Arthur was deep in sleep, his face buried in the pillow, when suddenly—
Pssssshhh!
A sharp, stinging sensation burned his eyes.
"GAHHH! MY EYES! IT BURNS!" he yelled, bolting upright and clutching his face in agony. Through blurry vision, he saw the culprit floating before him—Hyorinmaru, holding a can of pesticide.
The little dragon smirked. "You're finally awake, huh? Now get dressed. We're heading out for training."
Arthur, still rubbing his burning eyes, growled, "Why you—!" He lunged at Hyorinmaru, but the dragon simply floated higher, out of reach.
"No talking. Just get dressed," Hyorinmaru ordered.
Pssssshhh!
Another spray of pesticide shot toward Arthur. He barely dodged it, scrambling for the bathroom. "ARE YOU TRYING TO BLIND ME?!"
Hyorinmaru chuckled. "Hurry up."
Arthur washed his face, sighing as the burning sensation finally faded. When he stepped out, freshly dressed, he stretched and said, "Let's grab something to eat first."
Hyorinmaru hopped onto his shoulder. "Fine, but make it quick."
They headed downstairs, where Liana was tidying up the kitchen.
"Morning, Liana. Where are Luca and Mira?" Arthur asked.
"They went out to pick up some things we needed," she replied. "Sit down. I'll serve you right away."
Arthur waved a hand. "Can you pack it to go? I'll eat on the way."
Liana nodded and quickly packed his food into a lunch bag. She handed it over, and Arthur slung it over his shoulder. "Thanks, Liana. See you later!" He waved as he stepped out the door.
---
A Hidden Training Ground
Arthur and Hyorinmaru walked through the dense forest, sunlight filtering through the trees. After a while, Arthur sighed.
"Hyorinmaru, where exactly is this training ground? We've been walking forever."
"Stop complaining. We're almost there," Hyorinmaru said.
They walked for a few more minutes before the dragon floated ahead, passing through a thick bush. Arthur groaned and pushed past the branches.
And then—
"Whoa…"
Before him stood a breathtaking waterfall, cascading down smooth rocks into a crystal-clear pool. Mist filled the air, shimmering in the sunlight.
Arthur blinked. "This place… What's a waterfall doing here in the middle of the forest? And how did you even know about this?"
Hyorinmaru ignored his question. "Enough talking. Let's get to work."
Arthur sighed. "Fine, fine."
The dragon hovered in front of him. "We're all preparing for the upcoming tournament, right?"
Arthur nodded.
"But you're still too weak," Hyorinmaru said bluntly. "That battle in the dungeon? You barely won."
Arthur's brow twitched. "I know I'm weak. No need to rub it in. Just tell me the training already."
Hyorinmaru shot him a glare. "I WAS GETTING TO THAT! Stop interrupting me."
Arthur raised his hands in surrender. "Okay, okay. Continue."
The dragon huffed before speaking. "For the next week, you'll refine your techniques and master them. First up—Frost Touch."
Arthur grinned. "Now we're talking! What's first?"
"Mana Threading."
Arthur tilted his head. "Mana what?"
"Listen up," Hyorinmaru said. "Mana Threading is the ability to extend your mana into objects or surfaces. It allows for precise control over magical effects, and for you, it's crucial to refining Frost Touch."
Arthur crossed his arms. "So how do I do it?"
Hyorinmaru floated closer. "First step—Sensory Awareness. You need to fully understand how your mana flows inside your body and interacts with objects."
"Alright."
"Sit down and meditate. Visualize your mana as threads flowing through your body."
Arthur sat cross-legged on the grass, closing his eyes. He focused, breathing steadily.
'Threads… My mana is like thin threads…'
As he concentrated, a faint blue glow appeared around him. Within his mind's eye, he saw thin, shimmering strands flowing through his veins, weaving a complex web. It was as if his entire body was made of intricate, glowing fibers.
Hyorinmaru observed. "Good. Now trace that flow. Feel where it moves naturally and where it resists."
Arthur focused deeper. He could sense the way his mana pulsed, twisting and turning inside him like currents in a river.
---
The Pebble Test
"Next," Hyorinmaru said, placing a small pebble in Arthur's palm. "Push your mana into this. But control it. Don't overload or shatter it."
Arthur nodded and focused. Slowly, he let his mana flow into the stone.
Crack!
The pebble instantly split apart.
"Tch." Arthur clicked his tongue.
Hyorinmaru smirked. "I didn't say it was going to be easy." He placed another pebble in Arthur's hand. "Keep going."
Arthur tried again. Crack! Another failure.
"Don't force it. Feel the resistance," Hyorinmaru reminded him before floating to a shady spot under a tree. "I'm gonna take a nap. Don't slack off."
Arthur's eyebrow twitched. "Oi! You're just gonna leave me here struggling?!"
The dragon yawned. "You'll be fine."
Arthur groaned and picked up another pebble. Crack!
"Damn it…" He grabbed another.
---
Ronan's Unexpected Encounter
Meanwhile, in another part of the kingdom, Ronan stepped out of his house, waving goodbye to his mother. He was heading to the forest for training when he suddenly heard a rustling sound.
"Who's there?" he called out. No response.
Cautiously, he stepped forward and found an old man collapsed on the ground.
"Hey, are you alright?!"
Ronan quickly helped the frail man up. The old man pointed weakly ahead.
"You live nearby?" Ronan asked. The man nodded.
Supporting him, Ronan walked forward, only to arrive at an old, run-down dojo. "Wait… This is your home?"
The old man gave a small smile. "Yes. It was once a thriving dojo, but my students have all left."
Ronan frowned. "You've been living here alone this whole time?"
The man nodded.
Ronan sighed. "Why don't you come stay at my house? My mom will understand."
The old man shook his head. "This dojo is my legacy. I cannot abandon it."
Ronan clenched his fists. "But if you stay here alone, you'll—"
"It's fine," the man interrupted. "Now go home. It's getting late."
Ronan hesitated, then sighed. "Alright… But I'm coming back tomorrow."
The old man smiled. "You're welcome anytime."
As Ronan walked home, an idea struck him. He smirked. "Yeah… That might work."
---
Training Ends in Hunger
Back at the waterfall, Arthur sighed in defeat, walking over to Hyorinmaru.
"I couldn't do it," he admitted.
Hyorinmaru, still lounging in the shade, spoke slowly. "Don't worry. You'll try again tomorrow."
Arthur narrowed his eyes. "Why are you talking like that?"
"…I'm hungry."
The little dragon grabbed the lunch bag and opened it—only to find it nearly empty.
Arthur's eye twitched. "…Hyorinmaru. Where's my food?"
The dragon avoided eye contact. "Uh… I ate it."
Arthur's expression darkened. "You. Ate. My. Food."
"I thought you'd finish training earlier! I got hungry!"
Arthur picked up a stick. "You know… I've always wondered what dragon meat tastes like."
Hyorinmaru's eyes widened.
"Wait—hold on—"
Arthur lunged.
"AAAHHHH!" Hyorinmaru screamed, flying away.
Arthur chuckled, stomach growling. "That serves you right."
As he trudged home, he muttered, "I'll try again tomorrow…"