---
"Where do you think you're going... old perv?"
Arthur's voice was laced with exhaustion, yet his smirk held unwavering confidence. His body ached, blood trickled down his arm, but he stood tall, surrounded by a cold, crackling aura.
Kael, standing amidst the dust and debris, cracked his neck. His golden eyes gleamed with amusement. "Even in your awakened state, you're still annoying, huh?" He rolled his shoulders, exhaling. "No matter… I'll just have to beat that arrogance out of you, come on,show me what you've got."
His fingers tightened around the hilt of his blade, and the air around him shifted.
"Impale... Yaiba."
With an explosive burst of wind, Kael lunged forward, his blade gleaming like a flash of silver lightning.
Arthur's smirk deepened. He stretched his hand forward, his voice steady and commanding.
"Frost upon the heavens… Hyorinmaru!"
The air snapped cold as an enormous ice dragon materialized from swirling frost, its body coiling through the sky before condensing into a blade in Arthur's grasp. He swung it up just in time—CLANG!—their swords clashed, sending shockwaves through the clearing.
Kael's eyes widened slightly. "You've improved."
Arthur met his gaze, his blue eyes glowing with an eerie brilliance. His lips curled. "It's too late for regrets now."
The moment hung in the air before both warriors leapt back. Then—without hesitation—they charged again.
Blades clashed in a flurry of strikes, each impact sending sparks and shards of ice into the air. The sheer speed of their movements blurred their forms, the only evidence of their battle being the relentless ringing of steel and the wind whipping around them.
Kael grinned. "This is taking too long. Let's end it in one strike."
Arthur nodded. "Fine by me."
They both took a step back, raising their blades.
The world around them froze—the wind stopped, the air heavy with mana.
Arthur's aura flared, ice surging at his feet as the ground beneath him crystallized. Hyorinmaru's glow intensified, the chilling mist around it condensing into a sharp, unrelenting cold. His eyes pulsed with blue light.
Kael's presence shifted—the wind around him roared to life, his blade humming with energy. His golden eyes gleamed with the sharpness of a storm.
They swung.
A massive frost blast surged forward from Arthur's blade, roaring toward Kael like a glacier splitting the heavens. At the same time, Kael's crescent-shaped wind slash tore through the air, cutting everything in its path.
The two attacks collided.
A deafening explosion tore through the forest. Trees shattered, ice and wind clashed in a chaotic dance, and the very ground trembled under the force of their power. A wave of ice and wind surged outward, leveling everything in its path.
Then—silence.
The dust settled.
A massive gash split the earth between them, a deep scar carved into the forest. Kael remained standing, panting slightly. Arthur, still gripping his sword, swayed—then collapsed.
Kael rushed forward, catching him before he hit the ground.
He exhaled, shaking his head. "You still have a long way to go," he muttered, slinging Arthur's arm over his shoulder. He glanced at the small ice dragon perched on Arthur's shoulder—Hyorinmaru, now awake, watching him with piercing eyes.
Kael smirked. "Take care of him."
---
Arthur's eyes fluttered open. The soft glow of the morning sun filtered through his window. He blinked groggily, taking in the familiar ceiling of Liana's house.
His body ached all over. His left arm and head were bandaged.
"...Was that a dream?" he murmured.
A cold, hoarse voice scoffed. "You're finally awake, you fool."
Arthur's heart nearly leapt out of his chest. He bolted upright, scanning the room. "Who's there?! Show yourself!"
Silence.
Then—
"Down here, you nitwit."
Arthur slowly looked down.
His small ice dragon sat at the foot of his bed, glaring at him with narrowed, icy blue eyes.
Arthur's mouth fell open. "Y-You can talk?!"
Hyorinmaru huffed. "Of course, I can talk. Or did that hit to your head mess with your memory?"
Arthur exhaled sharply, rubbing his temples. "So it wasn't a dream…"
Hyorinmaru climbed onto his shoulder, curling its tail around Arthur's neck. "No. And your training is over."
Arthur's stomach twisted. "What do you mean?"
Hyorinmaru gestured toward the table. "He left you something."
Arthur turned. A letter lay neatly on the wooden surface. His heart pounded as he picked it up and read aloud:
---
"Hey, it's Kael.
By the time you're reading this, I'm already gone.
Your training ends here. From now on, you'll have to create your own techniques, push your own limits. I believe you're smart enough to figure things out on your own.
I look forward to hearing about your growth at the Sage Academy.
Goodbye.
Yours truly,
Kael"
---
Arthur's hands trembled as he finished the letter. His chest tightened.
"...Master," he whispered, eyes stinging.
Tears slipped down his cheeks, and he bowed his head deeply, pressing the letter to his forehead.
"I'll become stronger," he vowed, voice shaking. "And the next time we meet… I'll be a Sword Mage."
His breathing steadied. He clenched his fists, determination rekindling in his heart. He wouldn't let this be the end.
Then—he remembered.
"The Sage Academy entrance exam is tomorrow!"
Quickly, he called out: "Stats!"
A translucent screen materialized before him:
---
BLADE: Hyorinmaru
MAGIC ATTRIBUTE: Ice
LEVEL: Beginner
ABILITIES: ----
STRENGTH: 25
---
Arthur grinned. "That's an improvement. I'll get even stronger. I'm sure Felix is training too—I won't lose to him."
His gaze shifted to the small dragon on his shoulder. "So, your name is Hyorinmaru, huh?"
Hyorinmaru looked away. "Yes."
Arthur smirked, lowering his head in an exaggerated bow. "It's a pleasure working with you! I hope we get along!"
Hyorinmaru scoffed. "Don't push your luck, kid. Like I told you before—I don't care about the world of the living."
"Huh? What's with that attitude?" Arthur grabbed Hyorinmaru's cheeks, stretching them.
The dragon's eyes twitched. CHOMP!
"ARGH! WHAT WAS THAT FOR?!"
"Don't treat me like a child!"
Arthur scowled. "Well, up until now, all you did was sleep!"
Hyorinmaru, now thoroughly annoyed, leapt onto Arthur's face, smacking him with his tiny wings. Arthur flailed, struggling to pry him off.
After an intense wrestling match, Arthur collapsed onto his bed, panting. He stared at the ceiling.
"Tomorrow determines my path."
He glanced at Hyorinmaru, now settled on his chest. "You better not sleep on me this time."
The dragon huffed but said nothing.
---
Hyorinmaru's Domain
The void stretched endlessly. Cold, unfeeling.
A deep, demonic, hoarse voice echoed through the emptiness.
"How is he?"
Hyorinmaru stood in the swirling frost. His tail flicked. "He is determined to get stronger and I have already made a pact with him.He has a bright future ahead… and he will become stronger."
The voice chuckled, a chilling sound that sent shivers through the space.
"Good. Watch over him until the day I return,train him make him stronger all untill I return."
Hyorinmaru lowered his head.
"Yes."
The world faded into darkness.