That night, I lay down on the ground near the campfire.
I couldn't get out of my mind what Gabriel said to me...
What triggers it?
I continued thinking about it, but then my eyes slowly shut.
Before I could sleep, something occurred to me.
I hurriedly sat up and glanced at my hand, trying once more to trigger it.
I breathed calmly, completely ignoring my surroundings.
Then—
Ahaa!
...
"Still nothing."
I stared at my hand for a moment.
I tried again.
Nothing.
...
I flopped back to the ground and closed my eyes, finally resting after today's exhausting events.
I'll figure it out...
Tomorrow.
The next day, I woke up too early.
Too early.
The mist was still thick.
The cold breeze brushed against my skin, while Gabriel's snoring filled the quiet forest.
I stretched my limbs as I walked.
I returned to the same river from yesterday.
And stared at the violent flow of the water.
...
Completely lost in thought.
I shook my head and slapped my face.
I sat near the stream and began to meditate.
I closed my eyes.
I breathed slowly.
Trying to clear my mind.
...
After that, I stood up and started punching the air.
As if it would help.
But I kept doing it anyway.
Sometimes, I would use my short sword and swing it.
Again.
And again.
For days.
Weeks.
Months.
Then—
A year passed.
I could feel my body growing stronger.
But still...
It wasn't the same warmth I felt that day.
One day, Gabriel was out.
So once again, I was alone in the forest.
I continued practicing, still trying to mentally figure out how to use...
"Ken Coating."
Like usual, I continued swinging my sword through the air.
Leaves fell around me.
I kept swinging beneath them.
Again.
And again.
I stopped for a moment and thought...
How strong have I gotten?
I looked at the tree trunks around me.
Then at the short sword in my hand.
...
Then I remembered what Gabriel said back then.
"Jean, these trees are harder than your average steel..."
"People use Ken Coating to cut through them."
I looked at the tree in front of me.
Then at my short sword.
...
"Let's see."
I gripped my sword and exhaled deeply.
My sword will break if I swing it...
Then—
I just have to break the tree before it breaks my sword first!
Without warning, I swung the sword as fast as I could.
As I swung the sword, I felt it...
The...
Warmth.