The Rock of the Forest—a tree unlike any other in the world. Its bark shimmered faintly under sunlight, its roots seemed to pulse like veins, and its leaves carried a faint green glow at night. It was said to absorb a massive amount of Renshi, hoarding it silently for centuries.
"In the beginning," Lucy explained as they walked side by side, her hand brushing lightly across the scabbard of Alfie's sword, "a single piece taken from the tree contained nearly the same amount of Renshi as the entire Rock of the Forest itself. That's the mystery. Nobody knows how or why it does this."
Alfie's eyes widened, his hand tightening on the hilt of his blade. "Wait… so my sword is that rare?"
Lucy gave a faint nod. "The moment you forge it into a weapon, it begins to level up, feeding off the Renshi within. That's the gift of the Rock. The sword and the master grow together, always rising in strength. Each attack you unleash—each time you pour your Renshi into it—the blade claims a portion for itself. Slowly, it climbs to the next level."
Sasaki raised an eyebrow, intrigued despite his usual calm. "That sounds impossible. A sword that levels up? That would mean…"
"That would mean," Lucy cut in, her eyes sharp as if recalling countless battles, "the sword becomes nearly alive. Once it bonds to its master, it serves and obeys until the very end. The tree itself decides who is worthy. You cannot force it."
Alfie lifted the blade, tilting it toward the light. The dark wood shone like polished metal, its golden edge glinting with a sharpness he hadn't noticed before. "So this isn't just a sword… it's a partner."
"Exactly," Lucy confirmed. "Yours has only just reached its first level. Its hardness and sharpness are now equal to a silver blade. With time, you'll see more—its aura, its speed, maybe even abilities you can't imagine yet."
Sasaki crossed his arms, smirking faintly. "Good sword for a strong brat. You're lucky, Alfie."
Alfie grinned, sliding the blade back into its scabbard. "Lucky or not, I won't use this for evil. I'll use it for humans—for us." His tone softened as his thoughts drifted. Rebekah… just a little longer. I'll come for you. My sword is stronger than I imagined. Just hold on.
Lucy gave no outward reaction, but her eyes lingered on Alfie as though she had caught the silent vow. She turned and gestured forward. "Come. Jackson's waiting."
---
They teleported directly to the hospital, the circle flashing beneath their feet.
Inside, the walls of the healer's ward vibrated with raised voices.
"Of course I'm ready to leave! I've been stuck in this place too long!" Jackson's irritated voice rang out, followed by the stern tone of the healer.
"Don't be reckless! If you continue training with that thigh injury, it could reopen again! You'll cripple yourself—"
The teleportation light faded, revealing Lucy, Alfie, and Sasaki stepping out.
Jackson immediately spotted them, relief spreading across his face. "Finally! You're here."
The doctor turned sharply toward Lucy, almost desperate. "Master Lucy—please, talk sense into him. He isn't ready to move out yet. His wound might—"
Lucy's footsteps echoed as she walked calmly toward Jackson. Her eyes were sharp, unwavering. "There's no need to worry, doctor. I'll take responsibility. Leave him to me."
The healer hesitated, frowning. "But—"
Lucy's voice cut through like steel. "You need to understand something. My students are not weaklings. Minor injuries like this cannot hold them down."
The doctor froze, staring into Lucy's eyes, unable to form another argument. With a frustrated sigh, she backed toward the teleportation circle. "Fine. If that's what you want… but don't say I didn't warn you. Have a nice life, Master and students." With a flash of light, she vanished.
Jackson released a sigh of relief. "Thank you, Master. I couldn't spend another minute here. It was suffocating without you guys."
Alfie hurried forward, offering his shoulder. "Come on, red head, lean on me."
Jackson grinned faintly, letting Alfie help him up.
From where he stood, Sasaki chuckled. "Not bad, kiddo. You look alive. Keep it that way."
Jackson's expression softened. "Thank you, Mr. Sasaki."
---
Moments later, they stepped onto the teleportation circle again, vanishing in a burst of light.
The training field awaited them, wide and open, the morning sun pouring down like a challenge.
Lucy strode to the center, her cloak swaying. She turned suddenly, eyes narrowing at Jackson. "Tell me. Did you take your bath this morning?"
Jackson blinked, confused. "Of course, Master! I brushed my teeth and took my bath. I was ready for all of you."
Lucy's stern look softened just enough. She pulled out his black jacket and tossed it at him. "Good. Then wear this."
Jackson caught it and slipped it on quickly, smiling. "Thanks, Master. Now I feel re-energized… but wait." He frowned. "You told us not to wear these jackets during lifting training. Why give it to me now?"
Lucy didn't hesitate. She reached into her pouch and drew out three wooden swords, tossing them—one each—to Alfie, Jackson, and Sasaki. They caught them in surprise.
"Because," she said firmly, "your lifting training is over. Phase Two of your stamina training begins now."
The air grew heavy. Even Sasaki tilted his head slightly, intrigued.
Jackson's eyes widened. "Phase Two? But Master—I don't want to skip. I can't be the only one who takes shortcuts to become strong!" His voice carried frustration, the fire in his eyes burning despite his injury.
Lucy stepped closer, lowering her tone. "Calm down, Jackson. You're not skipping anything. You're not strong enough yet to push those muscles. If you force it, you'll break. You can complete the lifting in any of the five years—it doesn't matter when. What matters is staying alive."
Jackson clenched his fists, his lips tight.
Alfie stepped beside him, placing a reassuring hand on his shoulder. "Just be patient, bro. You couldn't stay in that hospital, so we're moving forward. Together."
Sasaki exhaled, moving slowly toward Lucy. "Hmph. Kids and their impatience. Whatever. Just don't waste time. Rebekah's waiting. If you're serious, then prove it."
Lucy's gaze shifted, watching Sasaki approach."
Sasaki rolled his shoulders, his grip tightening on the wooden sword. "Groups of three, huh? That means each of us is on our own. I'll go first. Watch carefully. Learn where her blind spots are."
Alfie tightened his grip on his sword, smiling faintly. "We're counting on you, Mr. Reaper."
Jackson, still leaning slightly, turned to Alfie. "How many thirty-minute lifts did you do to cover for me?"
Alfie smirked. "Sixty. Everything combined."