The sparring grounds were quiet in the late afternoon, save for the sound of wooden swords clashing.
Kofi stumbled back, barely blocking Darius's strike. His arms shook, the impact ringing all the way up to his shoulders.
"Dead again," Darius said flatly.
Kofi groaned, dropping his practice blade. "You could go easy on me, you know."
"Enemies won't," Darius replied. He sheathed his real sword and sat on a nearby bench. "Enough swinging for now. You need to understand what you're working with."
Kofi sat beside him, still catching his breath. Lyra appeared a moment later, carrying a worn leather tome.
"You asked about the nature of holy energy," she said, opening the book. "Perhaps it's time you learned properly."
Kofi leaned closer as she turned the pages, revealing diagrams of glowing silhouettes.
"There are three great currents of energy in our world," Lyra began. "Holy, Demonic, and Natural."
"Natural?" Kofi asked.
"Yes," she said. "The energy of the world itself—elemental magic, the strength of beasts, even the growth of trees. Anyone can touch it, though few learn to control it properly."
She tapped the page, showing two opposing figures. One bathed in white light, the other shrouded in shadow.
"Holy energy is light given form, drawn from purity of heart, devotion, and will. It shields, it heals, and it strikes with force against corruption. It is the power of resistance."
"And Demonic?"
Lyra's expression darkened. "Demonic energy is born from destruction, desire, and chaos. It corrupts, consumes, and strengthens at a terrible cost. Where holy protects, demonic overwhelms."
Kofi frowned. "And someone can use… both?"
At that, Darius's jaw tightened. "Not naturally. The two energies reject each other. A man's body should tear itself apart trying to wield them."
Lyra closed the book. "But the cultist you fought—he carried both traces. That should be impossible."
Kofi shivered, remembering the feathers, the inhuman laughter.
"So what about levels?" he asked, eager to change the subject. "Why am I… Level 8 now? What does that even mean?"
Darius answered this time. "Levels are markers. They measure how much energy your body can channel without breaking. Every battle, every hardship, pushes you closer to the next. But don't mistake the number for strength."
Kofi blinked. "So even if I'm Level 30 someday, I could still lose?"
"To someone who trained harder, yes," Darius said bluntly. "Numbers mean nothing without skill."
Lyra added softly, "And without understanding your own heart. Holy energy especially responds to will. If you falter, your power will vanish."
Kofi sat back, letting the weight of it sink in. Strength wasn't just swinging harder or gaining levels. It was about control, about resolve.
Darius stood. "That's enough theory. Tomorrow, we test how much you've really learned."
Kofi groaned but smiled faintly. For the first time, the path forward seemed a little clearer.
But deep inside, a part of him whispered that the power he truly needed might not lie in holy energy alone.