The training arc had begun.
The air in the training grounds felt different now quieter, heavier, as if something important had shifted the moment she arrived.
The woman stood before them, calm and composed, her presence alone enough to command attention without effort.
Her gaze settled on Solarynth first.
"My name is Seraphine Duskveil," she said, her voice steady and refined. "From today onward… I will be your mentor."
Solarynth blinked, slightly caught off guard by how direct she was.
Before he could respond, her attention shifted.
Her eyes moved toward Asura.
She studied him for a moment long enough to make even him pause.
Then she raised a hand and pointed at him.
"And you…"
Her tone remained calm, but there was something sharper beneath it.
"You've already stepped into the stage of Shaping."
Asura narrowed his eyes slightly.
Seraphine continued, unfazed.
"But your control is lacking. You force your power instead of guiding it… relying on instinct rather than understanding."
She gave a small, almost disappointed shake of her head.
"It works… but only until it doesn't."
Asura didn't respond, but his silence said enough.
Seraphine turned away from them, her long dress shifting softly as she moved.
"Both of you," she said without looking back, "come with me."
There was no hesitation in her voice.
No room for argument.
Solarynth glanced briefly at Asura.
Then, without another word, the two followed.
And just like that
Their real training… began.
Seraphine Duskveil walked ahead of them without looking back, her pace calm, steady, and unwavering.
There was no need for her to check if they were following something about her presence made it clear that they would. And they did.
Solarynth and Asura trailed behind her in silence as they left the training grounds, passing through the quiet paths of the kingdom.
The noise of sparring and clashing wood faded behind them, replaced by the distant hum of daily life.
Neither of them spoke at first.
It felt… unnecessary.
Seraphine's presence filled the space between them
As they approached the outer parts of the kingdom, Solarynth's gaze shifted toward a familiar place.
Grace's workshop.
He slowed his steps slightly.
"…Wait," he said.
Seraphine stopped.
Not abruptly but precisely.
She turned her head just enough to acknowledge him.
"You have something to say?"
Solarynth nodded. "Yeah… just a moment."
Seraphine studied him briefly, then gave a small, indifferent nod.
"Make it quick.
Solarynth walked toward the workshop, pushing the door open gently.
Inside, Grace was organizing tools, her back turned.
"Grace."
She turned immediately, her expression softening the moment she saw him.
"Solarynth? What are you doing out of bed? You're supposed to be resting."
He scratched the back of his head slightly, a small, awkward gesture.
"Yeah… about that."
He glanced back briefly toward the door, then back at her.
"I'm leaving for a bit."
Grace blinked. "Leaving?"
"With her," he said, gesturing outside. "She's… going to train me."
There was a pause.
Grace stepped closer, her brows slightly furrowed.
"You're serious?"
Solarynth nodded.
"I need this to become stronger."
Her expression softened again, but there was worry behind it.
"…You just got out of a fight that nearly killed you."
"I know."
Solarynth said.
"And you still don't fully understand your own power."
"I know."
Grace sighed, placing a hand on her hip.
"You're really stubborn, you know that?"
Solarynth gave a faint smile.
"I've been told.
For a moment, neither of them spoke.
Then Grace reached out, lightly adjusting the collar of his clothing like she always did.
"…Just don't overdo it again," she said quietly. "My healing isn't perfect."
Solarynth nodded.
"I won't."
A small pause.
"…Thanks, Grace."
She didn't respond right away, but she nodded.
"Just come back in one piece."
Solarynth turned and walked out.
Asura was waiting outside, leaning slightly against the wall.
"Took you long enough."
Solarynth shrugged. "Had to say goodbye."
Asura didn't comment further.
Seraphine had already started walking again.
They followed.
The path leading out of the kingdom slowly turned into rough terrain.
Stone roads faded into dirt trails, then into steep slopes as they began ascending the mountain.
The higher they climbed, the quieter it became.
Wind brushed against them, carrying a colder edge.
Solarynth looked around, taking it in.
"…You live up here?"
Seraphine didn't stop walking.
"Yes."
"That's… far."
"It's meant to be."
After what felt like hours, they reached it.
A solitary structure stood near the edge of the mountain a quiet, elegant residence surrounded by open sky and silence.
It wasn't large, but it carried presence, just like its owner.
Seraphine stopped.
"This is where you will train."
Without wasting time, she turned to face them.
"We begin now."
She looked at Asura first.
"Show me your magic."
Asura didn't hesitate.
His arm shifted, transforming into that familiar blade-like form sharp, extended, unnatural.
The air around it distorted slightly from the pressure.
Seraphine watched.
Closely then.
"Stop."
Asura halted.
Her eyes narrowed slightly.
"You're not controlling it."
Asura frowned. "I am."
"No," she said calmly. "You're forcing it."
That word again.
Forced.
Asura's expression hardened slightly.
"That's how I've always used it."
Seraphine stepped closer.
"And that is why you will fail."
Silence.
Asura's jaw tightened.
"I don't fail."
Seraphine met his gaze without hesitation.
"You skipped your foundation."
That hit something.
"You never understood your magic," she continued. "You never awakened it properly. You never learned control."
Her voice remained calm but precise.
"You jumped to shaping… without knowing what you were shaping."
Asura's arm trembled slightly.
Not from weakness from frustration.
"…Then what am I supposed to do?" he said, his voice low.
Seraphine didn't answer immediately.
She simply raised her hand, and gently tapped his chest.
"Feel it."
Asura frowned. "What?"
"Your magic."
He stayed still.
Tried.
Nothing.
His frustration rose.
"I don't feel anything."
"Because you've never looked for it," Seraphine replied.
Asura clenched his fist.
"I've been using it my whole life!"
"You've been using it," she corrected. "Your just not understanding it."
The silence grew heavy.
Asura tried again.
Closed his eyes.
Focused.
Still nothing.
"…This is pointless."
His voice sharpened.
The frustration was clear now.
He took a step back.
"This doesn't work for me."
Seraphine watched him quietly.
Then spoke.
"That's because you're afraid."
Asura's eyes snapped open.
"…What?"
"You're afraid to stop forcing it," she said. "Because it's the only way you've ever known."
That hit deeper than anything before.
Asura didn't respond.
Seraphine turned away from him.
"For now, you will relearn everything."
Her tone left no room for argument.
Then her gaze shifted to Solarynth.
"And you."
Solarynth straightened slightly.
"…Yeah?"
She stepped closer.
"Your speed."
He nodded.
"That's your awakening."
Another step.
"But you don't understand it either."
Solarynth hesitated.
"…Then what do I do?"
Seraphine raised her hand slightly
Then lowered it.
"Sit."
Solarynth blinked.
"…Sit?"
"Yes."
He slowly sat down.
Confused—but listening.
Seraphine looked at both of them.
"One of you forced your power."
"Another runs from understanding it."
Her eyes sharpened slightly.
"From this moment forward…"
"You will both start from the beginning."
The wind blew across the mountain.
The sky stretched endlessly above them.
Neither of them argued.
Because deep down.
They both knew she was right.