At the Blacksmith's Association, Ray went straight to Nigel.
"Teacher, I'm back."
Nigel smiled warmly. "How was your break? Relaxing?"
"I gained a lot," Ray replied honestly, lowering his head. "But I didn't forge at all."
Nigel laughed heartily. "Honesty is good. Don't worry so much. Rest is also part of cultivation. Once forging reaches a certain level, constant hammering matters less than understanding and consolidation."
"Dad, that's unfair!" A familiar voice complained. Rachel stormed in, cheeks puffed. "Why didn't you let me go out during vacation? You made me forge every day!"
Nigel replied calmly, "When your forging level reaches Ray's, you can have vacations too."
"Hmph!" Rachel shot Ray a glare and stormed out.
Ray stood awkwardly. He never knew how to handle her hostility.
Nigel shook his head. "That child…"
He understood Rachel well. Competition-fueled growth. The fact that she treated Ray as a rival wasn't a bad thing.
