The sun was beginning to set.
Arix sat beneath the large tree beside the clearing, his wooden sword resting against his shoulder.
His breathing was steady.
His body was tired.
But he wasn’t ready to stop.
Not yet.
For the past few months, this clearing had become part of Arix’s daily life.
Every morning began with training.
Every mistake was corrected.
Every weakness was pointed out.
And every time Arix thought he had finally improved— Veyr found something else to criticize.
Arix looked across the clearing.
Veyr was standing there, watching him.
Arix sighed.
“What?” “Stand up.” “I just sat down.” “Then stand back up.” Arix stared at him.
“You could at least let me rest.” “You rested.” “For thirty seconds.” “That was enough.” Arix reluctantly stood.
He picked up his wooden sword.
Veyr walked into the center of the clearing.
“Attack me.” Arix’s eyes sharpened.
He raised his sword.
“Again?” “Yes.” Arix smiled.
“Fine.” He stepped forward.
CLACK!
Their wooden swords collided.
Arix immediately followed with another strike.
Veyr blocked.
Arix shifted his footing and attacked from the side.
Blocked again.
He stepped closer.
Their blades crossed.
Arix twisted his wrist and tried to force Veyr’s sword away.
Nothing.
Veyr was too strong.
Arix released the pressure instead of wasting his strength.
He stepped back.
Veyr waited.
Arix watched him.
He didn’t rush.
That was one of the first things Veyr had taught him.
Don’t attack simply because you can.
Wait.
Observe.
Then act.
Arix moved.
One step.
Two.
A sudden strike toward Veyr’s shoulder.
Veyr blocked.
Arix immediately changed direction.
Another strike.
Blocked.
Arix ducked beneath Veyr’s counterattack.
He spun around and swung toward Veyr’s side.
Veyr moved backward.
Arix’s sword barely missed.
Arix didn’t stop.
He followed.
Strike.
Block.
Strike.
Block.
Arix changed his rhythm.
A quick attack.
Then a slower one.
Then another quick strike.
Veyr blocked them all.
But Arix noticed something.
A tiny movement.
Veyr’s right foot shifted.
Arix attacked from that side.
Veyr blocked.
Arix smiled.
“You moved.” Veyr looked at him.
“So?” “You weren’t expecting that attack.” “I was.” “No, you weren’t.” Veyr’s expression remained calm.
“Then why didn’t it hit?” Arix’s smile disappeared.
“…Because you’re annoying.” Veyr nodded.
“Correct.” Arix sighed.
He lowered his sword.
“Again?” “No.” Arix blinked.
“No?” “That’s enough.” “But I can continue.” “I know.” Arix looked at him.
That answer somehow made him more annoyed.
He sheathed his sword.
Veyr walked toward the edge of the clearing.
Arix followed.
After a few steps, Veyr stopped.
“Arix.” “Yeah?” “How much do you remember from your first day here?” Arix thought.
“Almost nothing.” “You were terrified.” “I wasn’t.” “You were.” Arix looked away.
“Maybe a little.” Veyr almost smiled.
“You couldn’t control your body properly.” “I was seven.” “You still are.” Arix frowned.
“That’s unnecessary.” Veyr continued walking.
Arix followed.
He knew Veyr was right.
He had improved.
Not enough to become powerful.
Not enough to understand the world.
But enough to understand how much he still had to learn.
He understood the basics of energy control, but understanding something and mastering it were completely different things.
And beyond the three energies was an even larger world.
Ranks.
Affinities.
Artifacts.
Blessings.
Curses.
Monsters.
Races.
Kingdoms.
Empires.
Adventurers.
Academies.
Arix had learned about them through Veyr.
But they still felt distant.
Like stories about a world that existed somewhere beyond the trees.
Arix looked toward the forest.
“Veyr.” “Yes?” “When am I going to see the outside world?” Veyr stopped.
Arix waited.
“You will.” “When?” “Soon.” Arix frowned.
“You always say that.” “Because it’s true.” “That’s not an answer.” “It is.” Arix crossed his arms.
Veyr looked at him.
“You’re impatient.” “I’ve been sitting in this forest for months.” “You’ve been training.” “Same thing.” “No.” Arix sighed.
“Fine.” Veyr turned toward him.
“You’ve learned the basics.” Arix’s expression changed.
“The basics?” “Yes.” “That’s all?” “The basics are supposed to be simple.” Arix looked at his hands.
He remembered the first time he’d managed to use Aura.
Back then, even producing it had felt difficult.
Now he could bring it out almost immediately.
He still had a long way to go.
But progress was progress.
Veyr continued.
“Your next stage won’t be like this.” Arix looked up.
“What changes?” “Everything.” Arix stared at him.
“That’s not helpful.” “It wasn’t meant to be.” Arix sighed.
Veyr walked past him.
“Come.” “Where?” “Back.” Arix followed.
The sun was almost gone now.
The forest had become darker.
They walked silently for a while.
Eventually, Arix spoke again.
“Are you going to keep training me?” Veyr didn’t answer immediately.
Then— “Yes.” Arix smiled.
“Good.” Veyr glanced at him.
“But not forever.” Arix’s smile faded slightly.
“What does that mean?” “You’ll understand.” “When?” “Eventually.” Arix groaned.
“You really need to learn new words.” Veyr ignored him.
They reached the place where they had been staying.
Arix sat down.
Veyr remained standing.
For a while, neither spoke.
Then Veyr said: “You’ll be leaving soon.” Arix looked up.
“Leaving?” “Yes.” “Where?” “Out there.” Veyr gestured toward the forest.
Arix stared at the trees.
The world beyond them suddenly seemed much closer.
“But I’m not ready.” Veyr looked at him.
“You aren’t.” Arix frowned.
“Then why am I leaving?” “Because you don’t need to be completely ready.” Arix thought about that.
It made sense.
At least a little.
Veyr continued.
“Strength isn’t the only thing you need.” “What else?” “Experience.” Arix remained silent.
Experience.
That was something he couldn’t gain by staying here forever.
He could learn how to fight.
How to control his energy.
How to survive.
But the world itself couldn’t be taught entirely through words.
He had to see it.
He had to experience it.
Arix looked at the horizon.
“How long?” Veyr looked at him.
“Ten years.” Arix blinked.
“Ten years?” Veyr nodded.
“That’s how long?” “No.” Arix frowned.
“Then what?” Veyr looked toward the darkening forest.
“That’s how long you have.” Arix didn’t understand.
“Have for what?” Veyr didn’t answer.
Arix stared at him.
“Veyr.” Silence.
“Veyr.” Nothing.
“You can’t just say something like that and then stop talking.” Veyr finally looked at him.
“You’ll understand when the time comes.” Arix narrowed his eyes.
He hated that answer.
But somewhere inside, he knew this wasn’t another lesson.
Something was changing.
His life here wouldn’t continue forever.
The forest.
The training.
The quiet days.
Everything had an ending.
Arix stood.
“So what happens tomorrow?” Veyr looked at him.
“Tomorrow, we begin.” Arix smiled.
“Begin what?” Veyr turned away.
“You’ll find out.” Arix stared at his back.
He sighed.
“Of course.” Veyr walked toward the shelter.
Arix remained outside.
He looked up.
The night sky was clear.
Countless stars filled the darkness.
Arix had looked at them many times before.
Tonight, they seemed different.
Larger.
Farther away.
He wondered what was beyond them.
How many worlds existed?
How many people?
How many kingdoms?
How many secrets?
His eyes slowly narrowed.
He would find out.
One day.
Arix looked back toward the forest.
Tomorrow would be another day of training.
But after that— things would change.
He didn’t know when.
He didn’t know how.
He didn’t know what awaited him.
For now, he only knew one thing.
The life he had known was approaching its end.
Arix turned and walked inside.
The door closed behind him.
Outside, the forest remained silent.
The moon climbed higher.
And the night passed.
The next morning would come.
A new chapter of Arix’s life would begin.
But not yet.
For now— there was only the waiting.
End of Chapter 20