Several days had passed, and Kael was still training with the sword.
He was being trained by Lyra in swordsmanship, but Lyra noticed that Kael didn't seem to have any talent in fighting.
But despite that, Kael continued his training.
"No matter what happens, I'll become stronger and return to the world where I was born and raised."
Months passed, and Kael still never stopped training.
"Hmm, it seems the young man you brought might become a fine warrior. Even without talent, his determination to grow strong is remarkable,"
said the king of the Kingdom of Velmar as he watched Kael's training.
When Lyra heard her father's words, she responded:
"Father, his efforts have a reason we have a mission we need to accomplish."
The king turned to look at his daughter.
"What mission?"
Lyra fell silent. She had accidentally mentioned information that only she and Kael were supposed to know.
"Uhm, it's nothing. Forget it, please."
While Kael was training, a fellow trainee approached him.
"Oh… So you're the guy close to the young lady. How could a talentless man like you be liked by the princess?"
Kael didn't respond and continued swinging his sword in training. Suddenly, with a swing, black smoke emerged from the blade.
Kael was shocked.
"This is it! This is the mana I released before!"
He swung again, and more black smoke came out. The trainee, annoyed at being ignored, approached Kael and grabbed his shoulder.
"HEY! Are you deaf? I'm talking to you!"
Kael grabbed his hand and said:
"Shut up. I don't have time to talk to people like you."
He gripped the trainee's hand tightly.
"Arrgh! Let go of me!"
The trainee released blue mana into his hand, surprising Kael enough to make him let go.
"HOW DARE YOU!" the trainee yelled as he drew his sword. Kael readied his weapon too.
The other trainees gathered to watch the fight. The three instructors watched silently, ready to step in if it escalated.
"You've got guts to challenge me, loser!"
said the trainee.
Kael smiled. "Who are you calling a loser, huh?"
The trainee, eyes blazing with rage, lunged forward and slashed.
Swish! the sword sliced through the air.
Kael didn't dodge. He just stared calmly.
Clang! Their swords clashed, metal against metal. The other trainees stepped back to give space.
"Don't treat this like a joke!" yelled the trainee, pushing against Kael's sword.
But suddenly, Kael disappeared in a cloud of black smoke and reappeared behind the trainee.
"Hehe, bet you don't have this trick, huh?"
Kael attacked, and the trainee barely dodged, clearly struggling.
Kael moved with calm and precision, observing every move. The trainee, panicking, attacked without thinking and missed badly with a wild downward swing.
"You're too reckless," Kael said quietly, avoiding the blow and landing a diagonal slash with a sharp sound.
"Where's all that pride now?" he added, eyes locked on the trainee.
Still, the trainee laughed and charged again, more aggressively.
"You may be strong, but you won't win against me!"
His sword slammed down, but Kael dodged at the last second.
Clang! the sword hit the ground.
Soon the trainee grew tired, his anger clouding his judgment.
Kael calmly stepped in and delivered a clean slash near the neck, ending the fight.
"It's not about strength. It's about the mind," Kael said as he lowered his sword and walked away.
Everyone stared, including the instructors. Lyra watched from a distance.
After the match, Kael walked to his room.
Behind him, someone called out,
"You were amazing!" said Lyra with a smile.
"Oh, that? It was nothing," Kael replied.
"Kael, I want to challenge you. I want to see how far you've come."
Kael looked at her and smiled.
"Maybe next time. I still can't properly control my mana."
"Can't control it? But didn't you use it during your fight?"
"That? I don't know… it just comes out when I'm in danger."
Lyra could only watch as Kael walked away.
Then a voice behind Lyra spoke,
"Seems like you're getting close to that boy. Is that the one you brought to the palace without permission?"
Lyra turned and said,
"Father already knows about him..."
The unknown man smirked.
"Oh, so the king knows? But why don't I know anything? Not even his name."
"Why should I introduce him to you? What right do you have to meet him?"
Her brother smiled.
"Oh? Getting braver now, little sister?"
Lyra, annoyed, drew her sword.
"System: Sword Slash activated."
She attacked her brother, but he stopped the blade with one hand and countered.
"System: Reflection Attack activated."
Her brother's attack bounced back at him, but it had no effect.
"Brother Draxen, did you really think your weak attack could beat me?"
Draxen laughed.
"Hahaha! Another strange power I don't understand. But no matter what you do, you'll never defeat me! Hahaha!"
He walked away laughing while Lyra remained silent.
"That fight wore me out," Kael said, placing his sword by the door and sitting on the floor. He focused and began feeling his mana.
"Argh, it's hot!"
Even though it burned, Kael concentrated. Suddenly, smoke burst from his body. He opened his eyes and smiled.
"Haha! Finally, I can feel the mana!"
Then he collapsed from exhaustion.
5 hours later...
"Kael… Kael! Wake up!"
Kael opened his eyes.
"Uh... Lyra? What are you doing?"
"Boom!"
From his room window, Kael saw burning houses.
"Ly... Lyra! What's happening?!"
"Kael, the kingdom is under attack by monsters!"
"Boom!"
Another explosion. They saw five dragons spewing fire.
Kael panicked as Lyra pulled him.
"Kael, hurry! People need our help!"
Kael yelled,
"Lyra, are you serious? There are so many monsters, and dragons! Do you really think you can fight them?"
"I don't care how many there are. My duty as a warrior is to protect our kingdom," said Lyra.
"LYRA, WHAT ABOUT OUR MISSION?" Kael shouted.
"What happens to our mission if you die trying to save people? Think! Even if you save them, where would you take them? The entire kingdom is under attack!"
"If I can't save them, I'll fight the monsters to give them a chance," Lyra replied.
Kael pulled his hand away from hers. Lyra stopped.
"Uh... Kael, why?"
"Lyra, I'm sorry, but if you want to die a hero, do it alone. You're a fool for sacrificing yourself for nothing."
He pointed outside.
"LYRA, WHAT'S THE POINT OF YOUR SACRIFICE IF EVERYONE STILL DIES?"
Lyra's eyes widened at his words.
"Kael, I'm sorry… but as a princess and warrior of this kingdom, I cannot run....like a coward, and it's my responsibility to save the people."
When Kael heard this, he was shocked but said,
"Lyra, if that's what you want, then do as you please..."
"..."
Lyra was silent, deep in thought, but in the end, she chose to save the kingdom.
"If that's what you want too, Kael... then do as you please."
Tears fell from her eyes, but not wanting Kael to see, she ran toward the castle exit while holding the glowing sword.
"If that's what you want, then fine... I don't care anymore. Even if you call me a coward, the world has never done anything good for me. Since I was a child, all I've known is suffering, and the people around me never cared about how I felt or what I went through. So now, I don't care about their pain or their feelings either."