"Oh, Gray… you're here. How is your sister's health?"
"There's no need to ask about her," I replied coldly. "Let's get to training, Master."
"You don't need to be like this, Gray. Calm your mind first. Only then will your training bear fruit."
"How should I calm down?" my voice trembled. "When Lysera is like that and the one who did this to her is out there living freely?"
"I need to get stronger. Strong enough to make that bastard pay for what he did. And to do that, I need to train harder."
"So please, Master… train me harder."
"Hahaha."
Master laughed softly.
"With resolve like that, there's no doubt you'll become strong. But let me ask you something."
She paused.
"Let's say you grow strong enough to take your revenge. What comes after?"
"What comes after…?"
I frowned. I had never thought that far. "When the time comes… I'll know."
"With that kind of mentality you will not be able to protect, but only to destroy."
I clenched my fists.
"If you wish to grow strong," she continued, "then think of strength as a shield. Power gained to protect ensures tragedy never repeats itself."
"That's the kind of mentality you should have… here, take this."
Master reached into her robe and threw something toward me. It was wrapped in cloth.
I caught it instinctively.
I still remembered the weight, the shape, the nostalgic feeling of holding it for the first time , and the terror that followed.
"Where...did you find this?" I stuttered.
I was sure I lost them that day, the twin blades I never got to use.
"I thought I lost them…" My hands trembled. "Thank you, Master. This is the only thing I have left of my father."
Aris turned away slightly.
It pains me, she thought, to see a child mature beyond his years. When I first brought him here, he cried every time that day resurfaced. But now…
"Enough of that," she said sharply. "Show me the Way of the Wind Sword."
My eyes widened. "How did you know about that? I don't remember telling you."
"I have my ways," she chuckled. "Now then what was it called again? Ah yes… the Art of Gale."
How does she know that too…?
I said nothing. This wasn't the time for questions.
I steadied my breathing and stepped forward.
"Moving with the flowing river of air, let my sword be swift and gentle, slow but fierce, as I take in the breath of the world let my sword dance"
"Strike of Gale"
The air rippled as my blade moved.
Aris was in awe as she watched Gray execute the technique.
His strength doesn't match his age, she noted.
And this is without soul energy…
"He has indeed practiced this art to perfection since I last saw it"
"How was it, Master?" I asked.
She grimaced. "That was your sword art?"
"…Yes?"
"Ew." She waved a hand dismissively.
It's formless, it's baseless, and worst of all, you're wasting strength because you didn't use essence."
She picked up a staff and gently pushed my twin blades aside.
"Try again."
"With a staff?" I asked
"Wind techniques flow better through a staff or spear than through swords. Train with this."
She met my eyes.
"I'll give you three months. After that, I'll teach you how to weave soul energy into your technique."
◆◇◆
At the capital, Fen'ric and Ze'el were escorted into the Shadow Army base, surrounded by soldiers who watched them with barely concealed hostility.
"These people are pretty weak to be called soldiers" Fen'ric said
"Most of these people are at the early Soul manifestation state, only the ones who came to us were pretty impressive don't you think Ze'el"
"Oh shut up, you talk too much" Ze'el shouted feeling annoyed
"Hahaha!" Fen'ric laughed loudly. "My disciple could wipe out this entire place in a duel."
One of the shadow soldiers smirked faintly.
"Commander, I've brought them," another soldier announced.
They entered a spacious chamber.
The atmosphere grew tense.
Fen'ric observed the man seated at the center, gauging his strength.
Ze'el stood silently beside him, her hand resting on the hilt of her longsword.
"Please," the man said calmly, "there's no need to be on guard. Make yourself comfortable."
"You seem quite confident," Fen'ric said mockingly. "For a commander whose job is to be the brain."
The Commander didn't flinch. He let a beat pass, letting Fen'ric's words hang in the air. Then, with the faintest of smiles, he replied:
"Strength," he said, "is only as useful as the mind that directs it."
His eyes met Fen'ric's.
"Tell me if we fought right now, do you believe you would win… even when I already know your position and your weaknesses?"
Fen'ric's smirk wavered.
"The moment you entered this base," the commander continued calmly, "you were already in my hands."
"What do you mean?" Fen'ric asked.
The Commander's gaze swept the room slowly, but he never raised his voice.
"What I mean is, raw power is easy to measure. Strategy, anticipation, and the ability to predict the moves of your enemy, those are far harder to mock."
"I don't fight my battles with strength alone. My soldiers follow because they know I see the path before it exists, and I see you as… a variable I'd rather observe than challenge."
Ze'el stepped forward, blade flashing as she pressed it against his neck.
"Are you threatening us?"
"Commander," Fen'ric sighed, "or whatever your name is"
"Cae'leb," the man replied. "Commander Cae'leb."
"Do you think I care?" Ze'el snapped. "I don't know where this boldness is coming from but don't think I don't know about the soldiers watching from above…."
At once, ten elite soldiers emerged from the shadows, surrounding them.
"You think soldiers at the Soul Manifestation state can handle us?" Ze'el scoffed.
"With a swing of my sword, I could erase this base."
"Hold on, Ze'el," Fen'ric said quietly. "He invited us. Let's hear him out."
Ze'el hesitated… then lowered her sword.
The soldiers vanished back into the shadows.
Cae'leb exhaled slowly.
"Now," he said, "why don't we discuss why you're really in the capital?"
"And what makes you think we are going to tell you?" Ze'el asked
"You came willingly into enemy territory," Cae'leb replied. "That means what you seek is tied to us."
Ze'el smirked faintly.
"I guess there is a reason why you are the shadow army commander…"
She stepped forward
"So let me go straight to the point. Let's stop wasting time"
Dark purple energy erupted from her body, flooding the chamber.The air distorted.
Soldiers collapsed to their knees, some gasping, others frozen in place.
Only Cae'leb remained standing though, the color drained from his face.
"Haha!" Fen'ric laughed. "So force it is? That's so like you"
Ze'el's eyes burned.
"Now tell me," she said coldly,
"about the Experiments… and the System.!"