The next morning, deep within that dangerous and silent forest, four young teenagers were still asleep inside a narrow cave, protected by the still and overwhelming presence of a gigantic spider. At the entrance, the morning light struggled to seep in, mostly blocked by Madame's massive body as she continued to stand guard with an almost oppressive vigilance.
Closest to the entrance slept a blond boy with a frail build, dressed in white armor made from rare silk. Despite its soft and light appearance, the armor gave off a deceptive sense of sturdiness, as though it could absorb far more damage than one might expect. Beside him lay a slightly taller boy, just as slender, wrapped in black bark armor. His pale skin contrasted sharply with the dark material of his equipment, and a white lock of hair fell along the left side of his face, standing out clearly against his black hair. Beneath his right eye, a small beauty mark remained perfectly visible, like an unchanging detail despite everything he had endured.
Farther inside the cave rested a girl with bronzed skin, her glossy black hair tied into a neat bun. She wore green armor made of layered leaves, covering her body with an almost natural elegance, as if the forest itself had shaped it. Finally, beside her, slept a red-haired girl whose hair was tied back in a ponytail. She wore a full red outfit, beneath which a discreet but sturdy coat of mail could just barely be seen.
Kenzo, Lucian, Naty, and Ophelia had clearly taken full advantage of the night's rest. None of them had woken at sunrise, and the unusual calm inside the cave almost gave the illusion of a safe refuge, far from the constant dangers of the unstable Fragment.
Naty was the first to open her eyes. She remained still for a few seconds, instinctively assessing the situation, before slowly sitting up. Naturally, that slight movement was enough to alert both Ophelia and Kenzo, who immediately sensed something shift in the cave's atmosphere. They opened their eyes in turn, ready to react at the slightest sign of danger.
Lucian, on the other hand, was still fast asleep.
Kenzo sat up silently and moved closer to wake him, gently placing a hand on his shoulder. Lucian groaned softly before opening his eyes, still visibly heavy with sleep.
– « Sleep well? » Naty asked with her usual sincere smile.
– « Yeah… but I probably shouldn't have slept that much, » Kenzo replied, stretching his shoulders slightly.
– « As long as it makes you more effective in battle, » Ophelia added dryly, already fully awake.
Kenzo hesitated for a moment, then voiced what was actually bothering him.
– « Can we wait an hour before leaving? I need some time to at least learn how to use a sword. Otherwise, I'm really going to be useless. »
Naty nodded without hesitation.
– « I can teach you the basics. My main weapon is the whip, but I also use a rapier as a secondary weapon. »
She then summoned a magnificent bluish rapier, fitted with a finely crafted golden guard and a pearl pommel that caught the light. The weapon looked light, quick, and perfectly balanced.
– « It's not exactly the same as a regular sword, but I can still help you, » she added.
Curious, Kenzo asked a question that had been lingering in his mind for a while.
– « Do all accomplished Awakened have a secondary weapon? You too, Ophelia? »
– « No. My long daggers are enough for me, » she answered bluntly. « Secondary weapons are mostly useful for people whose main weapons aren't suited for certain situations. Like I told you, a spear quickly becomes a handicap in a tight space. Same goes for a whip. And besides… close combat can always be useful. Unfortunately, in the real world, sometimes humans are the enemy. »
Those words surprised Kenzo. Hearing someone from royalty openly admit that Void Creatures were not humanity's only enemies unsettled him deeply. His whole life, he had lived behind the outer walls, raised on stories in which the royal families devoted themselves body and soul to protecting the people. The idea that one might sometimes have to fight other humans as well did not sit right with him.
He thought back to Saint 13, to the Inquisition, to the internal tensions no one ever spoke about openly. If the royal families fought one another, then what role did the Inquisition truly play? Did they simply accept that royal families and clans could kill without consequences? Kenzo decided not to dig any deeper into that thought for now, but the unease remained.
Eventually, they all left the cave together. Madame immediately shifted aside to free the passage, then repositioned herself in alert mode, her many eyes scanning the surroundings with constant vigilance. She never seemed to relax, as though danger could appear at any second.
– « Alright, let's begin, » Naty declared.
She stood facing Kenzo and Lucian, then showed them several basic movements: footwork, weapon grip, attack angles, simple steps. For thirty minutes, they watched carefully, memorizing every motion. Then, for another thirty minutes, they repeated the movements on their own, again and again.
By the end of the training session, Kenzo felt surprisingly good. He had not gone all out, but he had not held back either. Absorbing the twelve hearts had made him sturdier, more stable. He had not even needed to activate [Serpent] to perform the movements properly. Of course, his gestures still looked clumsy in Naty's or Ophelia's eyes, but for him, it was already a huge improvement.
Beside him, Lucian did not seem physically tired, but his lack of confidence sabotaged every movement he made. His gestures were hesitant, imprecise, almost timid.
Ophelia then approached the group.
– « Kenzo, every day, you'll do the exercises Naty showed you for thirty minutes. Then, for the next thirty minutes, you'll fight me. »
– « Why would I fight you? And what are you going to ask in return? » Kenzo asked, suspicious.
– « Nothing. I just want to make sure you can kill Deviants so I can get my daggers. And besides, Naty is too nice. She won't want to hurt you. »
Naty smiled, silently confirming it.
– « I think it's a good idea. I can take care of Lucian, » she added.
Lucian lowered his head slightly, disappointed that he had not measured up.
Kenzo took a deep breath.
– « Do as you like. Either way, today's training session is over. It's time to go hunting. »
The tone was set.
Training was only the beginning.