Edrin realized something terrifying.
He was starting to enjoy this.
"…I don't like that I'm getting used to this," he muttered as he shifted his stance again.
"You're not used to it," Lyra said. "You're adapting."
"That's worse."
The Invader moved first.
Faster than before.
More precise.
But Edrin saw it coming.
Not clearly.
Not perfectly.
But enough.
He stepped sideways—
Then forward—
Then twisted awkwardly—
The strike missed.
Clean.
Edrin blinked.
"…That worked again."
"Yes," Kael said. "Because you chose it."
Edrin frowned. "…I still don't feel like I'm choosing anything."
"You are," Kael replied. "You just don't trust it."
"That sounds accurate."
The Invader attacked again—
This time changing direction mid-strike.
Edrin reacted—
A stumble—
A correction—
A pivot—
Barely avoiding the blow.
"…Okay, that one almost got me," he said.
"It's improving," Lyra warned.
"I noticed!"
Ronan stepped in briefly, forcing the Invader back with a heavy strike.
"Don't let it focus only on you!" he said.
"I would love that!" Edrin replied.
But the moment Ronan disengaged—
The Invader turned back to Edrin.
Of course it did.
"…It really doesn't like me," Edrin said.
"It's not dislike," Kael said. "It's interest."
"That's worse."
The Invader circled him now.
Not rushing.
Not attacking.
Watching.
Measuring.
Edrin matched it—
Unsteady—
Uneven—
But aware.
"…It's waiting for me to repeat something," he said.
"Yes," Lyra replied.
"Then I don't repeat."
"Exactly."
Edrin nodded slowly.
"…Okay."
The Invader lunged.
Edrin moved—
But not how he expected.
He stepped too far—
Nearly lost balance—
Caught himself—
Turned it into a spin—
The attack missed completely.
Edrin froze mid-motion.
"…I didn't plan that."
"But you used it," Kael said.
Edrin blinked. "…That counts?"
"It does."
The Invader paused again.
Its movements slowed—
Just slightly.
Just enough.
Edrin noticed.
"…It's hesitating."
"Yes," Lyra said.
"Because I'm not consistent."
"Because you're changing."
Edrin swallowed.
"…So I keep changing."
"Yes."
Ronan grinned. "Now you're getting it."
Edrin took a breath.
"…Alright."
The Invader moved again—
Faster.
More aggressive.
Less cautious.
It was adjusting its strategy.
Edrin stepped back—
Then forward—
Then sideways—
Never the same—
Never predictable—
The strikes missed.
Again.
And again.
Edrin's breathing steadied.
Not calm—
Never calm—
But focused.
"…I'm not running anymore," he said quietly.
"No," Lyra agreed.
"You're moving."
Edrin nodded.
"…That feels different."
The Invader lunged again—
This time committing fully—
No hesitation—
No adjustment—
A direct, overwhelming strike.
Edrin saw it.
Felt it.
Understood it—
Just enough.
He stepped—
Not away—
But into it.
Ronan blinked. "What are you doing?!"
"I don't know!" Edrin shouted.
He dropped—
Low—
Unbalanced—
But controlled—
The strike passed over him—
He turned—
Used the momentum—
And drove his blade forward.
It hit.
Direct.
The Invader recoiled sharply—
Its form flickering—
Unstable.
Lyra reacted instantly—
Magic surged—
Striking its core—
Ronan followed—
A powerful blow forcing it back—
Kael stepped in—
Precise—
Final—
His blade cut through the center.
The Invader froze.
Cracked.
Shattered.
Gone.
Silence filled the chamber.
Edrin remained crouched for a moment.
"…Did we win again?" he asked.
"Yes," Lyra said.
Edrin sat down immediately.
"…I need a moment."
"That's fair," Ronan said.
Kael looked at him carefully.
"You changed," he said.
Edrin frowned. "…I always change. I panic."
"No," Kael said. "You chose."
Edrin paused.
"…That's new."
Lyra nodded. "You're no longer just reacting."
Edrin looked at his hands.
Still shaking.
But steady enough.
"…I'm still scared," he said.
"Good," Ronan replied.
Edrin blinked. "…That's becoming a pattern."
"It means you're alive."
Edrin nodded slowly.
"…I'd like to keep that trend."
The surrounding Invaders hadn't moved.
Not once.
They simply watched.
Observed.
Learned.
Edrin looked at them.
"…They saw everything."
"Yes," Lyra said.
Edrin sighed.
"…So the next ones will be worse."
"Yes," Kael replied.
Edrin stood slowly.
"…Alright."
A pause.
"…Then I'll be different."
Ronan grinned.
Lyra didn't argue.
Kael nodded once.
And as they turned toward the deeper path—
Edrin took a step forward.
Unsteady.
Uneven.
But intentional.