He closed the distance fast.
Not fast enough.
Yubelluna stepped aside.
Minimal movement.
Efficient.
His punch passed through empty air.
Then—
She was behind him.
A sharp strike to his shoulder.
Another to his lower back.
Riser staggered forward.
Pain.
Precise.
Targeted.
Not overwhelming—
But completely dominating.
He turned—
Too slow.
Her hand stopped just short of his throat.
"Dead," she said quietly.
Silence.
Riser stared at her.
Then—
He laughed.
Short.
Breathless.
"…Yeah. That tracks."
Reset
They stepped apart.
Riser rolled his shoulders again.
His body already working to recover.
Phenex regeneration.
Slow.
But constant.
"…You're holding back."
"Of course."
"Good."
He raised his hands again.
"Don't stop."
Yubelluna's eyes narrowed slightly.
Not in annoyance.
In focus.
Then—
She moved again.
Third Exchange
This time—
Riser didn't chase.
Didn't rush.
He waited.
Watched.
Tracked.
The moment she entered range—
He reacted.
Hellfire surged—
Not outward.
Inward.
Compressed.
Focused.
He swung—
Not at where she was—
Where she would be.
For a split second—
It worked.
Yubelluna's movement adjusted.
Not avoided.
Adjusted.
His strike grazed her sleeve.
A small burn mark appeared.
They both froze.
Just for a moment.
Then—
Yubelluna moved again.
Faster.
Sharper.
More serious.
The next sequence—
Wasn't a fight.
It was a demonstration.
Of difference.
Of experience.
Of reality.
Riser blocked once.
Twice.
Then failed.
A strike to his leg broke his stance.
Another hit his side.
Then—
Impact.
He hit the ground hard.
Breath knocked out of him.
Vision flickering slightly.
Aftermath
Silence.
Then footsteps.
Yubelluna stopped a few steps away.
Not looming.
Not threatening.
Just—
Present.
"…Do you wish to continue?"
Riser lay there for a second.
Breathing.
Feeling the pain settle.
Then—
He pushed himself up.
Slow.
Unsteady.
But standing.
"…Yeah."
Yubelluna didn't move immediately.
"…Why?"
Riser wiped sweat from his face.
Then smirked.
"Because I almost hit you."
That—
Actually made her pause.
"…Almost."
"That's progress."
A beat.
Then—
Something in her expression shifted.
Not softer.
Not warmer.
But—
Different.
"…Very well."
Fourth Exchange
This time—
It lasted longer.
Not because Riser got stronger.
Because he got smarter.
He didn't try to win.
Didn't try to overwhelm.
He focused on:
PositionTimingReading movement
Every second—
Was information.
Every strike—
A lesson.
He still lost.
Completely.
But—
He lasted longer.
And at the end—
When Yubelluna stepped back—
She didn't immediately speak.
The Result
Riser stood there.
Breathing hard.
Body aching.
But—
Eyes steady.
"…So?"
Yubelluna looked at him.
Properly.
"…You are weak."
"Yeah."
"Your technique is inconsistent."
"Yep."
"Your reaction speed is below mine by a large margin."
"I noticed."
A pause.
Then—
"…But you didn't stop."
Riser shrugged slightly.
"That's kind of the point."
Silence.
Then—
"You adapted."
That one mattered.
More than the rest.
Riser smirked.
"Trying to."
Yubelluna studied him for a long moment.
Then—
"…Again tomorrow."
Not a question.
Not a suggestion.
A statement.
Riser blinked.
Then grinned.
"Yeah."
System Notification
[Quest Update]
Yubelluna Loyalty: 65 → 70Status: Engaged → Trust Forming
[Social Quest Completed]
Reward:→ Minor Coordination Boost→ Servant Efficiency Increased
Riser exhaled slowly.
"…That was faster than expected."
[System Response:]Host performed above expectations.
"…Shocking."
End Scene
Yubelluna turned to leave.
Then paused.
"…Young master."
"Yeah?"
"…Next time—"
She glanced back.
Eyes sharp.
"—try not to get hit so easily."
Riser laughed.
"Working on it."
She left.
And for the first time—
Riser stood alone in the training yard,
Not thinking about how far behind he was—
But how far he could still go.