Vined leaned back on the chair, letting out a long breath as the last echoes of celebration faded from the camp.
The fire outside crackled softly, and for the first time since morning, the tent felt calm.
"That kid…" Vined murmured, rubbing his temple before a small smile tugged at his lips.
"He has the potential to reach grandmaster someday."
His father-in-law sat beside him, hands resting on his knees.
The older man didn't speak right away. He stared at the empty entrance of the tent, thinking.
Finally, he nodded slowly.
"Yes. He does. Raven is standing at the very edge of swordmaster. One clean push… and he'll step into it."
He paused, his voice lowering a bit. "But reaching grandmaster… that depends on his heart and his will. No one can force that path."
Vined nodded again. He understood that truth better than anyone.
The grandmaster realm was not something a person stumbled into.
It demanded everything. Discipline, pain, patience, years of it.
