Volume 1: The Fourth Holy Grail War
Chapter 12: The Spear That Never Misses
Another year passed.
The secluded sanctuary remained untouched by the conflicts consuming Fairy Britain.
Within its hidden valley, the sounds of clashing weapons echoed from dawn until dusk.
Ren was now approaching his eleventh birthday.
The childish softness that once remained on his face had nearly disappeared.
While still young, his physique had become lean and well-conditioned from years of relentless training.
Morgan had matured into a graceful young lady.
Her magical talent continued to flourish, while the composure she carried increasingly resembled that of the future queen she was destined to become.
Yet despite her calm appearance…
She was still Ren’s older sister.
“…You’re late.”
Morgan folded her arms as Ren jogged toward the training grounds.
“I was finishing today’s rune translations.”
She sighed.
“You’ve started reading while walking again.”
“I didn’t notice.”
“You never do.”
Ren scratched the back of his head with an awkward smile.
Morgan simply shook hers.
“If Master sees you distracted during training…”
“You’ll regret it.”
Almost as though answering her words—
A wooden spear flew through the air.
Whoosh!
Ren instinctively tilted his head.
The spear passed close enough to brush several strands of his hair before embedding itself into a tree behind him.
“…”
“…”
Morgan smiled.
“I told you.”
Odin slowly emerged from the forest.
“You noticed.”
Ren nodded.
“Barely.”
“Barely is enough to die.”
The old god extended his hand.
The wooden spear immediately returned to his grasp.
“No enemy announces an attack.”
“They strike when your mind wanders.”
He looked directly into Ren’s eyes.
“A warrior who survives…”
“…is one who remains aware.”
That day’s lesson focused on awareness rather than combat.
Ren and Morgan stood with their eyes covered by strips of cloth.
They could neither see Odin nor each other.
“Do not use your eyes.”
“Feel.”
Silence filled the valley.
The breeze.
Birdsong.
Leaves swaying.
A distant river.
Every sound gradually became clearer.
Then—
A pebble rolled across the ground.
Ren immediately shifted one step to the left.
A wooden sword swept past where he had been standing.
Another strike followed.
This time from behind.
He ducked.
The weapon passed overhead.
Morgan reacted almost simultaneously, weaving gracefully between every incoming attack.
Minutes later…
Both blindfolds fell to the ground.
Odin nodded.
“Better.”
“But not enough.”
He released it.
The leaf drifted gently through the air.
Without warning—
He thrust his spear.
The tip stopped mere millimeters from piercing the leaf.
Not because he aimed at where it was…
But because he already knew where it would be.
Ren watched carefully.
“…Prediction.”
Odin shook his head.
“No.”
“Understanding.”
“There is a difference.”
He looked toward the sky.
“The wind.”
“The air.”
“The movement of mana.”
“The weight of the leaf.”
“None of these are random.”
“When you understand the world…”
“…the future becomes visible.”
Ren quietly memorized every word.
The afternoon’s lesson returned to Primordial Runes.
Odin drew a single symbol into the earth.
Algiz.
“A rune of protection.”
He glanced toward Morgan.
“Defend yourself.”
Morgan nodded.
She carved Algiz into the air.
A translucent barrier appeared before her.
Solid.
Stable.
Elegant.
Odin casually flicked a pebble toward it.
The barrier held without difficulty.
He nodded.
“Good.”
Then he looked toward Ren.
“You.”
Ren stepped forward.
Instead of immediately carving the rune…
He hesitated.
“…Master.”
“May I attempt something different?”
Morgan looked at him in surprise.
Odin merely answered,
“Show me.”
Ren raised his hand.
Algiz appeared.
Then…
Another rune.
Isa.
Then another.
Eihwaz.
Three runes rotated together.
Rather than creating a barrier…
The runes spread throughout the surrounding area.
The air itself seemed to slow.
The approaching pebble lost momentum before stopping completely in midair.
Silence followed.
Morgan blinked.
“…You changed the function?”
Ren looked uncertain.
“I…”
“I only thought…”
“If protection means preventing harm…”
“…then stopping the attack entirely should also count.”
Odin remained silent.
Several long moments passed.
Then…
He laughed.
“Hahaha!”
Morgan stared.
She had never heard him laugh like that before.
When the laughter subsided…
Odin looked at Ren with unmistakable satisfaction.
“This…”
“…is why I teach you principles instead of spells.”
He pointed toward the suspended pebble.
“You did not memorize.”
“You understood.”
“The rune remained itself.”
“But you imagined another possibility.”
He slowly nodded.
“Never lose that.”
“The strongest magic…”
“…is born from those willing to ask.”
“What if?”
Ren silently engraved those words into his memory.
The following years continued to pass.
The siblings gradually transitioned from students into capable warriors.
Simple training evolved into realistic combat.
Odin no longer held back.
He summoned magical beasts.
Illusions.
Hostile spirits.
Even ancient constructs formed from Primordial Runes.
Every battle pushed them further.
Every defeat became another lesson.
One evening…
Ren and Morgan sat beside the campfire after another exhausting day.
Morgan gently stretched her sore shoulders.
“…Do you remember when we couldn’t even draw Ansuz correctly?”
Ren chuckled.
“You accidentally exploded half the library.”
“I was seven.”
“You blamed me.”
“You looked guilty.”
“I wasn’t.”
“You always look guilty.”
Ren laughed.
“So that’s my problem?”
“It is.”
The two shared another quiet laugh.
From the nearby cabin…
Odin listened in silence.
His gaze drifted toward the night sky.
The stars shimmered above the sanctuary.
Countless futures stretched across the heavens.
He had watched civilizations rise and fall.
He had taught kings.
Heroes.
Sages.
Yet…
Very few possessed what Ren carried within him.
Not overwhelming talent.
Not unmatched strength.
But something far rarer.
The willingness to learn.
To question.
To protect.
To change.
The old god slowly closed his remaining eye.
“…It is almost time.”
Soon…
His disciples would no longer need a teacher.
The world itself would become their classroom.
And Fairy Britain…
Would soon witness the beginning of a legend.
End of Chapter 12