The journey was dragging on. The group was growing impatient to reach the city. The prisoners followed behind the cart. Those who were injured or weak rode on it, but without the will to move. Three of the ten bandits had died from Nox's attack.
Darian walked beside the cart. From time to time, he glanced at the survivors. They followed him with their eyes, their terror undisguised. They had never imagined someone like him could be so powerful.
"Varkas! How much longer until we get there?" Darian called out.
"Still a ways to go. Three days, if I'm not mistaken."
"Can we at least train a bit?"
"Yes. When we make camp."
Elias, riding in the cart, overheard the conversation and leaned out. "We can rest for a while. A moment ago I checked on Aria. They haven't reached the elven lands yet. The ferret is with her, but she doesn't know we're coming." He paused and smiled. "We can take a break. You might as well train. You look full of energy."
Elias chuckled softly. A tired laugh, but genuine.
They stopped in a clearing beside the road and took the chance to eat. Kára muttered under her breath. It was her turn to cook. For eleven people: Elias, Varkas, Darian, herself, and the seven bandits.
"I don't want to cook this much," she complained to Varkas.
"Well, you lost rock, paper, scissors. So it's your turn."
Varkas laughed mockingly as he removed his travel clothes—the cloak, the vest, the shirt—leaving his chest bare. The marks of the shackles still scarred his wrists.
Darian did the same. The improvement in his body was noticeable. Broader shoulders, stronger arms. Thanks to Lumine and Nox, his physique was changing.
"Alright. Let's start without weapons," Darian said.
"Perfect."
Vael moved closer to watch the training, perching on a tall rock with his golden eyes fixed on Darian and Varkas.
Darian didn't hesitate. He lunged forward at full speed. Varkas braced for impact. But at the last second, Darian feinted and threw a punch to the right.
Varkas reacted with inhuman reflexes. He blocked the strike and countered with a left punch.
Darian barely dodged, but it left him exposed to a fast incoming right. He pushed himself backward with a flip and landed in a crouch.
"Almost broke my face," Darian said, smiling with satisfaction.
"You're much faster. And stronger." Varkas's gaze held pride. "You've improved a lot, pup."
"I need to get stronger." Darian wiped sweat from his forehead. "I have to save Aria."
Silence hung for a moment.
"We have to save Aria," Varkas corrected gently.
"Yeah. Sorry."
"Let's keep going."
The smell of stew began to fill the clearing. Kára kept cooking, stirring with a long stick. It was already looking good. Elias surveyed the surroundings with his owl. Vael remained completely absorbed in the training. The bandits were all tied up, unable to move.
After a while, both fighters were exhausted. The blows had been heavy. Varkas had landed more hits. Darian had bruises on his ribs and one under his left eye. Varkas, meanwhile, only had a swollen right cheek.
"Give me a break," Darian said, dropping to the ground.
"Sure. How are you feeling?"
"Good. Lighter. Stronger. Must be because of Nox and Lumine. Does the same happen to you with Kar?"
Varkas nodded.
"Yeah. I've improved a lot thanks to Kar." He paused. "Does he talk to you?"
"Almost not at all. He's very quiet, but always alert. He's almost like me."
Varkas smiled confidently. "And Lumine and Nox?"
Darian snorted. "Those two never stop talking. Sometimes they seem to argue. Nox wants to fight all the time. Lumine is calmer. Or at least I think so. Hard to tell. The good thing is—they listen to me. And they teach me."
After eating and feeding the prisoners, the group packed up and resumed the journey. The road wound through arid hills, and the afternoon sun began to ease. Darian walked beside the cart, with Vael dozing on his shoulder. The bound bandits followed in silence.
As he walked, Darian let his mind open. Lumine and Nox were there, as always. He could feel them.
"What are you doing, Nox?" he asked mentally.
"I'm bored," Nox replied, his voice slow and lazy. "I want to hunt."
Lumine sighed within his mind. "Easy, Nox. The time will come. Wait."
"I don't want to wait. I want to hunt."
"Well, we will hunt soon," Darian said, running a hand through his hair. "But I want to ask you something first."
"Tell us what you need. We're listening," Lumine said softly.
"I've got nothing better to do, so go ahead," Nox added, clearly bored.
"I want to get better with magic. And you're basically made of magic, right?"
"Yes, we are."
"But we're not like you," Nox muttered.
"We are beings of magic that flow with the world," Lumine explained.
"And we use its power," Nox added.
Darian frowned as he walked. "When I lend you my body… what actually happens?"
"When I use your body, your abilities become mine as well."
"Or our abilities, when you use the swords," Lumine added. "We are your strength."
"And you are ours," Nox finished.
Darian processed the idea as his boots crunched on the gravel. "So if I let you use my body… can you show me how to use magic better?"
"Yes. That's what we said."
"Of course, Darian. Your body absorbs the knowledge and makes it its own."
"Perfect. But… doesn't that take away from my own merit?"
"No. Because you're slow."
"He's not slow," Lumine corrected. "But the achievement would be shared. You don't yet know our abilities."
"And I don't feel like teaching you. You're slow."
"Nox. Be more polite. He wants to learn."
"Fine."
Darian ran a hand over his face. "Now I'm more confused than before."
"That's normal. You're slo—"
"I'm not slow!"
"Alright." Darian took a deep breath. "First: if you use my body and my magic… can I learn to control it better?"
"Yes. Exactly."
"See? You are slow."
"I'm not slow! But… that would be cheating, right?"
"No," Lumine replied. "Because it's your body. The three of us are one now. We can't be separate beings."
Darian focused back on the road. The wind brushed his face. Vael shifted on his shoulder. The cart rattled steadily behind him.
The sun began to set. Varkas stopped the cart to make camp for the night. While the others prepared, Darian sat apart, Vael resting in his lap. He stroked the dragon's blue scales.
"You learned something today," Lumine whispered in his mind.
"That I'm terrible with magic," he replied.
"We already knew that," Nox laughed. "But you're on the right path."
"Patience," Lumine said. "The thread is woven slowly."
Darian smiled faintly. He leaned his head against the rock and let sleep take him.