Snow drifted slowly across the field.
The duel had ended.
Cold wind swept over the farmland, brushing across the white ground where the battle had just taken place. Vein still stood at the center, breathing heavily as blood dripped from the wound on his leg where the Nightbound Beast had bitten him.
Across from him, Kael had already lowered his hands.
For a moment, no one moved.
Then—
"BROTHER VEIN!"
Rosa's voice shattered the silence.
She jumped down from Elna's floating chair and ran across the snow, her small boots scattering white powder behind her.
"YOU WON!"
Before Vein could react—
She crashed straight into him.
Her arms wrapped tightly around his waist, nearly knocking him off balance. Vein staggered, then laughed softly as he steadied himself and lifted her with his right arm.
"…hey."
"Waaah!"
Rosa squealed, immediately wrapping her arms around his neck.
"You were amazing! You beat Brother Kael!"
"…barely," Vein muttered with a faint smile.
More footsteps approached.
Elna guided her floating chair closer while Johan walked beside her. But the moment Elna saw the blood running down Vein's leg, her expression sharpened.
"Hold still."
"…what?"
Before he could react, she raised her hand. Mana gathered quietly, forming a soft green glow in her palm. The air around Vein's leg warmed as she pressed her hand gently against the wound.
The bite marks began to close.
Torn flesh knitted together under the glow of healing magic. The pain faded slowly until only a faint soreness remained.
A few seconds later, the light disappeared.
"There," Elna said, leaning back. "Much better."
Then she smirked, her eyes scanning him.
"Well… looks like Vein's gotten stronger."
Her grin widened slightly.
"And your body's gotten pretty muscular too."
Vein turned red instantly.
"That's not the point."
Rosa giggled.
Johan stepped forward, his sharp eyes studying Vein in silence. After a moment, a faint smile appeared beneath his beard.
"You've changed."
His voice was calm.
"When we first met, you were running for your life. Chased through the forest by a Nightbound Beast."
Rosa nodded eagerly. "I remember that!"
"…please don't remind me," Vein muttered.
Johan chuckled.
"But now, you stood your ground and fought a Royal Knight."
His gaze sharpened slightly.
"That's quite the difference."
Vein didn't answer, but a small smile still formed on his face.
Then his eyes drifted toward the edge of the field.
Sylva stood there.
A short distance away, her silver hair moving gently in the winter wind. She had watched the entire duel.
Their eyes met.
For a moment, she simply smiled.
A small, quiet smile.
Then she turned and walked away.
Vein blinked.
"…Sylva?"
But she didn't stop.
Her figure disappeared between the trees.
A strange feeling settled in his chest.
"…she didn't even say congratulations."
Elna glanced toward the forest and shrugged.
"She's always been a little strange."
Before anyone could say more—
A sharp cry tore through the air.
"RRRAAWW—!"
Everyone turned.
The Nightbound Beast still lay in the snow where Vein had stabbed it, its body trembling weakly, blood staining the ground beneath it.
Kael walked toward it calmly and knelt down.
Then—
SHNK—
He pulled the sword from its body.
The beast growled in pain, but Kael immediately pressed his hand against the wound. Mana gathered faintly as the bleeding slowed.
"…you're healing it?" Vein asked.
Kael didn't answer.
After a moment, the creature's breathing stabilized.
Vein stepped closer, snow crunching beneath his boots.
"…sorry."
Kael glanced up.
"I stabbed your pet."
Kael snorted.
"It deserved it."
He stood, then looked directly at Vein. His expression shifted, more serious now.
"Vein."
"…yeah?"
"Do you want to see something interesting?"
Vein frowned.
"…what?"
Kael rolled his shoulders.
"Do you want to see…"
A faint grin formed.
"…what my real strength looks like?"
The wind swept across the field.
"Do you want to see my power…"
"…at one hundred percent?"
The air grew colder.
He bent down and picked up the sword Vein had used earlier.
At first, nothing happened.
Then—
Light began to gather along the blade.
Soft at first.
Like fireflies.
Then brighter.
And brighter.
Vein's eyes widened.
"…Vein," Kael said calmly. "Do you know something interesting?"
The glow intensified.
"Nature magic… can be fused with a weapon."
The aura around him changed completely.
The relaxed mentor was gone.
What stood there now was a Royal Knight.
The air grew heavy. Oppressive.
Even breathing felt difficult.
Kael raised the sword.
Then—
BOOM—
A pillar of blinding light shot into the sky.
"Second-tier light magic."
The moment it erupted, everything changed.
The snow vanished instantly.
Steam exploded into the air as the entire field melted into water. Within seconds, the farmland had become a shallow lake, water rising to Vein's knees.
Johan moved immediately, stepping in front of Elna and Rosa, shielding them.
"VEIN!"
Elna shouted.
But Vein couldn't move.
His body locked in place.
Not from fear—
But instinct.
Danger.
Kael lowered the sword.
The light faded.
Then—
He vanished.
No sound.
No movement.
Nothing.
"…too slow."
Vein's eyes snapped open.
Kael was already in front of him.
A blade rested against his neck.
Cold.
Sharp.
Real.
Vein's mind went blank.
He hadn't seen it.
Hadn't felt it.
Hadn't even sensed it.
If this had been real—
He would already be dead.
His legs gave out.
He collapsed to one knee, water rippling outward as his sword slipped from his hand.
CLANG—
His breathing turned uneven.
His heart pounded violently.
Kael lowered his blade, his expression returning to normal.
Calm.
Casual.
But Vein remained frozen.
Because now he understood.
The gap between them.
The difference between three months of training—
and years of war.
—
Silence settled over the flooded field.
Steam drifted into the air.
Then—
THWACK—
Kael's head snapped forward.
"…ow."
He turned slowly.
Johan stood behind him, fist still raised.
"Are you trying to kill him?"
"…it was just a demonstration."
"Demonstration?" Johan's eyebrow twitched. "You just fired second-tier magic in the middle of the farm."
He gestured at the flooded land.
"Look at this."
Rosa peeked out, wide-eyed.
Elna crossed her arms.
"…yeah. That was overkill."
Kael shrugged.
"He needed to see it."
Johan stared at him, then sighed.
"…you're still the same."
Vein watched the scene quietly.
For some reason, it didn't feel like two warriors arguing.
It felt like a father scolding his son.
And that thought left a quiet warmth in his chest.
Johan turned back to him and extended his hand.
"Get up."
Vein hesitated, then took it.
Johan pulled him up easily.
His legs still trembled.
Not from exhaustion—
But from realization.
Kael stretched lazily.
"Well. Guess that's it."
Johan nodded.
"The duel is officially over."
He pointed at Vein.
"Winner. Vein."
"YAY!"
Rosa jumped.
Elna clapped lightly.
"Congratulations."
Kael stepped forward, stopping in front of Vein.
For a moment, he studied him.
Then nodded.
"You won."
No sarcasm.
No teasing.
Only acknowledgement.
"But."
His tone shifted slightly.
"You're not strong yet."
Vein didn't argue.
He already knew.
"You've learned how to fight. How to survive. How to think."
Kael folded his arms.
"But what you saw earlier…"
His eyes narrowed.
"…that's the level waiting outside this farm."
Vein remained silent.
Water rippled quietly around his boots.
Kael gave a faint grin.
"You've taken your first step."
He glanced toward the distant horizon.
"But the world out there…"
"…is much bigger than you think."
The winter wind passed over the flooded field.
And Vein understood something clearly.
He had won the duel.
But the world beyond the farm—
was far more dangerous than he had imagined.