Basic physical training.
It was something Yujin had always done, but the intensity of Buldrokk's regimen was on a completely different level.
The goal was supposedly to reduce the strain on the body while building muscle, yet Yujin found himself staring at the sky, unable to even catch his breath. From his position on the ground, the sky looked mockingly clear.
"Huff... cough... hack..."
His chest heaved with ragged breaths. He seriously wondered if this crazy stag was trying to kill him.
"That was just a light warm-up," Buldrokk noted.
"How do you do this... without using Arts... you lunatic..."
He should have known better the moment they tied iron chains to his wrists for a run across the courtyard. He should have turned and fled right then.
Buldrokk, having finished his "warm-up," strapped heavy iron bands—resembling thick sandbags—to his arms. He tossed a pair to Yujin. Yujin had never seen such a thing before.
"…What are these?"
"They are engraved with a specific Originium Arts circuit called 'Binding.' They are exceptionally effective for training."
Buldrokk flexed his arms and began to run again. Yujin watched him for a moment before trying to put the shackles on.
"Oof."
His arm immediately dropped to his side, dead weight.
If the Master's Decay had been an active pain that drained his energy, this was a passive, leaden exhaustion that sapped the very spirit from his body.
"Uuuugh..."
He was already exhausted, and the shackles made his body feel like lead. Yujin collapsed back onto the dirt. Buldrokk finished a lap with ease, walked over, and nudged him with a foot.
"Why are you lying down?"
"I can't move a single finger."
Seeing Yujin truly incapacitated, Buldrokk released the shackles. As his vitality slowly trickled back, Yujin pushed himself up.
"Revived!"
"…You are starting to act more like Kalaisha by the day."
"That's an insult, you know."
"Kalaisha would be hurt to hear that. If you have time for nonsense, find a way to adapt to the Decay."
Decay—the Master's Art that stole the life of others to fuel himself. When Yujin had collapsed earlier, Netsalem had returned the stolen energy to him. This meant the Master could manipulate Decay to both drain an enemy and heal an ally. Buldrokk had overcome it through raw physical adaptation; Yujin had to find his own way using his unique strength.
Hyper-sense. Sitting on the ground, Yujin watched Buldrokk run with the shackles on. He closed his eyes and began to look inward.
Slowly. The rustle of the wind. His heart hammering against his ribs. Behind his closed eyelids, within the darkness, Yujin began to summon his light.
To utilize his talent for sensation, he would find a path different from Buldrokk's.
As he focused, the platinum threads of light flowing through his body—though invisible to others—began to take shape. They moved through his veins, responding to his will.
The body is a vessel; Arts are the water that fills it.
Arts, magic, sorcery—whatever the name, it had become an inseparable part of human progress and a vital component of every nation's military. No one knew its true origin, but because its power was so useful, everyone craved it.
As his consciousness sank deeper, thoughts of Arts and scattered memories began to swirl together.
Could I always enter this state just by focusing?
In the past, he had tried to meditate in his room, but he could never focus long enough and would give up almost immediately. What was different now? Was it the presence of Arts? Or was it a sense gained from being reborn? He didn't know.
Yujin began to splinter the rising platinum light, dividing it like a network of capillaries. The shards of light scattered, glowing with increasing intensity. He divided them again and again. Eventually, the light pooled into a vast, shimmering lake of platinum.
Within that pristine lake, he noticed several black fragments—impurities that felt jarring and wrong. Yujin plucked them from the lake and cast them away.
As the lake became perfectly clear, his consciousness sank even further. How far down could he go? Just as he felt himself about to touch a deeper bottom...
"Are you alright?"
"…What?"
Buldrokk's voice pulled Yujin back to reality. He blinked, looking up to see the sun directly overhead. It was noon. Buldrokk, having removed his shackles, stood over him, drenched in sweat.
Realizing how much time had passed, Yujin stared at the sky.
"Whew. I was just meditating. I should have tried this a long time ago."
"I hope I didn't interrupt anything important."
"Not really. I can just do it again. Besides, it's already lunchtime. I'm starving."
Yujin stood up and patted Buldrokk's shoulder. Buldrokk nodded.
"Theresia is likely finishing the meal."
"Theresia? Why is she cooking?"
"She said she wanted to learn, even though the servants offered to do it. It's her choice."
Yujin smiled faintly. Things were different now. He had choices. He didn't have to fear tomorrow. Following Kalaisha and Buldrokk to meet Netsalem was likely the best decision he had ever made.
His head felt clear. He still had lingering worries, but they felt manageable now—or perhaps they were already solved.
He thought of his argument with Kalaisha and the value of sacrifice. Yujin loathed the idea of trivializing sacrifice. Even more, he loathed the people who, having been saved by such a sacrifice, turned around and claimed it was worthless.
It was disgusting.
He didn't know if he was born this way or if this world had made him so. The same went for death—the act of sacrificing others for one's own safety, of pinning crimes on the innocent. Yujin could not tolerate the weight of death being treated so lightly.
As a child, he had been pained by it but had looked away. He had suppressed his own sense of rot to survive the backalleys. He couldn't afford to care for others when he couldn't even care for himself.
Then he had met Theresia.
He could never forget those autumn eyes—fearful and weak, yet steady and unyielding. He remembered the small girl who refused to bow to external pressure. Seeing her had changed him.
It is easy to discard one's humanity. It is easy to give up and stay down. It is hard, so no one does it. Carrying the weight of what others discard is a heavy burden.
One step. It started with just one step.
Now, years later, Yujin had saved Theresia. He had chosen to carry the burden. If there were no heroes in this world, he would choose to become one. It sounded like an embarrassing, childish dream, yet he had made that vow while watching a brother and sister weep over the body of a starved child.
He had made that declaration because he knew a different world was possible.
He couldn't run forever; he had stalled and faltered. He had been frustrated and full of doubt. He had escaped the nameless place called the backalleys, yet his mind still felt trapped there.
"Hah."
"Hmm? What is it suddenly?"
"I finally realized it."
Buldrokk stopped in the hallway and turned to look at him. Sensing a change in Yujin's aura, he scanned him with his red eyes. Yujin stood still in the middle of the corridor.
There was no need to think so heavily, nor was there a need to take things too lightly. He just had to live the way he wanted to. Like he always had. Let the evil be evil, and let the good be good.
When everyone says it's impossible... he won't give up. He will find another way. He won't lose to the wicked. He will save those destined for a nameless death.
That was what Yujin, as a person, wanted to do.
He began to move again, and Buldrokk followed. At the end of the hall, they found a girl with white hair busy preparing a table.
"Ah, Yujin! You're just in time for lunch!"
Theresia began to serve stew from a pot into bowls. She smiled brightly at Yujin, but the boy walked up and gently took her face in his hands.
"Uh... hmm?"
The reason he wanted to be a hero, and the reason he picked up the sword... was her.
"Nothing. I just thought you were pretty."
"Eek!"
As Yujin smiled, Theresia's face turned an explosive shade of red.
Are you kidding me... Theresis, who was about to take a sip of soup, scowled and dropped his spoon. Buldrokk raised a fist, looking ready to strike the back of Yujin's head.
"The star of the show has arrived!" Kalaisha announced, appearing with her hands on her hips. "Wait, what's with the atmosphere?"
"Can we please just eat without that kind of talk...?" Theresis muttered, rubbing his face. Buldrokk finally lost his patience and delivered a thudding blow to the back of Yujin's head.
"Oof."
"You needed that."
Yujin, struck without cause, could only grumble as they sat to eat.