Raven's POV
"Let's take a five-minute break."
The calm voice of Elyra broke the rhythm of our training. "Drink some water."
She handed me a flask. I took it and nodded.
"Thank you."
We moved to the shade of a large tree in the backyard of her house. The afternoon sun was warm, and a soft breeze moved the leaves above us.
I sat down on the grass, leaning my back against the trunk For a few minutes neither of us spoke.
Then Elyra glanced at me. "You mentioned you were looking for a house," she said. "Did you find anything?"
"Yes," I replied calmly. "I've been searching for a while. I finally found a large place that fits what I need."
I took another sip of water. "Yesterday I went with mother Mary to sign the contract."
Elyra nodded thoughtfully. "When will you move?"
"It needs cleaning and some repairs," I said. "So… probably in about a week."
"If you need help," she offered gently, "let me know."
I gave her a small smile. "Thank you. I will."
For a moment I watched the wind move through the branches above us Then I asked, "Master… what about the dungeons?, Did you find any that are far from the city? Somewhere the guild won't monitor?"
She sighed lightly. "I contacted an old friend from the guild. I'm waiting for him to send me information."
Before I could respond, another voice spoke from nearby.
"You know," said Morivan , "there are plenty of monsters outside the city."
I paused, Then slowly nodded "You're right…"I frowned slightly. "Why didn't I think of that?"
A memory surfaced in my mind. Princess Lyria had mentioned something about Monsters attempting to breach the northern and southern borders of the city.
Morivane continued, "You could teleport there, train for a few hours, then come back. No one would even know."
"Raven?"
Elyra's voice pulled me back.
I blinked. "Yes?"
"You went quiet again," she said.
I forced a small smile. "It's nothing. I was just thinking."
But Elyra studied my face carefully. "You're always like this," she said quietly. "Lost in your thoughts." Her voice softened, but her eyes were sharp. "As if you're carrying the weight of the entire world on your shoulders." She crossed her arms. "And you're only eighteen."
I chuckled lightly. "What are you talking about? , When do I ever do that?"
"You do it all the time," she replied.
"Your face suddenly becomes expressionless. But even when you try to hide it behind that polite fake smile…" Her gaze hardened slightly. "I can see the anger in your eyes and the hatred."
She shook her head slowly. "No matter how much you try to hide it… you can't hide that."
I laughed again, though the sound felt hollow. "I honestly don't know what you're talking about."
I looked away. "Why would I be angry?"
I shrugged. "I'm just thinking about my future. I don't have any dream or goal I'm chasing, that's all."
Elyra stared at me in silence Then she asked quietly,
"Then why do you train like that?" Her question hung in the air. "Why do you push your body until exhaustion?"
"Why do you fight without rest?". Her voice grew softer. "Why do you want to become strong so badly?"
My fingers tightened around the wooden sword beside me For a moment I said nothing Then the words slipped out before I could stop them.
"Because I lost the most important thing in my life." My voice was sharper than I intended.
I looked down at the ground. "I was weak." The memory stabbed through my chest like a blade. "And I won't allow that to happen again I won't allow weakness stand in my way again.."
Silence fell.
Elyra's brows slowly furrowed. "You lost the most important thing in your life?" Her voice was gentle now. "What did you lose, Raven?"
I stood up Then I forced a smile. "Come on." I lifted my wooden sword. "That's enough rest let's continue training."
Elyra watched me silently Then she stood and walked toward me. "You're carrying something heavy all by yourself," she said quietly.
Her eyes held mine. "But one day… I'll make you talk."
I didn't answer I simply raised my wooden sword sge did the same and we resumed training for hours .
No pauses.
No rest.
Until finally Elyra lowered her weapon and sighed." That's enough for today." She wiped sweat from her brow. " you need rest."
By the time I returned to the orphanage, the sun was already sinking toward the horizon The sky burned orange and gold When I reached the building, night had already fallen Stars were beginning to appear.
The moment I stepped inside, the first person I saw was Lira. "Hey Raven!" she said with a bright smile. "You came at the perfect time. Dinner's ready."
She grabbed a stack of plates. "Come help me carry these."
I glanced around The orphanage was unusually quiet. "Why is it so silent?" I asked. "Where are the children?"
Lira burst into laughter. "They were playing inside earlier and broke some furniture."
"Oh?"
"Mother Mary scolded them," she continued with a grin. "Now they're all sitting quietly inside while she watches them so they don't move."
I laughed softly. "Where's Ren?"
"He's in the kitchen," she said. "Come on."
The rest of the evening passed quickly.
Dinner.
Cleaning.
Then I spent some time training Ren and Lira By the time everything was finished, my body felt heavy with exhaustion After taking a warm bath, I went straight to bed.
Yet despite how tired I was…Sleep didn't come I lay there in the darkness for a long time Listening to the quiet breathing of the children in the other rooms Listening to the night wind brushing against the windows.
Eventually I drifted into a light sleep Morning came too quickly I woke before the sun rose But I didn't move.
I remained lying on my back, staring at the ceiling My mind already wandering again— Back to memories Back to unfinished thoughts Back to the nightmares .
The morning air was still cool when I finished my training.
A thin layer of sweat clung to my skin, but the familiar exhaustion felt comforting. Training had always been the easiest way to quiet my thoughts.
At least for a while.
After washing my hands, I moved into the kitchen of the orphanage and began preparing breakfast.
The soft clatter of plates and pans filled the quiet room as I arranged food for everyone. Bread, eggs, some fruit, and warm tea.
Simple, but enough.
I had just placed the last plate on the table when I felt it A presence.
Small.
Quiet.
Watching.
My eyes shifted toward the half-open kitchen door And there—barely visible—was a small figure peeking from behind it.
Long black hair.
Tiny fingers gripping the edge of the door , I already knew who it was.
"Good morning, Faye," I said calmly. "Why are you awake so early? Are you hungry?"
The moment she realized I had noticed her, she froze.
Then suddenly—She tried to run , Her tiny feet pattered against the floor as she turned around, But before she could escape, I took a single quick step forward.
In an instant I appeared in front of her, She ran straight into me.
Thump.
Faye bounced backward and fell onto the floor.
"Oh—"
I quickly reached down and lifted her gently into my arms. "Are you okay?"
She stared at me with wide, shocked eyes Her small hands trembled slightly.
I gave her a reassuring smile. "Hey, Faye… why do you run away every time I talk to you?"
For a second she simply stared at me Then her eyes suddenly filled with tears And she started crying, loudly.
I blinked in confusion.
"Hey—wait—"
I panicked slightly. "Faye? What happened? Are you hurt somewhere?"
Before she could answer, another voice came from behind me.
"Raven, what happened?"
I turned ,Mother mary stood in the doorway, looking concerned.
"Why is Faye crying? What did you do?"
I immediately raised my hands defensively.
"I swear I didn't do anything!, "I only talked to her!"
Mother Mary gently took Faye from my arms and hugged her close, softly patting her back.
"There, there… it's okay."
Her voice was warm and soothing. "Faye is a good girl. Can you tell me why you're crying?"
Faye clung tightly to mother Mary's clothes and cried even harder But she didn't say a single word.
Mother Mary sighed softly. "That's alright. You don't have to talk right now."
She gently wiped the girl's tears. "Let's go sit at the table. Raven prepared a delicious breakfast for us."
Faye sniffled and slowly nodded Then they both left the kitchen.
I stood there alone Completely confused After a moment I sighed quietly.
"What the heck…"
"What did I do wrong?"
A familiar voice answered inside my mind.
"Oh, I think the problem is obvious."
The voice of Morivane sounded amused. "You should probably be more careful with children's feelings."
I frowned. "What does that mean?"
Morivane laughed. "I'm not saying you're ugly."
She paused dramatically.
"But your face is terrifying."
My hand slowly touched my cheek. "My face?, What's wrong with my face?"
"Oh, nothing," she continued mockingly. "Just those sharp yellow eyes, They look like a predator's."
"A monster's."
She chuckled. "You made that poor little girl cry just by looking at her, I almost feel bad for these children."
Her laughter grew louder.
"Imagine waking up every morning and the first thing you see is that scary face."
I froze Completely still, Her words echoed in my mind For several long seconds I didn't move.
Then I felt a hand gently touch my shoulder, I turned around.
Ren and Lira stood behind me they looked worried.
"Raven?" Ren said. "Are you okay? We were calling you but you didn't respond."
Before I could stop myself, the question slipped out.
"Hey… how does my face look?"
They both blinked in confusion.
Lira tilted her head. "I'm not sure what you mean." She thought for a moment. "If I had to describe you… I'd say you're beautiful."
Ren crossed his arms. "I think you're more handsome than beautiful."
I raised an eyebrow. "That's not what I meant."
I looked at them seriously. "Do I look scary? , "Am I so frightening that children cry just by looking at me?"
Both of them frowned. "Who told you that?" Ren asked.
"You know that's not true."
"Everyone here likes you."
I looked down slightly. "I made Faye cry just by talking to her."
Lira and Ren exchanged a glance.
Then they both laughed.
"Don't worry about that," Lira said.
"Faye is still little. She cries over the smallest things."
"She doesn't really understand anything yet."
Ren nodded. "Exactly. Don't overthink it, We'll help you set the table."
Meanwhile Morivane's laughter echoed inside my head. "This is incredibly entertaining."
I smirked slightly. "Oh really?, You think this is funny?"
She laughed between breaths. "What can I say? I was bored, I just wanted to tease you a little."
I leaned against the counter. "You're right, That was funny."
My smile widened slightly. "So how about this?"
Morivane paused. "…What do you mean?"
Before she could finish speaking, I activated a new ability I had learned recently, A thin invisible barrier formed inside my mind, Like a wall between two rooms.
The moment it appeared Her voice disappeared, silence complete silence.
This ability allowed me to block her senses completely, She could neither see nor hear anything through my mind.
I called it: Voidveil Barrier.
And I could keep it active for as long as I wanted.
I whispered quietly to myself, "That's your punishment for mocking me."
Then I picked up the remaining dishes and walked out of the kitchen.
I sat beside Ren at the table.
Lira immediately asked,
"So when are we moving to the new house?"
"In a few days," I replied.
"Once the final modifications are done."
The moment the other children heard that we were moving to a bigger place, excitement filled the room.
Voices erupted around the table.
Ren scratched his head.
"There are a lot of heavy things to move though, That's going to take a long time."
I shook my head. "No need, We won't be taking anything from here."
Everyone looked at me in surprise.
"Everything in the new house will be new, So just pack the things that are important to you."
Then I looked at Ren and Lira. "When will you be back from the guild today?, I need your help with something."
Lira thought for a moment. "We should finish around two ."
I nodded. "I'll wait for you at the new house."
I stood up to leave Mother Mary looked at my half-empty plate. "Raven, where are you going? You barely ate."
I smiled softly. "I have some work to finish, and I'm not very hungry."
She sighed but nodded. "Be careful outside."
"I will."
I walked toward the door.
"See you later."
Then I stepped outside the orphanage.
The morning sun had just begun rising above the rooftops And the city was slowly waking up.
The moment I stepped outside the orphanage gates, the morning air felt different quieter.
I exhaled slowly and released the Voidveil Barrier, The effect was immediate a surge of presence burst back into my mind like a storm breaking through a sealed door.
In the next second Morivane manifested in front of me.
Her expression burned with fury.
Her long crimson hair floated around her as if caught in an unseen current, and her red eyes glowed like living embers beneath the morning sun.
Before I could react, she grabbed my face hard her fingers dug into my cheeks.
"Don't you ever do that to me again." Her voice was low but filled with rage.
I looked directly into her blazing eyes, then I smirked and said lightly, " I'm sorry."
Her eyes narrowed, then I smirked red glow inside them intensified. " Are you really sorry?"
Her grip tightened painfully on my face, My cheeks were practically squished together now.
I kept smiling.
"No, Not really."
Morivane's lips slowly curled into a dangerous smirk.
"Well then."
She leaned closer.
"It sounds like you're asking to die."
I gently pushed her hands away from my face and rubbed my cheeks.
"You started it," I said calmly. "You were the one mocking me."
She glared at me.
I sighed.
"Alright, alright."
I raised my hands slightly in surrender.
"I'm sorry. For real this time."
"I won't do it again."
Morivane studied my face for a moment , Her black wings slowly unfolded behind her, stretching lazily in the sunlight.
Finally she spoke. "That thing you did…"
Her eyes narrowed again.
"Was that a new ability?"
I shook my head. "No. It's not really an ability."
I paused, trying to think of the right way to explain it. "I don't know how to describe it exactly."
Then I looked at her.
"But since this is my body, I can do whatever I want inside it."
Morivane frowned.
"I don't follow."
"Okay," I said. "Think of it like this."
I gestured slightly with my hand. "Imagine we're both inside a large room."
"That room belongs to me, I can rearrange it however I want, Build walls, place barriers, divide it into sections."
I shrugged.
"And you can't complain about it… because it's still my room."
Her eyes narrowed thoughtfully.
"So that barrier wasn't a power…"
"It was just something natural for you."
"Exactly." I nodded. "Because you're technically a guest inside my body."
I tilted my head slightly. "Does that make sense?"
Morivane sighed.
"Yes , I understand now."
Then she crossed her arms. "But I've never seen you do that before."
"Why now?"
I smiled faintly.
"Because I didn't know I could, I only discovered it recently."
Morivane rubbed her forehead. "Just… don't do that again." Her voice lost some of its anger. "That place was awful."
She looked away slightly.
"You have no idea how it felt, Being trapped in silent darkness like that."
I started walking down the road leading away from the orphanage.
"I actually do know."
My voice was quiet.
"Because I was there too."
"If you've forgotten."
Morivane snorted.
"Oh yeah."
"How could I forget?"
Her voice carried a strange mix of sarcasm and something darker.
"You were there when you died for the first time For a very long time."
I didn't answer, We walked in silence.
After a moment she asked, " so where are we going?"
"To the southern border of the city," I replied calmly. "I want to check the guard situation and locate monster territories."
"Planning to train?" she asked.
"Not now." I shook my head. "I'm just placing a few markers So I can teleport there easily tonight."
I glanced sideways at her.
"Are you going back inside?, I'm about to teleport."
Morivane sighed dramatically.
"Fine."
Her body dissolved into black smoke and slipped back into my chest The connection between us settled again.
I focused my mind, space folded The world twisted And in the next instant I appeared at the southern border of the city.
Tall trees surrounded me, Dense green forest stretched endlessly in every direction Sunlight filtered through thick leaves, scattering golden patterns across the ground.
I looked around slowly.
"I remember this place."
My voice was barely above a whisper.
Three years ago This was the same forest I had crossed when I left the city.
I stepped out of the forest and moved toward the southern watch line.
"I need to finish before eleven," I muttered.
"I don't want to be late for Princess Lyria and Kara's training."
"I only have two hours."
As I moved through the area, I quietly placed several spatial markers—small anchors that would allow me to teleport here instantly later.
Hidden.
Invisible.
Perfect for night training.
Morivane spoke again from inside my mind. "There are a lot of monsters in this region."
I nodded slightly.
"That's because there are many caves nearby, Monsters use them to hide during the day."
I continued scouting the area , Observing patrol routes , Counting guard positions.
Marking several monster nests hidden within the forest cliffs, Some were small packs Others were much more dangerous.
After nearly two hours, I stepped onto a rocky ridge overlooking the southern valley.
I exhaled slowly.
" Alright I think that's enough." I checked the sun's position. "Perfect timing Now I need to get to the palace."
I activated my teleport again, But I didn't jump directly to the palace grounds, That would attract attention.
Instead I appeared away from palace , Far enough that no one would notice ,From there, I simply walked Five quiet minutes later—The towering white walls of the royal palace came into view.
The palace guards allowed me through without trouble.
They had grown used to seeing me over the past weeks, and a few even nodded respectfully as I passed through the gates. I returned the gesture lightly and continued walking.
I headed straight toward the training courtyard behind the palace.
The morning sun was warm, and the stone pathways shimmered faintly under its light. The air carried the scent of trimmed grass and distant flowers from the royal gardens.
When I stepped into the training yard, I immediately noticed something.
Princess Lyria and Kara weren't there.
Instead, a small figure sat alone on a wooden bench near the edge of the courtyard.
It was the young princess, Princess Evanna.
She looked tiny sitting there with her legs barely reaching the ground.
I approached slowly so I wouldn't startle her.
When I stopped in front of her, I lowered my head slightly in respect.
"Good morning, Princess."
She straightened quickly, clearly a little nervous.
"G–good morning."
Her voice was soft and slightly awkward.
I smiled faintly.
"I see you're alone today."
She looked down at the ground and fidgeted with her fingers.
"Father called my sister and Kara a little while ago," she explained quietly. "They might be late… but they will come back."
My eyes moved over her outfit.
Training clothes.
That explained why she was waiting here.
I smiled again, softer this time.
"That's not a problem. I can wait."
Then I tilted my head slightly.
"But since you're already here… how about we start warming up together until Princess Lyria and Kara return?"
Her eyes immediately brightened.
She jumped off the bench and nodded eagerly.
"Yes!"
I walked toward the weapon rack along the wall.
After placing my own sword against the stone, I picked up two wooden practice swords.
When I returned to the center of the yard, Evanna was already standing straight like a soldier waiting for orders.
I handed her one of the wooden swords.
"Ready?"
She gripped it tightly.
"Yes! I'm ready."
I raised an eyebrow slightly.
"Before we begin… do you have any experience with swords?"
"Have you ever trained before?"
She shook her head. "No. This is my first time."
I nodded calmly.
"That's perfectly fine, Then we'll start with the basics."
I stepped closer and adjusted her stance slightly.
"First, hold the sword with both hands."
She quickly copied my grip.
"Like this?"
"Yes," I said with a small smile. "Exactly like that."
Then I demonstrated slowly.
I raised my wooden sword above my head…
…and brought it straight down in a clean vertical strike.
I looked back at her.
"Pretty simple, right?"
"Can you try the same?"
Evanna nodded enthusiastically.
She lifted the sword above her head.
Then she brought it down.
Her movement was slightly clumsy and a little unbalanced—but that was expected, This was the first time she had ever held a sword.
Her eyes sparkled as she looked at me.
"Did I do it right?"
I nodded.
"Yes, that was good."
Then I pointed gently at her feet.
"But spread your legs a little more for balance."
She adjusted her stance immediately.
Then she raised the sword again and brought it down.
This time the motion was steadier.
I smiled.
"Good."
"Now keep repeating that strike."
I stepped back and rested the wooden sword on my shoulder while placing my other hand on my hip.
"Let's see how many strikes you can do."
"If you get tired, stop immediately."
"Don't push your body too hard. Since it's your first day, I only want to measure your endurance."
She nodded seriously.
"Yes, ma'am."
I chuckled softly. "Please just call me Raven."
"Now begin."
She nodded again and started.
One strike.
Two strikes.
Three.
I watched carefully, counting silently. Her movements were energetic, though still rough, By strike thirty, her breathing had grown heavier, By forty-five, her arms had clearly started to slow.
When she reached fifty, I raised my hand.
"Alright, that's enough."
She lowered the sword but looked slightly frustrated.
"I can continue. I'm fine."
I shook my head with a faint smile.
"That was very good."
"You did fifty strikes on your first attempt. That's amazing."
I crossed my arms.
"And yes, I know you could keep going, But let's breathe for a moment."
I studied her carefully.
"How do you feel?"
She wiped the sweat from her forehead. "My arms feel a little heavy… but I'm okay."
"That heaviness is normal," I said calmly.
"Do you want to continue?"
She nodded immediately.
"Yes, please."
I stepped back again.
"Alright."
"Go ahead."
Her excitement returned instantly. She lifted the sword again.
One strike.
Two.
Twenty-five.
Thirty.
Then suddenly she stopped Her arms dropped.
"I… can't lift them anymore."
I smiled slightly.
"That's perfectly fine, Eighty strikes total on your first day, That's very impressive We can stop here for today."
Just then—I heard footsteps behind me.
When I turned around, I saw princess Lyria and Kara.
They had just entered the courtyard Their expressions were tense heavy concerned.
Not the usual confident energy they carried into training.
"Good morning, Princess Lyria… Kara." My eyes moved between them. "Why do you both look so worried , Did something happen?"
Princess Lyria approached me with a troubled expression, her voice soft and apologetic.
"Raven… I'm really sorry for being late. I truly didn't mean to keep you waiting."
I smiled lightly and raised a hand as if stopping the words before they could continue.
"Alright, alright. First—let's stop the apologies."
I tilted my head slightly toward the smaller figure beside us.
"And second, I wasn't alone. I spent the time with the little princess. We had a good time, didn't we?"
Princess Evanna nodded eagerly, her eyes shining with excitement.
"Yes! It was really fun."
Lyria stepped closer to me then, hesitating for a moment before lightly grasping the edge of my shirt. Her fingers tightened slightly, as if she was afraid I might walk away.
"Raven, I truly didn't mean to be late. My father summoned me for something important."
I looked down at her hand for a brief second before meeting her eyes again and smiling.
"Didn't I just say we should stop apologizing? You weren't late for hours. It was only a few minutes, so it's really not a problem."
She searched my face carefully.
"You're not upset… are you?"
I raised an eyebrow.
"Do I look upset?"
She didn't answer. She just stared at me silently, clearly unsure.
I let out a small laugh.
"Oh yes, I was terribly upset that you were a few minutes late. I was about to leave and never wait for you again."
I paused, then smirked slightly.
"So don't worry about it. Now—shall we start training? If you're ready."
A small smile finally appeared on her face.
"I'm ready."
I turned toward Princess Evanna and lightly tapped her wooden sword with mine.
"You can join us anytime you want. You did well today. Next time we'll continue from where we stopped."
Evanna's face brightened immediately.
"Thank you for training me today! I'm looking forward to the next time!"
She bowed politely before running back toward the palace.
Lyria watched her leave, a faint warmth in her expression.
"That's the first time I've ever seen Evanna excited about something like that."
Then she looked back at me with a small smile.
"So… shall we begin?"
I lifted my wooden sword.
"I'm ready if you are."
The training lasted much longer than usual.
It was hard on them—especially on Lyria—but hardship was necessary. If they wanted to improve quickly, their bodies needed to adapt to real pressure.
Strike after strike.
Footwork.
Balance.
Recovery.
Sweat soaked through their training clothes, and their breathing grew heavier as the sun climbed higher above the palace walls.
But neither of them stopped.
That alone told me more about their resolve than any words could.
Finally, after hours of practice, I sat down on a wooden bench near the edge of the training yard to rest.
My muscles were warm, but my breathing remained steady.
A moment later, Lyria approached, holding a cup of water in her hand.
She offered it to me.
"Here… drink some water."
I took it from her.
"Thank you."
She sat beside me, closer than necessary, though there was plenty of space on the bench.
"How are the preparations for moving to the new house?" she asked.
"Everything is going smoothly so far," I replied. "It should all be finished in three or four days."
Kara walked over and stopped in front of us, crossing her arms.
"Do you need any help with the move? I'm ready to help if you need it."
Lyria immediately added with a smile,
"I can help too."
I gave them both a small smile.
"Thank you. If I need help, I'll let you know."
For a moment, the three of us sat in comfortable silence.
Then Lyria spoke again, though this time there was hesitation in her voice.
"Raven… will you be busy tomorrow after training?"
I glanced at her.
"Tomorrow? Why do you ask?"
She hesitated again before answering.
"I was planning to go down to the city tomorrow to inspect things… but my father refused to let Kara and me go alone."
I looked silently at Kara, then back at Lyria.
Lyria seemed to understand the unspoken question.
She smiled faintly.
"I know what you're thinking. My father trusts Kara. He knows how strong she is and that she can protect me easily."
Her smile faded slightly.
"But since the coup… he's been overly protective."
I whispered, "I didn't say anything."
Kara suddenly laughed.
"You didn't say anything, Raven—but it was written all over your face."
I shrugged lightly.
"I'm not busy tomorrow. I can come with you."
Lyria looked at me carefully.
"Are you sure? I don't want to interrupt your plans."
Only then did I notice how close she was sitting beside me, Much closer than before Even though half the bench was empty.
I didn't comment on it. Instead I simply answered,
"Don't worry. I really am free tomorrow."
I stood up and stretched slightly.
"But I should go now. I have a few things I need to take care of."
I picked up my sword and fastened it to my waist.
Then I bowed slightly toward both of them.
"I'll see you tomorrow."
For a brief moment, Lyria looked like she wanted to say something more, But the words never came.
So I turned and began walking toward the exit of the training yard.
Behind me, I could still feel her gaze following my back.
And for some reason…
That feeling stayed with me long after I left the palace grounds.
I left the palace grounds and walked a short distance away before activating my teleportation.
The world folded for a brief moment, and in the next second I appeared in the front garden of the building that would soon become our new orphanage.
The place was quiet.
Too quiet.
The afternoon sun stretched long shadows across the yard, and the soft wind moved through the tall grass like a whisper.
Ren and Lira weren't here yet.
I stepped inside.
Dust.
Broken boards.
Loose hinges.
The smell of a place that had been abandoned for long, I rolled up my sleeves and got to work.
Half an hour later the front door creaked open.
"Raven!"
Ren's voice echoed through the hallway. Lira followed behind him carrying a bucket and some cloths.
Without wasting time, the three of us began cleaning, repairing broken shelves, tightening loose boards, and clearing out old debris.
Dust filled the air as sunlight streamed through the windows.
Sweat slowly gathered on our foreheads. Two hours passed faster than expected.
Ren collapsed onto the floor dramatically. "This… is way more exhausting than training," he groaned.
Lira wiped sweat from her forehead and nodded.
"He's right. But at least we finished the cleaning and repairs. The only thing left is moving the furniture and supplies."
I looked around the room one last time.
It was far from perfect, but it was already starting to feel like a home.
"Don't worry about that," I said calmly. "I'll handle the rest. You two can go back now. We're done for today."
Lira tilted her head. "You're not coming back with us?"
I shook my head slightly.
"I'm going to visit my teacher first. After that, I have something I need to take care of, so I might return late tonight."
Then I added,
"Can you tell mother Mary?"
Lira nodded. "Alright. I'll tell her."
Ren and Lira soon left, their footsteps fading down the road Silence returned to the garden. I stood there for a moment, staring at the building Soon… the children would live here.
Later, I walked through the busy streets of the city center, buying a few small supplies I needed for tonight's trip to the southern border, After finishing buying some things, I went directly towards Master's house.
By the time I finished training with my master , the sun had already disappeared beyond the horizon Night had fallen The sky above us was filled with distant stars.
Elyra crossed her arms and looked at me.
"Raven, it's already dinner time. Why don't you stay? I'll cook something for us."
I picked up my sword and fastened it to my waist.
"Thank you, but I can't. I have something I need to take care of."
She raised one eyebrow slowly.
"Work… at this hour?"Her eyes narrowed slightly. "I hope you're not doing anything reckless."
I smiled lightly. "Don't worry. It's nothing dangerous."
I began walking away.
"See you tomorrow, master ."
I could feel Elyra's gaze on my back So I turned around, waving my hand with a playful smile.
"I'll cook you something delicious tomorrow! Something you've never eaten in your entire life!"
She snorted and waved back.
"My foolish student … be careful."
I walked along a forest path until I was far away from any wandering eyes Then I opened a Void, Dark energy rippled in front of me like a tear in space.
From it I pulled out a long black cloak and wrapped it around my body, covering half my face.
Next, I used my ability to forge a weapon from mana , The energy shifted and hardened in my hands, forming a dark mask.
A pitch-black mask that covered my entire face except for my eyes, No one would recognize me.
I placed my sword back inside the Void. Tonight I wouldn't use it, If I wanted my body to grow stronger…I had to fight with my bare hands.
The Void closed silently.
Then I teleported.
In an instant I appeared on a tree branch near the southern border of the city.
Earlier in the morning I had placed a teleportation mark here between the branches—perfect for hiding and observing.
The time was somewhere between eight and nine at night.
The soldiers had already finished their patrols and left the area after checking for monsters, The forest was silent, Only the distant chirping of night insects filled the air.
I dropped from the tree and landed quietly on the forest floor, Step by step, I walked deeper toward the area where the monsters usually hid during the day.
Low growls echoed somewhere in the darkness.
My senses sharpened, My muscles relaxed but remained ready, Every shadow could hide something, Every sound mattered.
Then—
Something moved above me, My instincts reacted instantly, I jumped backward.
A massive creature crashed down exactly where I had been standing a second earlier.
The impact shook the ground, Dirt and leaves exploded outward from the force, The pressure of the landing rolled across the forest like a shockwave.
But I didn't move.
Didn't even flinch.
The dust slowly settled.
In front of me stood a huge beast—twice my height, with thick muscles, jagged claws, and glowing eyes filled with hunger.
I tilted my head slightly, Then a slow smirk formed beneath my mask.
"Well…"
I cracked my knuckles slowly. "You came at the perfect time."
My golden eyes glowed in the darkness. "I was starting to get bored."
The beast let out a deafening roar that shook the surrounding forest.
A violent red flame ignited around its massive fists, swirling like burning storms. Heat rolled through the night air as it charged toward me at terrifying speed.
Its flaming fist shot straight toward my face.
I moved without thinking.
I tilted my head and stepped aside, the blazing strike passing inches from my cheek.
Inside my mind, Morivain sighed.
"Why did you dodge? Didn't you say you wanted to become stronger? Then you should take his attacks head-on."
I exhaled quietly.
"I dodged instinctively… I'll try not to dodge next time."
Morivain chuckled softly.
"Good. Then pay attention behind you. It's coming again."
I spun around just in time.
The monster's burning fist slammed toward me.
I raised my hand and blocked it.
Our fists collided.
BOOM.
A violent pressure wave exploded outward. Trees around us shook violently as the force rippled through the forest like thunder.
The monster roared and swung again.
And again.
And again.
But its movements were sloppy… wild… predictable.
Every attack was easy to read.
I blocked them one after another, barely moving from my spot.
After a short moment I sighed.
"Let's end this quickly."
I rolled my shoulders.
"There are probably more monsters around here."
The creature roared in fury.
The flames around its fists burned even brighter as it threw its entire weight into a final desperate attack.
Its massive flaming fist came crashing toward me.
This time—
I didn't block with both hands.
I stopped the strike with a single palm.
The impact shook the ground beneath my feet.
The monster froze.
Before it could react, I grabbed its arm tightly.
It struggled violently.
Too late.
My grip tightened.
Then I stepped forward and drove my fist into its chest with crushing force.
The impact sent the creature flying.
It smashed through several trees before collapsing heavily onto the ground.
Silence returned.
The monster didn't move again.
Dead.
I walked slowly toward the corpse.
Kneeling beside it, I gathered mana in my hand.
The energy condensed and shaped itself into a small black dagger.
Shadowforge
A technique that allowed me to solidify my mana into temporary weapons.
I plunged the dagger into the monster's chest.
With a precise movement I carved open the spot where its mana core rested.
Then I reached inside.
My fingers closed around something warm and pulsing.
I pulled it out, A red mana stone, It glowed like burning coal.
Morivain spoke from within me.
"What are you doing?"
I stood up and inspected the stone.
"I need these for something."
I turned it slowly in my hand.
"Actually… I need quite a few of them."
I slipped the stone into my Void storage.
"So I hope there are more fire monsters around tonight."
Suddenly—my instinct screamed I turned instantly.
My hand shot forward.
CLACK.
I caught something midair.
A sharp ice shard shaped like a dagger, If I had reacted a second later, it would have pierced straight through my heart.
My eyes narrowed as I looked toward the dark forest.
Between the trees…
Several monsters were hiding.
Watching.
Waiting.
Morivain spoke again. "It's too dark. Hard to see them clearly."
She paused.
"Can you use that trick you learned from those mages in the north?"
I nodded.
Closing my eyes, I guided the mana inside my body toward my vision.
When I opened them again—My eyes glowed in the darkness.
Night Sight.
The world instantly became clearer Shadows sharpened Distances extended.
The monsters hiding between the trees were now perfectly visible.
Morivain whispered.
"That's better. Now we can see them all."
I didn't waste another second I moved like a shadow tearing through the forest.
One monster lunged.
I crushed its jaw.
Another leaped from behind.
I grabbed its neck and slammed it into the ground.
Claws scraped across my cloak.
Ice shards flew past my shoulders.
But none of them could keep up.
Five minutes that's all it took bodies of monsters now lay scattered across the forest floor.
I approached one of them The one that had thrown the ice spear I knelt beside its corpse and removed my mask.
"I've never seen a monster using ice magic before."
I tilted my head slightly.
"But I have a good idea what I'll do with this ice stone."
Again I used Shadowforge to create a dagger I opened its chest then reached inside When I pulled the mana core out—
Blood splashed across my face, Some of it landed on my lips.
Without thinking…I licked it away.
And in that exact moment—A violent shiver ran through my entire body.
Morivain suddenly spoke.
"…What was that?"
Her tone sounded confused.
"Why did the air suddenly get colder?"
I blinked.
"You felt that too?"
A strange chill spread through my body, cold , sharp, alive.
"I don't know why… but it feels like ice is running through my veins."
I looked down at my hand, Thin mist was rising from it.
Then—
CRACK.
A small chunk of ice suddenly formed in my palm.
My eyes widened.
"What…?"
I stared at the frozen crystal.
"How am I using ice?"
Morivain sounded just as surprised. "I didn't know you had ice abilities."
I frowned.
"Neither did I."
I thought for a moment Then my eyes shifted toward the ice mana stone on the ground.
"…Could it be because of the ice stone I took?"
I placed the stone several meters away Then opened my hand again.
I waited.
A moment later—Ice formed again in my palm.
Morivain spoke slowly.
"…Then it's probably not the stone."
Then the memory struck me The exact moment the blood touched my lips.
The shiver.
The cold.
I spoke quietly.
"During the fight… I tried to copy the monster's ability."
"But I couldn't."
I stared at the frozen ice in my hand.
"…I think I know why I gained this ability."
Morivain was silent.
"When the blood landed on my lips… I accidentally licked it."
The realization settled between us.
Morivain spoke slowly.
"So you're saying the abilities you can't copy…"
"…you might be able to obtain by drinking their blood?"
I stared at my hand Ice slowly formed and melted across my fingers, A grin spread across my face beneath the blood stains.
"This is really cool."
I paused.
"…Disgusting."
Then I chuckled softly.
"But cool."
I stood up Picking up the ice mana stone, I placed it inside Void.
Then I recreated my black mask and put it back on , The forest around me had become eerily silent again.
I cracked my knuckles.
"Alright."
I looked deeper into the darkness of the forest.
"Let's see how many abilities I can steal tonight."