My eyes fluttered open as I slowly regained consciousness.
The rough, dark brown ceiling of the cave came into view, as I braced myself for the wave of pain that i knew would come when I tried to move.
But to my surprise, it didn't.
Aside from a bit of soreness in my muscles, there was no sharp pain, no broken bones, no bruises. In fact, I felt... better. Almost refreshed.
It was as if all my injuries—the fractures, the cuts, the bruises—had completely vanished, leaving no trace behind.
"So, you've finally decided to wake up, huh," came a voice from the shadows ahead.
Solas emerged from the darkness of the cave, his steps slow and deliberate as he approached.
"Yeah... thank you for healing me," I said, my voice steady and respectful, carrying the firmness of genuine gratitude.
Nodding slightly, Solas continued, his tone surprisingly sincere.
"Good job, killing a bear two ranks above you. Though it was already half-dead, it's still a rare achievement," he said, a stark contrast to his usual playful, almost mocking demeanor.
For once, there was no sarcasm—only genuine praise.
It felt nice to hear, a warmth blooming quietly inside me. But that didn't mean I was satisfied.
Far from it.
Deep down, a gnawing frustration burned.
Being so weak that I couldn't even protect myself...
It wasn't enough.
It just didn't sit right with me — the idea that to survive in this forest, I had to rely on someone else's mercy, even if that person was my teacher.
I hated it to my very core.
I didn't like it back then either. Even when I was being bullied, I never begged, never cried in front of them.
Was it stubbornness? Arrogance? Pride?
Maybe.
But it didn't matter to me.
What I hated was what I hated — it was as simple as that.
Solas's voice cut through my thoughts, pulling me back to the present.
"Tell me, boy. You don't know how to fight or use mana, do you?" he asked, not so much like questioning but more like stating—his tone held a certainty that made it clear he already knew the answer.
"How can you be so sure?" I replied, narrowing my eyes.
"Come on," he scoffed, rolling his eyes. "Even an amateur could see it. That skinny frame, those clumsy movements, your footwork's a mess... and let's not even start on mana manipulation."
He wasn't holding back, huh.
"You're right," I admitted, my voice calm. "I've never learned to fight or use a sword. And for mana? Until yesterday, I couldn't even feel it—let alone control it."
His brow rose at that, curiosity flickering across his face.
"And yet... you still managed to copy the way mana moved in my body, just from seeing it once, to save yourself from falling?" he asked, his voice filled with curiosity and amusement. "What are you, some kind of high elf in human form?"
I didn't bother answering his question.
Just shrugged.
"Fine then, let's get to something more serious—your training," Solas said, his tone turning firm.
At his words, I straightened up, eyes locked onto him, turning fully attentive.
"Starting tomorrow, for the next six months, your training will take place right here in this forest," he declared, a wide grin spreading across his face.
"I'll be drilling everything into you—mana manipulation, proper footwork, combat basics… and eventually, my personal specialty: Swordsmanship."
I paused, thinking over his words.
"Is this because the academy entrance exam is in six months?" I asked. "So that's how long I've got to train here?"
"Correct," he nodded, his grin growing. "At least you're well-informed."
Then his expression darkened ever so slightly, amusement dancing in his eyes.
"But I wouldn't worry too much about the academy for now, if i were you. Starting tomorrow, your real problem will be surviving the training. Because, my dear student…"
He leaned in slightly, voice dropping to a wicked murmur.
"You're going to feel like hell." Listening to his voice, I felt a chill ran down through me.
******
Rustle.
The sound of shifting leaves echoed through the quiet forest as two figures pushed through the dense undergrowth.
"Is this the place where that enormous burst of mana came from?"
A woman with long, snow-white hair stepped forward, her gaze sweeping over the area where Azhriel had recently awakened.
Her voice was soft, almost a whisper, yet carried a subtle weight. Though her face remained unreadable, there was a flicker of curiosity in her tone as she raised her hand slightly, sensing the lingering remnants of the powerful energy that had erupted here.
"What could've possibly caused such a surge?" came a more incredulous voice from behind her.
Her personal guard—a tall man clad in dark armor—stood watchfully, his eyes darting around the clearing, wary of any hidden threat.
The white-haired woman turned slightly, her calm gaze sweeping over the clearing. "Something—or someone sacred—was awakened here," she said quietly. "Perhaps an ancient dragon… or a high elf."
At that, her guardian's eyes widened, surprise flickering across her face. She stepped closer, voice tinged with disbelief.
"How can you be so certain, my lady?"
The woman raised her hand, feeling the lingering energy. "Because of the purity of the mana left behind. It's not something a normal human or any other race could emit. It's refined, ancient... almost like Nature's mana itself."
"B-but, my lady," the guardian stammered, "high elves are notoriously secretive, and dragons are—"
She was cut off gently before she could finish her words.
"You're right," the lady nodded. "But sometimes, the unexpected happens. A dragon child kidnapped by a dark mage... a high elf on the run, hiding from something—or someone."
Her expression grew thoughtful, a touch of intrigue lighting her eyes. "Whatever it was, this awakening was no accident."
"Well, let's leave it for now. We still haven't found what we originally came here for," the white-haired woman said softly.
As the words left her lips, a melancholic expression crossed her otherwise serene face—a fleeting moment of emotion, but the most her guardian had seen from her thus far in days. It was clear she was remembering someone… someone important.
Seeing this rare vulnerability, the guardian lowered her head respectfully and responded, "Yes, my lady."
Without another word, she turned and followed her mistress into the forest's shadows, the undergrowth closing quietly behind them.