Arthur's Morning & Training Begins
Morning light streamed through Arthur's window as he shot up from his bed, eyes burning with excitement. Today was the day—his training to manifest his blade. His heart pounded as he rushed downstairs, barely tasting his breakfast with Liana, Luca, and Mira. His mind was already set on the forest where his mentor, Kael, awaited.
After hurried goodbyes, Arthur sprinted toward the forest, his feet barely touching the ground. When he arrived at Kael's cottage, the door stood ajar. A strange unease settled in his chest.
"Kael?!" he called out, stepping cautiously inside. Silence.
A sudden rustling behind him made his skin crawl. He turned just in time to see a drenched figure, covered in leaves, stumbling toward him.
"GYAAAAAH!" Arthur screamed, his instincts kicking in as he grabbed the nearest wooden stick and swung it with full force.
THWACK!
"ARGH—STOP, YOU IDIOT!" the figure yelped.
Arthur narrowed his eyes, gripping the stick tightly. "Nice try! I'm not falling for that!" He raised the weapon again, ready to finish the job.
The figure frantically threw off the leaves, revealing a very familiar, very annoyed face.
"YOU DAMN BRAT, IT'S ME!" Kael shouted.
Arthur blinked. "Oh." He dropped the stick.
Kael, still soaking wet, grabbed the stick off the ground and bonked Arthur on the head. "FOOL! You almost broke my nose!"
Arthur rubbed his head, glaring. "How is this my fault?! Who sneaks up looking like some swamp monster?!"
Kael sighed, shaking his wet hair like a dog. "I was out conducting research this morning when I, uh… had a little accident."
Arthur smirked. "Lemme guess… you were spying again?"
Kael's face twitched. "I TOLD YOU—IT WAS RESEARCH! A few misunderstanding young ladies may have… thrown things at me, and I may have fallen into the river."
Arthur burst out laughing. "PFFT! SERVES YOU RIGHT, YOU OLD PERV—"
"GET BACK HERE!" Kael lunged at him, but Arthur darted inside the house, dodging as Kael chased after him. The mentor finally caught his student and yanked his ear.
"Ow! Ow! I'm sorry, I'm sorry!" Arthur yelped, tapping Kael's hand in surrender.
"Hmph." Kael let him go and headed toward his room. "Wait outside. Training starts in five minutes."
Arthur, still grinning, stepped out. He stretched his arms, rolling his shoulders. His laughter faded as his determination kicked in. This was it. He had to get stronger.
Kael returned, now dressed and composed. He clapped his hands. "Alright, from where we left off—concentrate, feel the mana, let your emotions run wild."
Arthur nodded. He clenched his right fist, extending his left palm. His breathing slowed. A faint, pale light flickered in his palm.
"Yes, that's it! Keep at it!" Kael encouraged.
The light pulsed—then flickered out.
Arthur gritted his teeth. No. Again. He inhaled sharply and tried once more.
Kael smirked. "Keep up that determination, kid." He stood up. "I'll go get some food. You stay here and keep at it."
---
Luminara Mansion – The Duel Begins
At the grand mansion of the Luminaras, Seraphina descended the stairs, dressed in a sleek training outfit that hugged her form—perfect for movement. Her silver hair cascaded down her back, tied loosely to keep it out of her face.
Her father, Duke Draven, stood waiting in similar attire. He barely glanced at her as he spoke to a maid. "Open the training grounds."
The maid bowed and hurried off. Within moments, the massive iron gates creaked open, revealing an expansive arena designed for battle. The stone floor was polished, reflecting the warm morning sun.
Draven stepped inside, unsheathing his blade. "Manifest your weapon, Seraphina. And go all out."
Seraphina took a deep breath. A radiant golden glow enveloped her, momentarily illuminating the entire grounds. When the light faded, a beautiful golden-sheathed sword gleamed in her grasp.
Draven nodded approvingly. "Good. Now—attack."
Seraphina launched forward, the wind whipping around her as she closed the distance. Their blades met in a sharp CLANG!, sparks flying as steel clashed against steel.
Draven barely budged, holding his ground. "Faster," he demanded.
Seraphina's grip tightened. She pivoted, spinning mid-air before swinging downward. Draven sidestepped, countering with a quick slash that grazed her sleeve.
Without missing a beat, he thrust his left hand forward.
"Light Magic—Holy Swords of Convention."
A blinding golden magic circle formed in the air. Instantly, dozens of swords made of pure light materialized, floating around him like a divine army. With a flick of his wrist, the swords rained down toward Seraphina.
Her eyes widened. She leaped back, twisting her body mid-air, dodging with nimble precision. Several blades slashed past, but she parried the rest, each strike ringing through the arena.
"Not bad," Draven muttered.
Seraphina's eyes glowed. She raised her sword. "Glimmer Flash!"
A sudden explosion of light filled the battlefield. Draven instinctively shielded his eyes with his arm, momentarily blinded.
Seraphina seized her chance. She propelled herself forward, blade aimed directly at him.
A loud BOOM echoed as light consumed the space. When it faded, Seraphina was on the ground, her father's sword hovering just inches from her throat.
Draven smirked. "Not bad at all. But remember—my eyes aren't my only guide."
Seraphina sighed, accepting defeat. She stood, dusting herself off. "Understood, Father. Thank you for the lesson."
Draven nodded, his expression softening slightly. "You used Glimmer Flash to blind me and create an opening. That was smart. If you refine that strategy, you'll be a much deadlier opponent."
Seraphina's lips curled into a determined smile. "I will."
"Good. Let's move on to the next stage."
---
Back at Kael's cottage, Arthur was still at it. His entire body was drenched in sweat, but his determination never wavered.
Kael returned, munching on a rice ball. He arched an eyebrow. "Still going, huh?"
Arthur didn't respond. His eyes were locked on his palm.
Kael's expression turned serious as the air around them changed. The temperature dropped, and a cold breeze swept through the forest.
A blue aura surrounded Arthur, crackling with energy. The wind picked up, swirling violently. Kael raised a hand to shield his face, his eyes narrowing as he saw it.
Arthur's palm glowed bright blue, and in an instant—a magnificent sword materialized. Its blade gleamed like ice, radiating a chilling mist. But before Arthur could react, the sword shifted, glowing again.
With a soft cry, the blade transformed—a small ice dragon curled in Arthur's palm.
Arthur's breath hitched. His eyes widened in disbelief. "W-What…?"
Kael let out a low whistle. "Well, well… looks like you summoned your blade, but you also awakened its true form."
Arthur's lips curled into a grin. "This is awesome."
The tiny dragon blinked up at him, curling its tail around his fingers. Arthur chuckled. "It's still so small…"
Kael smirked. "Don't worry. With every battle, your dragon will grow stronger."
Just then, Arthur's stat screen materialized in front of him:
BLADE: ----
MAGIC ATTRIBUTE: ICE
LEVEL: BEGINNER
ABILITIES: ----
STRENGTH: 20
Arthur grinned. "This is just the beginning."
Kael nodded. "We'll continue tomorrow. Next—learning the name of your blade."
Arthur clenched his fist, determination burning in his eyes.
Tomorrow couldn't come soon enough.