Donovan stood upright, his posture relaxed yet perfectly balanced, as if rooted to the world itself.
Waiting.
Patiently.
For Angelita to make the first move.
For a brief moment—
The roar of the waterfall faded.
The wind stilled.
Even the drifting mist seemed to pause midair.
Silence fell.
Not a natural silence—
But something deeper.
Heavier.
As though the world itself was holding its breath.
Angelita stood frozen, her gaze locked onto him. Tiny beads of sweat gathered along her forehead, slowly trailing down her skin.
(This is strange…) she thought.
(The atmosphere… it feels different… heavier…)
A faint unease settled deep within her chest.
As her thoughts spiraled—
Donovan moved.
Casually.
He tilted his head upward, his eyes drifting toward the sky above. His hands slipped into his pockets as though the tension around them meant nothing.
"Look at that sky," he said quietly.
Angelita blinked.
Confused.
But instinctively, she followed his gaze.
Her eyes lifted.
The sky stretched endlessly above them—
Clear.
Vast.
A deep, endless blue.
Only a few scattered clouds drifted lazily across it, untouched, unburdened.
It was… beautiful.
Peaceful.
For a moment, everything else faded.
Donovan spoke again.
"That clarity," he said, his voice calm, almost distant, "that stillness… you could call it peace… or purity."
His eyes slowly lowered from the sky.
And met hers.
"Your soul is just like that."
Angelita froze.
Her eyes widened slightly.
The words struck her unexpectedly.
"Th-thank you…" she said, her voice uncertain, almost fragile. "I… I don't really know what to say…"
For a moment—
Donovan said nothing.
Then—
His gaze sharpened.
The warmth in his expression vanished.
Replaced by something colder.
Sharper.
"But," he said.
The single word cut through the air like a blade.
"What's stopping you from stepping forward… from even attempting to hit me…"
His voice dropped.
Colder.
"Heavier."
"…is fear."
Angelita's breath caught.
"Fear of failing."
A step closer.
"Fear of falling back."
Another step.
"Fear of becoming… the same piece of trash they once called you."
The words hit her harder than any attack.
Her eyes widened.
Her body stiffened.
His tone—
It was colder than before.
And yet…
It was true.
A truth she didn't want to face.
Her teeth clenched.
Her lip trembled—
Then she bit down.
Hard.
So hard that a thin line of blood formed, slowly trailing down.
"But—"
Donovan interrupted.
His tone shifted.
Not warm.
But no longer as cold.
"You're trying to change."
A pause.
"You're trying to become better."
His gaze remained fixed on her.
"To become what they expect you to be."
Another pause.
"And that… is the problem."
Angelita's vision blurred.
Tears welled in her eyes.
She released her lip, but the blood remained, staining it faintly.
Her chest tightened.
Confusion.
Pain.
Understanding—
All clashed inside her at once.
"You don't need to become better for them," Donovan said.
His eyes slowly closed.
"You need to become better… for yourself."
A gentle pause.
"To become the person you choose to be."
Silence followed.
But this time—
It wasn't heavy.
It wasn't suffocating.
It was… clear.
Angelita's eyes trembled.
And then—
She understood.
Every word.
Every meaning.
He was right.
She had been chasing strength—
Not for herself.
But for others.
To prove something.
To escape something.
But she had forgotten the most important truth.
This strength—
It was hers.
Given to her.
Because she deserved it.
And if that was true—
Then the least she could do…
Was accept it.
And shape it into something of her own.
Something real.
Something hers.
Suddenly—
Donovan appeared right in front of her.
No movement.
No warning.
Just—
There.
Angelita's eyes widened as she looked up at him.
He was tall.
Overwhelmingly so.
His presence alone felt vast.
Unreachable.
Donovan raised his hand.
Gently.
He placed his fingers against her lips, wiping away the thin trace of blood.
The touch was light.
Almost unreal.
The wound disappeared instantly.
As if it had never existed.
The blood vanished.
The pain faded.
Angelita froze.
Her breath caught.
Her eyes remained wide as she stared at him.
Donovan then placed both hands on her shoulders.
Firm.
Steady.
Grounding.
"Angelita…" he said.
Then—
His voice changed.
Not louder.
But deeper.
Carrying something far beyond simple words.
"Be… determination."
The moment the words reached her—
Her world shattered.
A memory surged forward.
Unstoppable.
She was small again.
A child.
Lost within a forest.
Held gently in the arms of a man she could not fully see.
And yet—
She remembered his voice.
Clear.
Echoing.
"Angelita… be determination."
Her eyes snapped open.
Back to reality.
Back to the present.
Donovan had already stepped back, creating space between them.
Waiting.
Watching.
This time—
He said nothing.
He didn't need to.
Angelita stood still.
Her breathing steadied.
Her heart calmed.
And within her—
Something changed.
The fear…
Faded.
Replaced by something stronger.
Clearer.
Unbreakable.
Her fingers slowly curled into fists.
Her gaze lifted.
Sharp.
Focused.
Filled with only one thing—
Determination.
Donovan's gaze returned to Angelita.
For a brief moment—
He didn't just look at her.
He looked through her.
Past her body.
Past her thoughts.
Into the very core of her being.
And there—
He saw it.
Her soul.
Glowing.
Soft.
Clear.
Untainted.
His eyes lifted slightly.
And what he saw next drew a faint flicker of interest within him.
A pale blue aura surrounded her—subtle, yet steady. Like a quiet flame that refused to go out. Her sky-blue eyes shimmered faintly, reflecting that same inner light.
(…Interesting.)
Then—
She moved.
Without hesitation.
Without warning.
Angelita lunged forward, her body cutting through the air with raw intent. No fear. No pause. Only action.
A direct strike.
Donovan's eyes widened slightly.
Not in shock—
But in acknowledgment.
That hesitation from before… was gone.
Yet even so—
Her movement, though faster, was still predictable.
He shifted.
Effortlessly.
His body flowed aside like water avoiding a falling stone. His leg rose in a smooth, controlled motion—
Intercepting her path.
Not striking.
Redirecting.
Her balance broke instantly.
Angelita stumbled—
And fell forward.
Face-first into the ground.
A soft thud echoed.
For a second, silence.
Then—
She lifted her face.
Dust clung to her cheeks.
And despite it—
A small, stubborn grin appeared.
Cute.
Annoyed.
Determined.
She pushed herself up immediately.
Donovan watched her calmly.
"Good," he said.
His tone neutral.
Measured.
"But you'll need more than that if you want to touch me."
Before the last word fully left his lips—
She moved again.
Faster this time.
Her fist shot forward, aiming directly for his face.
No hesitation.
No fear.
Just intent.
But—
He was already gone.
Or rather—
He was never there.
His body slipped aside with impossible smoothness, his movement so natural it felt less like dodging… and more like the world adjusting around him.
His leg rose again.
Precise.
Timed perfectly.
Angelita's footing collapsed once more—
And she hit the ground again.
But this time—
Something changed.
Time seemed to slow.
Her eyes flickered downward.
She saw it.
His leg.
The angle.
The timing.
The mistake.
In the next instant—
She moved differently.
Her body twisted mid-motion, avoiding the exact point of failure.
She regained her balance.
Stood.
Clean.
Stable.
Donovan's eyes sharpened slightly.
(So it's already adapting…)
A faint smile almost formed.
"Good," he said.
"Now—come at me harder."
Angelita didn't hesitate.
She stepped in again—
And unleashed a rapid series of strikes.
Punches.
Sharp.
Direct.
Relentless.
Donovan glanced at her—
Just once.
Then his body moved.
He slid backward.
Smooth.
Silent.
Effortless.
It didn't look like movement.
It looked like space itself was carrying him away.
As if he were walking forward—
Yet drifting backward.
Untouchable.
Angelita froze mid-motion.
Her eyes widened.
"What… was that?" she muttered.
Donovan tilted his head slightly.
"What?" he said calmly. "Did you expect me to stand still and let you hit me?"
A pause.
"Or did you think I wouldn't dodge like that?"
Angelita clenched her fists.
Confusion lingered—
But it didn't stop her.
She lowered her stance again.
And attacked.
Again.
And again.
And again.
Time passed.
Minutes blurred into one another.
Each attempt—
Failed.
Each mistake—
Corrected.
Each movement—
Refined.
Her breathing grew heavier.
Her body slowed.
But she didn't stop.
Until—
Finally—
Two hours later—
Angelita collapsed onto the ground.
Her entire body trembled.
Sweat soaked through her clothes, clinging to her form as her chest rose and fell rapidly with each breath.
"…Two hours…" she gasped.
Her voice shaky.
"…Two whole hours… and I couldn't even touch you…"
Her eyes lifted toward him.
Wide.
Frustrated.
Almost childlike.
Donovan sat calmly on a nearby rock.
Watching her.
"The universe took billions of years to become what you see today," he said quietly.
"And you…"
A slight pause.
"…have only just begun."
Angelita let out a tired breath.
Then slowly—
She pushed herself up.
Unsteady.
But standing.
"I guess…" she said between breaths, "…I still have a long way to go if I want to keep up with you…"
Donovan looked at her.
Briefly.
Then—
His gaze narrowed slightly.
Without her noticing—
He moved his finger.
Just a little.
The air shifted.
A gentle breeze passed through the clearing.
It wrapped around Angelita like something alive.
Cool.
Soft.
Refreshing.
Her shoulders relaxed instantly.
The heat faded from her body.
Her breathing steadied.
Her tension melted away.
"…Wow…" she murmured.
She slowly lay back onto the grass.
"…this feels amazing…"
Her eyes softened.
"…the heat… it's gone…"
Donovan said nothing.
He simply looked away—
Toward the mountain in the distance.
Angelita sat up again after a moment.
Her gaze shifted toward him.
He was still there.
Sitting calmly.
Watching the mountain.
Like none of this mattered.
Like time itself moved differently around him.
Then—
He spoke.
Without looking at her.
"Are you hungry?"
Angelita blinked.
Confused.
She looked at him for a few seconds—
Then smiled lightly.
"No… I'm fine."
The moment the words left her mouth—
Her stomach growled loudly.
Very loudly.
Angelita froze.
Her eyes went blank.
Slowly—
She looked down.
Her cheeks turned pink.
Silence filled the space between them.
Donovan glanced at her.
"Don't pretend to be strong," he said calmly.
"You're human."
A pause.
"You need food. And water."
Angelita slowly lifted her head.
Still blushing.
"…Okay… yeah… maybe food sounds like a good idea now…" she admitted quietly.
Donovan nodded once.
Then—
He raised his fingers.
Snapped.
In that instant—
A bowl of fresh fruit appeared before her.
Grapes.
Apples.
Bananas.
And beside it—
A bottle of clear water.
Angelita's eyes widened.
She looked at the bowl.
Then at Donovan.
Then back at the bowl again.
"…Amazing…" she whispered.
Donovan met her gaze.
"The fruit will help your body recover," he said calmly.
"Eat. Drink."
A pause.
"This is your rest."
Then he looked away again.
Back to the sky.
Angelita watched him for a few seconds.
Then—
A soft smile appeared on her lips.
"I will," she said gently.
"…thank you."
And with that—
She reached for the fruit.
And began to eat.
Time passed.
An hour slipped by as if it were nothing more than a forgotten breath between moments.
The forest had not changed.
The waterfall still roared in the distance, its endless cascade echoing through the trees. Mist drifted lazily through the air, catching fragments of light as the sun slowly began its descent.
And yet—
Something had changed.
Angelita sat quietly upon the grass, her body finally at rest after the relentless strain of training. Her breathing had steadied, her strength partially restored, but deep within her muscles lingered the memory of exhaustion.
Across from her—
Donovan remained exactly as he had been.
Seated atop the large stone.
Still.
Silent.
His gaze lifted toward the sky, as if watching something far beyond the visible world.
Unmoving.
Unchanging.
Untouched by time itself.
"…An hour has passed," Donovan murmured softly, his voice barely more than a thought.
His eyes did not move.
"Well… time within a story tends to flow differently."
A faint pause.
"…and this one is no exception."
Angelita blinked.
She didn't fully understand what he meant—
But somehow…
It didn't feel like something she was meant to understand yet.
Slowly, she pushed herself up from the ground.
Her body responded more easily now. The earlier fatigue had faded, replaced by a renewed steadiness.
Step by step—
She walked toward him.
Until she stood beside the rock.
Close enough to feel his presence again.
"Donovan…" she said softly.
A small pause.
"Should we… start training again?"
He answered instantly.
"Yes."
No hesitation.
No consideration.
As if the answer had already existed before she asked the question.
"We'll continue until nightfall," he added calmly.
Then, almost as an afterthought—
"And don't worry… I'll walk you home."
Angelita blinked.
Her expression shifted into confusion.
"…Walk me home?" she repeated.
Donovan turned his head slightly toward her.
"Yes," he said simply. "Is there a problem?"
Angelita hesitated.
Her hand rose unconsciously, rubbing the back of her head in a nervous habit.
"Well… it's just…" she began.
"My mom doesn't know I'm training with someone."
She looked away slightly.
"I told her I come out here to clear my head…"
For a brief moment—
Silence.
Then Donovan's gaze lifted from her—
Back to the sky.
"Don't worry," he said.
His tone was calm.
Certain.
"As long as it is for your growth… she won't object."
Angelita hesitated.
Thinking.
Then—
"…O-Okay," she nodded.
The uncertainty didn't completely disappear—
But she chose to trust him.
Because somehow…
It felt natural to do so.
Donovan's gaze lowered.
Not to her—
But to the ground beneath him.
A small stone rested near the base of the rock.
Unremarkable.
Ordinary.
Meaningless.
Then—
Without any visible force—
It moved.
The stone trembled.
Lifted.
Rose slowly into the air as though gravity itself had quietly stepped aside.
Angelita's eyes followed it immediately.
Confusion flickered across her face.
The stone drifted upward—
Then forward—
Until it came to rest in Donovan's open hand.
Effortlessly.
As if it had always belonged there.
Angelita stared.
"…What are you going to do with that?" she asked, tilting her head slightly.
Donovan looked at her.
"I'm going to show you," he said calmly,
"…the kind of power you may reach one day."
Angelita's eyes widened.
"W-wha—"
She didn't finish.
Because in the next instant—
Donovan flicked his finger.
A simple motion.
Small.
Almost insignificant.
And yet—
The world broke.
The stone vanished.
Not disappeared—
But launched.
It tore through the air with such overwhelming speed that the sound came after its movement.
A violent shockwave erupted outward—
The air split.
The ground trembled.
Trees along its path were erased instantly, not cut—but removed, as if existence itself could not keep up with its passage.
The forest parted.
A line of destruction carved forward—
Until—
In the distance—
The stone struck the mountain.
And for a single moment—
Everything went silent.
Then—
Impact.
A colossal explosion erupted across the mountainside, shaking the earth beneath them. The sound roared outward in all directions, echoing across the forest like a divine thunderclap.
Dust.
Debris.
Light.
Power.
All of it consumed the horizon.
Angelita's eyes widened to their limits.
Her breath caught.
Her mind froze.
"H-How…?" she whispered.
Her voice trembled.
"How is that even possible…?"
Donovan looked at her.
Completely calm.
"That," he said,
"…is nothing more than physical strength."
Angelita's expression shattered.
"…That's just raw power?" she asked in disbelief.
Donovan did not answer immediately.
Instead—
He looked back toward the distant mountain.
Then at her.
"I'll leave that," he said quietly,
"…for you to discover."
Angelita stood frozen.
Her mind unable to fully process what she had just witnessed.
But before she could speak again—
Donovan raised his hand.
Toward the direction of destruction.
Then—
He closed it.
A simple motion.
And reality obeyed.
The air shifted.
The dust vanished.
The shattered mountain—
Restored.
The torn forest—
Returned.
Every tree.
Every stone.
Every trace of destruction—
Gone.
As if none of it had ever happened.
As if the world itself had been… rewritten.
Angelita stared.
Long.
Silent.
Then—
A small, helpless smile appeared on her face.
"…Yeah…" she murmured softly.
"…I guess that's not surprising anymore."
But deep inside—
She knew.
She had just witnessed something far beyond power.
Something far beyond understanding.
And yet—
For the first time—
Instead of fear…
She felt something else.
A quiet, growing resolve.
To reach it.
Someday.