Cain woke early. His body still felt the stiffness from yesterday, but he pushed himself up anyway. Leon was already in the yard, checking the edges of the wooden blades.
"You're early," Leon said.
Cain nodded. "Couldn't sleep."
Leon tossed him a wooden sword, and Cain caught it easily.
They began without unnecessary words.
Cain's movements were tighter today—cleaner footwork, better balance, more control. He still lacked strength, but the hesitation in his swings was fading. Leon noticed it immediately.
"Good," Leon said. "You're correcting yourself before I even speak."
Cain didn't reply. He simply adjusted and continued.
After the short session ended, Leon lowered his blade.
"You're growing sharper. Keep it that way."
"I will," Cain said.
Leon pointed toward the gate. "Your mother needs herbs. Go before the market gets busy."
Cain nodded and headed into town.
Greyridge was slowly waking up. Children ran near the well, vendors opened their stalls, and the air smelled faintly of bread and dust.
Cain had barely begun after tuning near the bakeri and stopped when a soft voice called out.
"…Cain?"
He turned.
Aera stood near the baker's stall, holding her small herb pouch tightly. She looked unsure, as if she had spent minutes gathering enough courage to speak.
Cain blinked once. "Aera."
She swallowed, then said, "I didn't get to thank you properly yesterday… so thank you. For helping me."
"You already thanked me," Cain said plainly.
Aera froze. "R-Right…"
Cain realized the bluntness in his tone. It wasn't wrong, but it wasn't… gentle.
"You don't need to thank me again," he added, softer this time.
Aera nodded, relieved. "I still wanted to. Also… there's a place. Do you want to see it?"
Cain waited for her to continue.
"It's the herb garden behind the healer's shed," she said. "It's quiet there. I thought… maybe you'd like it."
He considered it.
He rarely explored the town beyond errands and training.
A quiet place was a thing he has not seen in greyridge
"Lead the way," Cain said.
Aera looked pleasantly surprised and quickly guided him.
The herb garden was small but peaceful. A stream flowed behind it, and sunlight filtered gently through the branches. Aera knelt beside a cluster of mint leaves.
"I come here a lot," she said. "It feels… safe."
Cain looked around. Peace wasn't familiar, but it wasn't uncomfortable either.
"This is where you gather herbs?" he asked.
"Sometimes," Aera said. "But I mostly come because it feels nice."
Cain nodded slowly.
"You're really quiet," she said with a shy laugh.
"I'm used to being quiet," Cain said.
"Oh…" She thought for a moment. "Doesn't that get lonely?"
"I'm used to it," he repeated. The words fell simply, without drama.
Aera didn't pry. She accepted the answer and continued talking—softly pointing out herbs he hadn't seen before.
Cain listened carefully.
Many of the plants were different from what Seraphina taught him.
Aera glanced at him. "Do you have friends?"
"No."
"Do you… want some?"
Cain hesitated. The word meant something different to him—loyalty, trust, survival. But Aera wasn't asking about war. She was asking in the way normal children did.
After a moment, he said, "I don't know, never though of it."
Aera smiled, small but genuine. "I would't mind showing you some of mine.."
Cain met her eyes. "why would I need more when I have you to talk for sometime?."
Aera flushed lightly and looked away.
They stayed by the stream a little longer. Cain didn't speak much, but he wasn't tense. It was new—this kind of quietness he was feeling.
When they returned toward town, the peaceful atmosphere shifted.
A hunter was being carried toward the clinic, fabric tied around his bleeding leg. People whispered urgently.
"Wolves too close to the entrance—"
"The forest is acting strange—"
"I heard someone saw goblins deeper in—"
"Goblins? Here?"
Aera grabbed Cain's sleeve. "We should go home."
Cain nodded.
He walked Aera back to the healer's shop.
She held her pouch tightly. "Thank you… for today."
"Thank you for showing me the garden," Cain replied.
Aera blinked in surprise, then smiled. "Come again… if you want."
Cain answered calmly, "Sure. Sometime soon."
Aera's smile brightened instantly.
Cain returned home.
Seraphina looked up the moment he stepped inside. She studied his face carefully.
"You look happy" she said. "Something good happen today?"
Cain thought for a second. "I met someone."
Seraphina's smile deepened. "A friend, maybe?"
" Yes," Cain said.
"That's good," she replied. "Wash up. Help me with the chores."
She didn't press further.
In the evening, Seraphina guided him to the small corner where they practiced magic. She lit a lamp and opened a tin of dried leaves.
"No rushing today," she said. "Just breathing and small sparks."
Cain focused. A faint glow formed at his fingertip—weak, flickering and even though Cain could already form a full Rank 1 flame,he held it as Seraphina insisted on Controlled one.
Cain practiced until the lamp's flame wavered slightly under his mana pressure.
"That's enough," Seraphina said. "Rest."
Cain lay in bed later that night, staring at the ceiling.
His thoughts were organized, but lighter than usual.
Aera's shy smile.
The quiet garden.
Her question about friends.
The hunter's injury.
Seraphina's warmth.
Leon's simple acknowledgment in the morning.
Nothing dramatic.
But something subtle had shifted inside him.
Tomorrow would bring more training, more chores, and maybe more news about monsters moving closer.
But for now, in this quiet room, Cain felt something he couldn't name.
A small shift.
Just enough to notice.
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