The days after that night passed quietly. Too quietly. The mansion, once filled with laughter and noise, now felt different. The absence of Stela and Maxe could be felt in every corner—in the empty spaces, in the silence during meals, and in the way no one spoke their names out loud anymore. But they were never forgotten. Not for a single moment.
Igna stood in the training area behind the mansion, holding a wooden sword in his hand. His breathing was steady, but his eyes were sharp—far sharper than before. Across from him, May stood calmly, watching him, waiting.
May: "Again."
Igna nodded and moved forward instantly, his attack fast and precise. His movements were cleaner now, more controlled, as if he had shed the hesitation that once held him back. May blocked easily and countered. Igna barely managed to defend, the impact pushing him back, but he didn't stop. He stepped in again and attacked again, repeating it without hesitation.
Time passed as days turned into weeks, and weeks turned into months. They trained without rest and without excuses. Every day, Igna pushed himself beyond his limits. His body grew stronger, his movements faster, and his control sharper. May guided him through everything, correcting his stance, refining his attacks, and forcing him to improve. She even tried to teach him her special skill, a technique that pushed speed and power to their absolute limit for a short burst, but Igna couldn't learn it no matter how many times he tried.
One evening, as the sun was setting, they stood facing each other again with wooden swords in hand. Both were silent. Then they moved. Their blades clashed instantly, faster and sharper than before. Igna's movements were no longer hesitant. He dodged, attacked, and adjusted without thinking, his instincts improving with every exchange. May noticed it clearly and realized how quickly he was adapting.
For a brief moment, Igna saw it again—the golden path. This time it was clearer, showing multiple possibilities and movements. His eyes widened slightly as he followed it without hesitation. His timing became perfect. His angle became precise. May's defense broke, her balance shifted, and before she could react, Igna's wooden sword stopped just inches from her neck.
Silence filled the space.
May blinked in surprise. For the first time, he had won.
Igna slowly lowered his sword, breathing heavily, still unsure of what had just happened.
Igna: "You're still stronger."
May stared at him for a moment before a small smile appeared on her face. She stepped forward and gently patted his head.
May: "You're growing fast… little boy."
Her voice was soft, but her thoughts were deeper as she looked at him like family.
Igna didn't resist or argue anymore. He simply stood there quietly, accepting it.
Later that night, Igna sat alone, thinking about that moment and the golden path he had seen. Then something changed within him. His mind sharpened, his senses focused, and for a brief moment, it felt like time slowed down.
He realized something new. He could see not just one move, but multiple future movements. Enemy actions, patterns, and possible outcomes began forming in his mind.
A new ability had awakened.
Igna clenched his hand slightly, understanding what this meant. He could now predict and counter his opponent's moves, but it wasn't perfect. When he trained against May again, the ability failed because her speed was too fast, making the paths unclear. However, against weaker opponents, it worked perfectly, allowing him to react before attacks even happened.
Igna stood quietly after training, sweat dripping down as he looked at his hand and then forward. His eyes no longer held hesitation or doubt. Only focus remained.
Igna (thinking): I'll become stronger… no matter what.
Behind him, May watched silently with a faint smile. He had changed, and this time, he wasn't going to break again.