The morning after their shared confession came with a clarity Reynar hadn't felt in years.
The air was crisp. Birds called lazily from the canopy above, and Eldwyn stirred awake below them. But despite the gentle quiet of dawn, his heart thumped with new resolve.
When he stepped into the clearing behind Liora's house, she was already there.
Clad in her training leathers, hair tied back, Liora spun her staff with quiet precision. Her movements were fluid, lethal — but calm. No wasted energy. No excess flash.
Reynar couldn't help but feel awe. She was beautiful in motion. A storm wrapped in stillness.
"You're late," she said without turning.
He smirked. "You're early."
She turned with a small smile, one that reached her eyes.
"Today we start real training," she said. "No more swinging sticks at trees."
"About time."
She raised a brow. "Then dodge."
Reynar blinked. "Wait, wha—"
A blast of wind shot toward him, throwing him off his feet.
He landed on his back with a grunt, coughing dirt.
Liora stood over him, the faint glow of a wind spell still fading from her fingertips. "Lesson one. Never let your guard down — not even with me."
He coughed again, sitting up. "Point taken."
The day that followed was brutal.
Liora taught him how to channel mana more efficiently — not just with brute force, but with precision. She demonstrated battle stances, how to shift weight, and how to time counterattacks based on an opponent's footwork.
More importantly, she began to show him how to weave magic into movement. Not casting spells like a mage, but integrating elemental force with strikes and dodges — the art of battle channeling, as she called it.
Each time Reynar stumbled, Liora corrected him. Each time he slipped, she offered a hand — or a jab in the ribs.
But it wasn't cruel.
She pushed him because she believed in him. That, he could feel.
[System Update]
Skill Progression: "Battle Channeling" – Rank D+Stat Increases:→ Dexterity +2→ Mana Control +3
Companion Affinity – Liora: 73%→ Note: Training together improves synergy and increases bond growth.
During one of their breaks, they sat under the shade of a tree, sipping coolwater from clay jars.
Liora tilted her head, watching him.
"You're progressing faster than I expected."
Reynar wiped sweat from his brow. "It's the system. Honestly, if I didn't have it, I'd still be getting knocked over every three seconds."
"Maybe. But the system doesn't teach instinct. Or grit."
Reynar hesitated, then glanced at her. "Liora… how long did it take you to get this strong?"
She went quiet for a moment.
"Years," she said. "And I bled for every step. But strength wasn't what made the pain worth it."
She turned to him.
"It was knowing I could protect the people I cared about."
Reynar's chest stirred.
"I want to be like that," he said. "For you. And for whatever comes next."
She looked at him — truly looked — and nodded.
That night, just after twilight, a knock came on Liora's door.
It was Orla, the elder huntress of Eldwyn, face grim.
"We found something near the western woods," she said. "An anomaly."
Liora frowned. "What kind?"
Orla shifted. "Something's… distorting mana. Animals are fleeing the area. Trees are wilting. It smells of the Void."
That word chilled the room.
"I'll investigate," Liora said immediately.
"I'm coming too," Reynar added.
Liora opened her mouth to protest — then stopped.
His eyes were steady. He wasn't just chasing strength anymore. He was choosing to protect.
She nodded once.
"Gear up. We leave in ten."
The trek into the forest was uneventful — at first.
But the closer they got to the western edge, the quieter everything became.
No birds. No insects. Not even the wind.
Just… silence.
Then Reynar saw it.
A patch of land, warped and blackened. The trees were twisted, bark split open like rotting wounds. In the center was a circle of pulsing violet mist, humming with unstable energy.
It felt wrong. It felt alive.
Liora's face had gone pale.
"This… this wasn't here yesterday."
[System Alert]
Void Corruption Detected: Anomaly Node (Minor)
Warning: Area contains chaotic energy. Recommended for parties above Level 20.
Current Party Average Level: 7
Reynar's breath caught.
"Is it a… rift?"
"No," Liora whispered. "It's a seed. A fragment. If left unchecked, it could grow. Spread."
"Should we destroy it?"
She shook her head. "We need to seal it. But I need time to prepare the ritual."
She turned to him, eyes serious.
"Keep watch. If anything comes out—don't engage. Just warn me."
Reynar nodded.
As Liora began her chant, Reynar stood guard. Eyes on the shadows. Fingers twitching with gathered mana.
For now, it was still.
But deep in his bones, he knew this was just the beginning.
The Void was stirring.