Morning light spilled over Arnvale's training grounds, illuminating cracks in the stone floor, scorch marks from the intruder's assault, and the anxious faces of adventurers who still hadn't fully recovered.
The guild wasn't ready.
The town wasn't ready.
But Zerrei—
newly born, newly conscious, newly fragile—
needed to learn how to exist in his new body
before the Creator returned.
Lyra stood beside him, her hand warm in his.
His fingers curled around hers instinctively, comforted by the contact.
Oren stepped forward, serious as ever.
"Alright. We start with basics."
Arden shouted from the side:
"Basics? He literally fought a siege weapon yesterday!"
Oren deadpanned.
"Yes. And he collapsed twice. Because power without control is pointless."
Arden opened his mouth.
Closed it.
"…Fair."
Zerrei blinked, looking between them.
"…train."
Lyra squeezed his hand.
"Yes. I'll be here the whole time."
That made his glow brighten just slightly.
TEST 1 — BALANCE
Oren pointed to a chalk line drawn across the courtyard.
"Zerrei, walk the line. No falling. No grabbing Lyra. No stabilizing runes."
Zerrei tilted his head.
"…walk line."
He stepped forward.
Balance wobbled.
Arms flailed slightly.
One foot slid sideways.
He froze.
Arden yelled:
"No—no—keep going! Don't think too much!"
Zerrei took another step.
Stumbled.
Lyra instinctively moved to catch him—
Oren snapped:
"Lyra, STOP. He needs to walk without you."
Lyra froze mid-step.
Zerrei reached toward her—
"…Lyra…"
Her heart nearly burst.
But she smiled gently.
"You can do it. I'm watching."
Zerrei swallowed—
a new movement he'd learned recently, reflexive and confused.
He tried again.
Step.
Step.
Wobble.
Recover.
Step.
Arden pumped a fist.
"YES! LOOK AT HIM GO!"
Lyra clapped softly.
"You're doing great!"
Zerrei reached the end of the line.
Turned.
And walked back.
Straighter.
More confident.
More him.
He stopped in front of Lyra.
"…Lyra proud?"
Her smile softened.
"So proud."
His runes glowed bright gold.
TEST 2 — TOUCH SENSATION
Oren held out a tray containing:
a cold metal sphere
a cup of warm water
a soft cloth
a rough stone
a feather
a glowing mana crystal
"Zerrei," Oren said carefully, "touch each item. Tell us what you feel."
Zerrei picked up the metal sphere.
"…cold."
Lyra nodded eagerly.
"Yes! Very good!"
He dipped a finger in the warm water.
"…warm… like Lyra."
Lyra made a strangled noise.
Arden choked.
Oren rubbed his temples.
"Please… try not to compare every new sensation to Lyra."
Zerrei blinked.
"…why?"
Arden threw his hands up.
"He's doing it on purpose now."
Lyra turned red from ear to ear.
"L-let's continue…"
Zerrei touched the soft cloth.
"…soft."
Touched the rough stone.
"…ouch."
Lyra gasped.
"Did it harm you?!"
Zerrei shook his head.
"…not pain.
…just… different."
Touched the feather.
He froze.
"…tickle."
Lyra giggled uncontrollably.
"That's adorable."
Zerrei blinked at her.
"…adorable…?"
"Yes."
"…like Lyra?"
Arden facepalmed.
"WE ARE LOSING CONTROL OF THIS MAN."
Zerrei moved to the last item—
The glowing mana crystal.
The moment his fingers touched it—
FWOOM.
Light shot up his arm.
Runes blazed across his shoulder and chest.
Lyra stepped back in shock.
Arden drew his sword.
Oren's eyes widened.
"Zerrei—release the crystal!"
Zerrei stared at his hand.
Mana rushed into him—
but not chaotically.
Not dangerously.
It threaded itself through the new patterns along his arms—
filling cracks, fueling runes, strengthening his core.
He whispered:
"…feel… good."
Oren's voice trembled.
"That's… impossible.
A humanoid vessel shouldn't be able to absorb raw mana safely. Their systems are too sensitive!"
Zerrei looked down at his hand.
"…Lyra make strong."
Lyra's eyes widened.
"Me?"
He placed the crystal down gently.
"…anchor."
Oren stared.
"His second evolution didn't just change his body… it changed how he processes mana. Lyra's emotional influence made his core flexible instead of brittle."
Arden frowned.
"What does that mean?"
Oren breathed in disbelief.
"It means Zerrei is evolving toward free will, not obedience."
Lyra's heart soared.
Zerrei whispered:
"…Zerrei… choose."
TEST 3 — MANA RESONANCE
Oren set up a circular sigil on the ground.
"Stand in the center."
Zerrei obeyed.
"Now—focus on your core."
Zerrei placed a hand over the glowing center of his chest.
"…core."
The runes flared softly.
"Good," Oren whispered.
"Now… let it resonate. Just a pulse."
Zerrei nodded.
Lyra held her breath.
Zerrei exhaled—
Mana pulsed outward—
WHUM—
A gentle wave of light rippled across the courtyard.
Not destructive.
Not chaotic.
Harmonic.
Every rune in the training yard lit up.
Every mage staff hummed.
Even Lyra felt her heartbeat synchronizing with the pulse.
She pressed a hand to her chest.
"…Zerrei…"
Oren nearly dropped his notebook.
"That wasn't a pulse. That was a resonance wave—
faint, controlled, beautifully synchronized."
Arden blinked slowly.
"In common language?"
Oren stared.
"He just used a type of mana emission most masters spend decades trying to achieve."
Lyra whispered, awe-struck:
"Zerrei… you're incredible."
He walked toward her.
Still clumsy.
Still learning.
But his smile was gentle.
"…Lyra… help.
Zerrei learn."
Her heart softened.
"I'll teach you everything."
THE FIRST SIGN OF DANGER
Zerrei's glow flickered—
Sudden.
Sharp.
He winced, clutching his chest.
Lyra grabbed him immediately.
"What's wrong?!"
Zerrei shook.
"…cold."
Arden stepped forward.
"Cold? That's new."
Oren froze.
"No.
Not new.
I feared this."
Lyra's voice trembled.
"Oren… what is it?"
Oren's face went pale.
"When a vessel evolves drastically, they leave behind an imprint—
a signature their creator can track."
Lyra felt her stomach drop.
"You mean—"
Oren nodded grimly.
"The Creator can sense his evolution.
And track it."
Zerrei trembled.
"…Master… come."
Lyra wrapped her arms around him.
Her voice was soft but fierce.
"We'll protect you."
Zerrei clutched her back.
"…Lyra…"
His glow dimmed—
and his voice came out barely above a whisper:
"…Zerrei… afraid."
Lyra rested her forehead against his.
"I know."
She whispered:
"But you're not facing him alone anymore."
Zerrei held her tighter—
like he believed it.
Like he clung to it.
"…together."