The clearing felt smaller than it had any right to.
No trees had moved. No stones had shifted. And yet the space between them pressed inward, tight enough that Vernon became acutely aware of where his feet rested, how much ground lay behind him, how far Bruce stood to his left.
Derek stood opposite them, alone.
No weapon.
Just a man in a worn coat, boots planted in the dirt as if the earth itself had agreed to hold him there.
The forest knew better than to interfere.
Derek's gaze moved between them once. Not to measure height or stance-but to check their eyes.
"You remember what this is," he said.
Not a question.
Bruce nodded immediately. His jaw was set, shoulders loose but coiled. He hadn't slept much the night before. Vernon could hear it in his breathing-slightly shallow, just a touch faster than normal.
Vernon nodded as well. Slower. Deliberate.
Derek's eyes lingered on him a fraction longer.
"Then listen carefully," Derek continued. "Because I won't repeat myself once this starts."
He stepped forward.
The ground compressed faintly beneath his heel.
"You fight until your body or your control gives out," he said. "If I say stop, you stop. If you feel yourself slipping-" his gaze sharpened, "-you stop."
Bruce swallowed.
Derek didn't look away. "Pride gets people buried."
The words weren't harsh.
They were practiced.
He shifted his stance, not into a guard, but something looser. Ready in too many directions at once.
"And if either of you forget why we're here," Derek added quietly, "I will remind you."
The air tightened.
Not the crushing pressure from before-but something narrower. Focused. Like standing too close to a drawn blade.
Vernon felt his mana stir instinctively, brushing against the inner edge of his circle before settling again. Bruce's Qi responded more openly, rolling through his limbs in a controlled pulse.
Derek noticed both.
Good.
"This isn't about winning," Derek said. "It's about learning what happens when your plans break."
His eyes hardened.
"Because they will."
Silence followed.
No dramatic signal.
No count.
Derek simply exhaled-
-and the moment snapped into place.
"Whenever you're ready," he said.
The clearing held its breath.
Vernon watched Derek.
That was the mistake.
Not because Derek moved-but because he didn't.
His weight never favoured one foot. His shoulders stayed loose, spine aligned, breathing even. No tells. No tension spikes. No preparatory shift Vernon could latch onto.
There, Vernon thought. If he steps with the left-
Derek's gaze flicked to him.
Not sharp.
Not aggressive.
Simply aware.
Vernon's thoughts stuttered.
A half-second passed.
Bruce moved.
He burst forward with a sharp exhale, Qi snapping through his legs as he lunged-not straight in, but angled, dagger low and loose. His shoulders dipped, eyes flicking to Derek's right side as if committing to a wide slash.
A feint.
Clean in concept.
Too fast in execution.
Derek turned.
Not away-from the feint.
Into it.
Bruce's stomach dropped.
The pressure hit first-not overwhelming, but sudden, compressing the space around his torso just enough to throw off his timing. His dagger hand wavered for a fraction of a second.
That was all Derek needed.
Derek's hand snapped out, fingers open, palm cutting through the air toward Bruce's wrist.
Fast.
Controlled.
Lethal if it had continued.
Bruce twisted instinctively, Qi surging unevenly as he barely redirected the strike. Derek's palm skimmed past his wrist and slammed into Bruce's shoulder instead.
Not hard.
Not soft.
Perfect.
The impact spun Bruce sideways, boots carving furrows in the dirt as he stumbled back three steps, heart hammering. His arm went numb down to the elbow.
Derek was already moving again.
Vernon felt it too late.
Derek closed the distance in a single step, body aligned, weight sinking. Vernon tried to raise his dagger-
-and realized his stance was wrong.
Too narrow.
Too still.
Derek's knee came up.
Stopped.
An inch from Vernon's ribs.
The air around the halted strike shuddered, Qi coiled tight and restrained. Vernon froze, breath locked in his chest, every nerve screaming at the proximity.
"If that had landed," Derek said calmly, "you'd be coughing blood."
He withdrew the knee and stepped back, space returning like a released breath.
Bruce straightened, chest heaving. "I-"
"You committed before you understood the distance," Derek said, eyes never leaving them. "A feint isn't lying to your opponent. It's lying to yourself last."
Bruce clenched his teeth. "I thought-"
"You thought speed would cover recklessness," Derek cut in. "It won't."
Vernon swallowed, forcing his grip to steady. His mind raced, replaying the exchange-not Bruce's mistake, but his own.
I hesitated.
Not out of fear.
Out of analysis.
Derek shifted again, stance resetting effortlessly.
"You're studying me," Derek said, glancing at Vernon. "That's good."
Then his eyes hardened.
"But you let that delay you."
Vernon nodded once. "Yes."
"Out there," Derek continued, "that pause gets someone else killed."
Bruce stepped in closer, lowering his centre of gravity this time. "Then we move together."
Derek's mouth twitched. Almost approval.
"Try," he said.
The pressure returned-not heavier.
Sharper.
And this time, neither of them waited.
Vernon and Bruce lunged almost simultaneously-daggers angled, bodies low, feet skimming dirt. Their movement wasn't synchronized, but it was close enough that Derek felt the shift in the air.
Exchange 1: Derek sidestepped Vernon's high slash, hand catching the dagger mid-motion, spinning it harmlessly aside. Bruce's feint came immediately after, targeting the opening Derek had just closed-but Derek pivoted, footwork so precise that the strike hit only empty air.
Exchange 2: Bruce corrected instantly, a low stab aimed at Derek's side, Vernon following with a straight overhead. Derek leaned back, absorbing the stagger with a subtle step, the blades grazing his forearms. Not enough to cut, just enough to impress the boys with the speed of his adaptation.
Exchange 3: Vernon tried a feint left, intending to draw Derek's guard. Derek didn't flinch, reading the micro-tension in Vernon's shoulders, and countered with a palm strike that forced Vernon back two paces. Bruce reacted on instinct, spinning around to slash from a different angle, the motion fast enough to make Derek flick his wrist, parrying without committing his weight.
Exchange 4: Derek stepped forward aggressively, catching Bruce's dagger with a forearm block. He pressed, forcing Bruce back while Vernon rushed in, trying to capitalize. Derek twisted, shifting Vernon's momentum aside, and a well-timed foot caught Vernon lightly, tripping him off balance-but not enough to fall.
Exchange 5: Bruce saw the opening for the first time and adjusted mid-air. He pivoted, sliding his dagger along Derek's sleeve before pulling back, surprising Derek just enough to plant Vernon's next strike into the air next to him rather than at him.
Exchange 6: Derek's eyes narrowed. The boys had learned something from that brief misalignment. He accelerated, dismantling their coordination. A sweeping step, a soft palm to Bruce's chest, a redirection of Vernon's dagger-it was as if he was bending the battlefield around him.
Exchange 7: Vernon gritted his teeth, rolling to the side, launching a low slash. Bruce followed in tandem, shifting weight to anticipate Derek's counters. Derek blocked and redirected both attacks effortlessly, sending a subtle ripple of Qi that forced them back simultaneously.
Exchange 8: Bruce's mind clicked mid-fight. He twisted his body in a way he hadn't tried before, using his innate adaptation instinct. The blade glimmered faintly as it slid along Derek's side-but just barely grazing, enough to make Derek blink. Vernon seized the small distraction, sending his dagger in a straight thrust toward Derek's midsection.
Exchange 9: Derek barely moved, but for the first time, his stance stiffened slightly. The boys could feel it-a micro hesitation. Bruce's next strike exploited it; the dagger caught the edge of Derek's Armor, producing a sound that made both boys' hearts pound.
Exchange 10: Derek recovered instantly, sweeping Bruce aside with a leg step, pivoting to intercept Vernon. The twins barely avoided a full counter as Derek's hand parried Vernon's dagger with surgical precision.
Exchange 11: The boys regrouped. Vernon feinted high, Bruce low, a synchronized dance-Bruce's adaptation instinct compensating for the misaligned timing. Derek smiled faintly, seeing them actually start to predict each other's movements. He pressed harder.
Exchange 12: Derek's strikes came faster, each one aimed not just at defence but at teaching. A palm here, a block there, subtle force applied to make them stumble without hurting them. Vernon caught a glimpse of Bruce's eyes-the same understanding passing between them that Derek was forcing them to adapt mid-fight.
Exchange 13: Bruce lunged forward unexpectedly, dagger spinning, drawing Derek's attention fully. Vernon mirrored him, striking in a way that Derek had not anticipated. For the briefest moment-a heartbeat-it landed close enough to brush against Derek's guard. The boys froze, heart racing, knowing they had pulled off the first coordinated exchange that surprised him.
Derek exhaled through his nose, a small smirk tugging at the corner of his mouth. He lowered his hands slightly, planting his feet sturdily. "Not bad," he said quietly. "You're starting to think as one. That is the step before everything else falls apart."
Bruce wiped sweat from his brow, chest heaving. "Did... did we-?"
Vernon shook his head, eyes wide. "We just-surprised him."
Derek's gaze swept over them both. "Do not mistake surprise for mastery. You've learned one lesson: work together, adapt instantly, and never hesitate."
The forest around them seemed to lean closer, silent, almost holding its breath. Melian hovered on the treeline, glow flickering faintly. She had not expected them to reach this level so quickly.
Derek crouched, scanning them carefully. "Tomorrow, we reset. I dismantle it again. And again, until your coordination is seamless. That is the only way you will survive."
Bruce and Vernon exchanged a glance. They were both exhausted. Staggering. Sweating. But their eyes burned with the same determination: they would endure, adapt, and rise.
The air between them settled, charged but calm. Derek's presence no longer merely intimidated-they recognized it as the next challenge to be conquered.
- After a days rest.
The forest around them was alive, not with peace, but with anticipation. Fallen branches, uneven rocks, and patches of mud turned the ground into a shifting battlefield. Derek's eyes scanned the terrain, taking in the smallest details. Vernon's fingers twitched, sparks of lightning crackling faintly along his skin, while Bruce's Qi coiled in his veins, chilling the air around his fists.
Exchange 1: The first movement came from Bruce-a sudden pivot, stepping onto a moss-covered rock, spinning to swing his dagger with a thin sheet of ice trailing the strike. Derek deflected it with a practiced sweep of his own blade, the ice shattering against the momentum of his parry.
Exchange 2: Vernon lunged next, hands crackling as he released a bolt of raw lightning. The energy leapt toward Derek, who twisted, letting the bolt strike a nearby tree. Bark exploded outward, and leaves fell in a cascade, a fleeting distraction that Vernon noticed immediately.
Exchange 3: Bruce took the opening, running along a shallow incline, Qi-infused kicks smashing small boulders into the mud. The terrain shifted beneath Derek's feet-he danced backward, rolling over the rocks, avoiding both projectile and uneven footing.
Exchange 4: Melian hovered at the treeline, her gaze sharp. She could sense the aura of their powers blending with the natural world. The ice brushed against her vision, the sparks in the air made her pulse quicken. They weren't just fighting-they were learning, adapting, becoming something more.
Exchange 5: Vernon jumped onto a fallen log, feet finding balance instinctively. He fired another burst, this time aiming for the mud near Derek's feet. The bolt struck the wet ground, sending a spray of water toward Derek's eyes. Derek blinked, masking irritation with precision, and sidestepped, almost knocking Vernon off the log.
Exchange 6: Bruce feinted a stab to Derek's side, only to pivot behind a tree, delivering a backhand swipe as Qi-infused frost spilled from his dagger. Derek blocked, feeling the chill bite at his forearm. "Careful," he muttered, voice low, almost a warning.
Exchange 7: Vernon leapt again, lightning striking upward, arc grazing Derek's shoulder as he rolled with a fluid motion, avoiding damage but leaving scorch marks along the bark behind him.
Exchange 8: The next strike was from Derek-fast, composed, aimed at separating the duo. He swept low toward Bruce's legs, forcing him to leap backward. Bruce skidded across frozen mud, frost streaking his path, and twisted mid-air to throw his dagger like a javelin. Derek caught the tip with the flat of his blade, the clash ringing out, echoing through the forest.
Exchange 9: Vernon used the moment to climb a rock, lightning charging his hands again. He struck downward, arcs dancing over Derek's shielded stance. The electricity sizzled against the air, making the leaves shimmer unnaturally.
Exchange 10: Derek pivoted, knocking Vernon aside with a subtle nudge, forcing him to land heavily on one knee. "Stay grounded," he said, voice steady, almost calm.
Exchange 11: Bruce attacked from a new angle, using ice to coat the nearby rocks, attempting to limit Derek's movement. Derek's boot slid, just barely balanced, and he chuckled softly, eyes narrowed. "Predictable."
Exchange 12: Vernon fired again, lightning lancing toward a low branch. Derek deflected it, but the arc split the branch, causing a cascade of leaves and twigs to fall onto Bruce. Bruce swatted some aside but had to adjust mid-strike, nearly losing momentum.
Exchange 13: Melian's eyes widened. She could feel the energy around Vernon-tiny sparks of lightning that didn't just react to him, but seemed to anticipate. Bruce's ice formed thin, intricate layers across his dagger, reflecting the moonlight as he moved. Their synergy was growing, subtle, instinctive.
Exchange 14: Bruce feinted, lunged, and pulled back, forcing Derek to pivot and strike. The air around Derek shimmered with sheer speed, but Bruce adapted mid-motion, spinning around Derek's arc and landing a solid kick on a nearby rock, sending a small spray of earth toward Derek.
Exchange 15: Vernon, seizing the distraction, moved forward, lightning coiling around his arms, sending a precise strike toward Derek's side. Derek twisted again, barely deflecting the strike with a controlled swipe. The strike grazed his sleeve, leaving a faint scorch mark.
Exchange 16: Derek countered immediately, striking toward Vernon's knees, testing reflexes. Vernon rolled forward, lightning arcs following him, scattering the underbrush like sparks dancing over a dark canvas.
Exchange 17: Bruce swung high, frost trailing his dagger in a wide arc, aiming to cut off Derek's escape route. Derek leapt backward, dodging easily but feeling the cold trail bite slightly into his leather Armor.
Exchange 18: Vernon pushed his lightning further, arcs now dancing off surrounding trees, attempting to corral Derek. Each strike precise but hesitant, aware of the rules. Derek sidestepped, rolling over uneven ground, pushing both boys to adjust constantly.
Exchange 19: Bruce noticed an opening-a tiny shift in Derek's balance from his last dodge. He dashed, Qi focusing in his legs, and swung low, dagger slicing near Derek's ankles. Derek barely hopped back, smirking despite the tension.
Exchange 20: Vernon added pressure from above, lightning converging into a crackling sphere over his hands, ready to descend. Derek ducked under it, letting the electricity strike the forest floor instead. Sparks leapt into the air, lighting the shadows around Melian.
Bruce and Vernon exchanged quick glances mid-combat. A silent acknowledgment of growth, a synchrony that Derek instantly recognized. He adjusted, strikes coming faster, sharper-but the boys met him, adapting, learning.
Exchange 21: Vernon faltered slightly, studying Derek, calculating each strike. Bruce tried a reckless feint, rushing in too quickly. Derek's hand shot up, a subtle but terrifying presence, and Bruce stumbled back, caught just in time.
Derek's eyes softened for a fraction of a second, then hardened again. "Focus, or this ends badly."
The boys reset, breath heavy but determination evident. The forest held its silence, and Melian hovered, captivated. She felt the energy between them, saw the growth, and something stirred deep within her-a faint longing, a spark she hadn't felt before.
Derek stepped back, chest barely heaving, a rare bead of sweat tracing his temple. The forest around them hummed with the echoes of their clash-scattered leaves, broken branches, and faint scorch marks where Vernon's lightning had met the earth. Bruce dropped to his knees, dagger still in hand, chest rising and falling rapidly. Vernon stood nearby, trembling slightly, not from exhaustion, but from the electric thrill of discovery-the first real taste of what they could become.
Derek's gaze swept over them. No words came immediately. He only watched-their stances, their breathing, the firelight catching the sharp edges of their eyes. In that moment, he saw everything: the progress, the recklessness, the instinct, and the raw, unrefined potential waiting to be shaped.
Finally, he spoke, voice low but firm. "Enough for today."
Both boys exhaled simultaneously, a long release of tension they hadn't realized they were holding. Vernon's sparks faded, dissolving into the night air. Bruce's Qi recoiled, warmth retreating from his hands. The world seemed quieter now, calmer-but charged, as if it were holding its breath alongside them.
Derek crouched briefly, studying the marks they'd left on the ground. "You've done well," he said slowly. "Better than I expected. But this... is just the beginning." His eyes shifted toward the horizon, where the faintest hints of dawn were brushing the trees. "Everything from here on out will test more than your strength. It will test your resolve, your patience, your ability to see the world clearly-even when it hurts."
Vernon, still catching his breath, exchanged a glance with Bruce. Neither needed words; they knew exactly what he meant. They had glimpsed it tonight: the gap between raw talent and mastery, between knowledge and understanding, between a child and what they could become.
Melian hovered silently above the treeline, watching the three descend from the clearing. She had seen their growth, their determination, the sparks of something extraordinary in both boys. And deep inside, something within her stirred, a quiet longing that she could neither name nor yet understand.
Derek finally turned fully, shoulders squared against the morning light. He gestured toward the cave, the training area, the world they had been shaping themselves within. "Rest," he said. "Tomorrow, you train again. But for now... reflect. Learn from each other, from the environment, from yourself."
Vernon's lips curved into a small, tired smile. "We'll be ready."
Bruce nodded, wiping a streak of sweat from his brow. "We have to be."
Derek's eyes softened just slightly, almost imperceptibly. He looked at them as they walked side by side toward the cave-two children carrying the weight of their mother's legacy, the lessons he had imparted, and the burden of the world that waited for them.
He exhaled quietly, shoulders loosening. "One day," he murmured to himself, "they won't need me to hold them back anymore. One day, they'll move forward on their own."
Above, the first rays of sunlight broke through the canopy. The forest glowed softly, shadows stretching long and thin, and the world continued quietly, waiting.
And in that moment, Derek knew the time had come. It was time to step back-not entirely, but enough to let them grow. To let them face the world as it truly was, and as they truly were meant to be.
Vernon glanced at Bruce, and Bruce back at him. Neither spoke, but both understood the unspoken promise: they would face the future, together. Whatever came next, they would not falter.
And as the forest settled, the morning wind brushing against the leaves like a whisper, Derek finally allowed himself a small, grim smile.
The next chapter of their lives was beginning.