Three months had passed since Vein began training under Kael.
The seasons had shifted quietly.
Winter had arrived.
Snow covered the fields surrounding the farm, a thin layer of frost clinging to wooden fences and rooftops. The wind carried the sharp scent of ice and distant mountains, and each breath turned to white mist in the cold morning air. Every step crunched softly against the frozen ground.
Yet even in the freezing cold—
training continued.
Vein stood in the middle of the yard, barefoot against the frost-covered earth.
He wore only a simple training shirt and dark trousers. No coat. No gloves. No protection.
Because after months of relentless training—
his body no longer needed it.
The constant movement kept heat flowing through him, and over time, his body had adapted to the cold.
One arm rested in a sling.
His left arm.
Still wrapped in thick bandages.
Still healing.
Even after months of treatment.
So everything he did—
every strike, every lift, every step—
was done with only one arm.
His right.
Across the yard, Kael watched.
Unlike Vein, Kael wore a thick winter coat, a long dark mantle draped over his shoulders. Snow gathered lightly along the edges as the wind brushed past him.
His hands rested casually in his pockets.
"…you're not freezing?" Kael asked.
Vein rolled his shoulders once, loosening his muscles.
"Not really."
Kael studied him for a moment.
Then shrugged.
"…good."
—
Vein dropped to the ground.
Push-ups.
One.
Two.
Three.
His body lowered and rose using a single arm, his core tightening to keep balance.
Thirty.
Fifty.
Seventy.
One hundred.
He stood immediately.
No shaking.
No heavy breathing.
Then sit-ups.
Up.
Down.
Up.
Down.
One hundred.
Pull-ups came next.
Vein grabbed the wooden beam above him—
with one hand.
His body rose.
Once.
Twice.
Again.
Muscles tightening across his back and shoulders.
Fifty.
Seventy.
One hundred.
He dropped down lightly.
Then immediately into squat jumps.
His legs drove into the frozen ground, snow scattering beneath his feet.
Then rope jumping.
The rope sliced through the cold air in sharp, precise arcs.
His feet barely touched the ground.
One hundred.
Finished.
Three months ago—
half of this would have left him gasping.
Now—
it was only warm-up.
Vein exhaled slowly, white breath drifting into the air.
His body felt light.
Ready.
Kael watched from the side.
"…not bad."
—
Vein walked toward the training post.
The thick wooden log still stood, scarred from months of strikes.
He picked up a wooden sword.
Raised it.
Swung.
THACK—
The bark split.
Second strike—
CRACK—
The fracture deepened.
Third—
BOOM—
The entire post shattered.
The log collapsed into pieces.
Three strikes.
That was all it took now.
Vein lowered the sword.
His breathing remained steady.
The cold wind passed across the yard—
but he no longer felt it.
His body had learned
how to endure.
Even with only one arm.
—
Later that morning—
Vein stood at the base of the hill.
Snow layered the slope unevenly, frost clinging to rocks along the narrow path. Cold wind slid down from the ridge above.
Three months ago—
climbing this hill once had nearly killed him.
Now—
Kael stood beside the path.
And beside him—
a massive beast.
A Nightbound Beast.
But this one was calm.
Its dark fur shifted slightly in the wind, its glowing eyes quietly observing the world.
A saddle rested across its back.
Kael climbed onto it casually.
Vein stared.
"…wait."
"You're riding that?"
Kael adjusted the reins lazily.
"Yeah."
The beast exhaled, white mist curling from its nostrils.
"…it won't bite me, right?"
Kael glanced down.
"No."
Vein relaxed—
"…unless you stop running."
Vein froze.
"…what?"
Kael raised five fingers.
"Five rounds."
Vein sighed.
"…great."
He ran.
His feet crushed through snow as he pushed upward, legs driving against the frozen ground.
Behind him—
THUD.
THUD.
THUD.
The beast followed effortlessly.
Vein glanced back.
It was right behind him.
"…you're kidding."
"Don't stop."
Up.
Down.
Up again.
Five rounds.
By the final climb—
his breathing was heavier.
But steady.
He didn't stop.
Behind him, the beast slowed.
Kael leaned forward slightly.
"…good."
Vein bent forward, laughing weakly.
"…that thing is cheating."
—
They moved to the river.
Snow blanketed the forest floor, branches creaking under frost. The river roared as always, untouched by winter.
Vein stepped into the water.
Cold struck instantly.
Sharp.
But his body didn't flinch.
He moved forward.
Swimming.
One arm.
Stroke.
Kick.
Stroke.
Kick.
The current pushed—
but he flowed with it.
Not against it.
He reached the waterfall.
Climbed the rocks.
Looked down.
Then jumped.
His body cut through falling water.
SPLASH—
Moments later—
he surfaced.
Calm.
Breathing steady.
Kael watched.
"…good."
—
The hunt came next.
A wild boar burst from the trees.
Charging.
Vein moved.
Not back—
but sideways.
Wide.
Fast.
He ran along its flank, outside its vision.
Then jumped.
Landing on its blind spot.
His arm locked around its neck.
The animal thrashed.
Snow exploded around them.
Seconds later—
it collapsed.
Defeated.
Kael stepped forward.
"…smart."
—
Evening fell.
The sky dimmed.
Snow drifted quietly.
The final training.
Vein stepped beneath the waterfall.
Sat.
Cross-legged.
Eyes closed.
Water crashed down on him.
Heavy.
Relentless.
But he remained still.
His breathing slowed.
The roar faded.
The world softened.
And then—
he felt it.
Mana.
Flowing.
Through earth.
Through trees.
Through water.
Through air.
Some places—
denser.
Stronger.
Like currents beneath the surface of reality.
For the first time—
he understood.
Not with his eyes.
But with something deeper.
He could feel where mana gathered.
Where the world itself breathed.
Vein slowly opened his eyes.
Snow drifted through the evening sky.
The waterfall roared behind him.
But everything felt different now.
Clearer.
Alive.
Three months ago—
he had been broken.
Running.
Lost.
Now—
he sat calmly beneath the waterfall.
Feeling the invisible currents of the world.
And for the first time—
Vein began to understand
the power that flowed through it.
—
The fire crackled softly in the middle of the snowy forest.
A small campfire burned between stacked logs, its orange flames flickering against the falling snow. The sound of the nearby waterfall echoed endlessly through the dark woods, water crashing against the cliffs behind them. Mist drifted through the cold air, carried by the night wind.
Vein stood beside the fire.
His training shirt hung from a branch close to the flames, still damp from the river. Steam rose slowly from the cloth as the heat dried it.
He stood quietly.
Barefoot against the snow.
A rough cloth draped over his shoulders.
Across the fire—
Kael sat on a fallen log.
Relaxed.
One leg crossed over the other.
His thick winter coat shielded him from the cold, the firelight reflecting faintly in his eyes.
For a while—
neither of them spoke.
Only the crackling fire and the distant roar of the waterfall filled the silence.
Then—
Kael spoke.
"Vein."
Vein glanced toward him.
"…yeah?"
Kael leaned forward slightly, eyes fixed on the flames.
"You're done."
Vein frowned.
"…done?"
Kael nodded.
"With my training."
The words settled quietly into the cold air.
Vein blinked.
"What?"
Kael stretched his shoulders once.
"You've learned everything I planned to teach."
He gestured lazily toward Vein.
"Strength."
"Stamina."
"Movement."
"Instinct."
"Control."
He shrugged.
"You've got the foundation."
Vein stared at him.
"…that's it?"
Kael nodded.
"Tomorrow, we duel."
The sentence hit harder than expected.
"…duel?"
Kael picked up a small stick and nudged one of the burning logs deeper into the fire. Sparks drifted upward into the night.
"If you beat me—"
he said calmly,
"your training is finished."
Vein frowned.
"And if I lose?"
Kael smirked.
"Then you keep training."
"Until you can beat me."
Vein stared at him, disbelief clear on his face.
"…how am I supposed to beat you?"
He lifted his bandaged arm slightly.
"You're a Royal Knight."
"You've fought real battles."
"You've got years of experience."
"And I'm still half broken."
"How exactly am I supposed to win against someone like that?"
Kael looked at him for a moment.
Then—
he laughed.
Loud.
Unrestrained.
"HAHAHAHA!"
The sound echoed through the forest.
Vein frowned deeper.
"…what's so funny?"
Kael wiped the corner of his eye.
"Relax."
He waved a hand casually.
"I'll only use thirty percent of my strength."
Vein blinked.
"…thirty percent?"
Kael nodded.
"That should give you a better chance."
Vein stared at him.
"…I still don't feel confident."
Kael chuckled.
"Don't overthink it."
Then he stood.
Snow crunched beneath his boots as he stretched his arms once.
"Anyway."
"I'm heading back to the farm."
Vein turned immediately.
"…wait."
He pointed toward the branch.
His clothes were still drying.
"You're leaving already?"
Kael shrugged.
"Yeah."
Vein's eyebrows twitched.
"…seriously?"
"At least wait until my clothes dry."
"I can't walk back to the village without clothes."
Kael froze for a second.
Then—
he burst into laughter again.
"HAHAHAHA!"
"You'll be fine!"
Vein scowled.
"That's not the point."
Kael waved lazily as he walked away into the snowy forest.
"Just take the forest path."
"No one will see you."
Then he added—
almost as an afterthought—
"Except the Nightbound Beasts."
Vein froze.
"…very funny."
Kael's laughter echoed faintly as his figure disappeared between the trees.
His footsteps faded into the snow.
The forest grew quiet again.
Only the fire remained.
Crackling softly.
Vein sighed.
"…unbelievable."
He sat down beside the flames, watching his clothes slowly dry in the warm glow.
Tomorrow—
he would fight Kael.
Even with one arm.
Even against someone who had survived real battlefields.
Vein stared into the fire.
"…thirty percent, huh."
The flames flickered.
Snow continued to fall through the dark forest.
And somewhere beyond the waterfall—
something moved.
Silent.
Watching.
Waiting.