Lyra didn't give him time to sit with it.
"We take a job," she said.
Kael looked up. "Right now?"
"Yes."
"I just got here."
"You are still weak."
He exhaled slowly. "You really don't ease into anything, do you?"
"No."
She pulled a request from the board without hesitation and handed it to him.
Kael scanned it quickly.
F-Rank Task: Clear minor fracture beasts — Outer perimeter
He glanced back at her. "This sounds like what we just did."
"You survived," she said.
"That is still not reassuring."
They left the guild quickly, moving back toward the edge of the city.
This time, Kael paid closer attention.
There were more groups now—teams moving together with coordination that made it clear they had done this many times before. Some of the humans walked slightly behind their Beastkin partners, while others moved beside them, completely in sync.
Kael noticed the difference immediately.
"…They don't move like I do," he said.
"No," Lyra replied. "They have control."
That word again.
Control.
They reached the outer perimeter, where the city gave way to open terrain.
The air felt different here, heavier in a way that made Kael more aware of his surroundings.
He rolled his shoulders slightly, trying to shake off the tension building in his chest.
"…Alright," he said. "Let's do it."
Movement came quickly.
Not one creature.
Several.
Kael narrowed his eyes. "That's more than last time."
"Yes."
"…Great."
Lyra stepped forward, her hand already resting on her weapon.
"Do not hesitate," she said.
Kael nodded once.
He didn't argue this time.
The creatures charged.
Kael stepped forward to meet them.
The first one lunged.
He caught the movement, felt the shift, and redirected it just enough to throw it off balance.
It wasn't perfect.
But it worked.
The second came faster.
He adjusted, catching the force and twisting it sideways instead of trying to stop it.
That worked too.
The third—
He mistimed.
The impact hit him hard enough to knock the air out of his lungs.
Kael stumbled back, barely keeping his footing.
"…Okay," he muttered, wincing slightly. "That one definitely counted."
"Focus," Lyra said.
Kael steadied himself, forcing his breathing to slow.
This wasn't the same as before.
The number of targets changed everything.
The next attack came.
This time, he didn't rush.
He waited.
There.
That moment again.
He reached out—
Caught it—
Held it—
Then released it cleanly.
The creature slammed into the ground.
Kael exhaled slowly.
"…Okay. That felt better."
Lyra moved through the remaining threats quickly, her strikes precise and controlled.
Within seconds, it was over.
Silence settled again.
Kael stood still for a moment, letting the tension fade from his body.
"…I'm not good yet," he said, "but I'm not completely useless anymore."
Lyra glanced at him.
"No," she said. "You are improving."
It wasn't praise.
But it was close enough.