Several weeks passed, yet Ryn remained seated within the lingering sorrow of his previous mission.
Richard did not rush him into any new trials. Instead, he allowed Ryn to move at his own pace.
Until one day—
Ryn rose to his feet and walked toward him.
"Master…"
Ryn spoke softly.
Richard, who had been resting comfortably beneath the shade of a tree, opened his eyes to look at his young disciple.
"I wish to spar with you,"
Ryn said, his gaze firm with resolve.
Richard understood the meaning behind that request all too well.
"Very well. If that is what you desire."
He stood, took up his sword, and made his way to the training grounds.
Not long after—
The clash of steel echoed across the field.
The two exchanged blows relentlessly—attack and counterattack, neither yielding, neither holding back.
Their blades met again and again, as though both were pouring everything they had into every single strike, unaware that two pairs of eyes were watching them from afar.
Goran and Alize had come out of concern. Ryn had not attended any trials for weeks.
But what they witnessed instead was a fierce duel between master and disciple.
They could only stand in silence, words failing them, captivated by the brutal intensity of the battle before them.
Soon, the ringing of steel gradually faded…
Richard spoke calmly to Ryn,
"It seems you have visitors. Keeping them waiting any longer would be unwise."
Ryn, exhausted from the training—his body worn, his heart still fractured by grief—followed his master's gaze.
When he saw Goran and Alize, he froze.
He had not even realized when they had arrived.
Ryn bowed in thanks to Richard, then hurried toward his friends.
Richard watched after him with quiet concern before lying back beneath the tree's shade once more.
"You've kept me waiting long enough for roots to grow,"
Goran said.
Still catching his breath, Ryn replied faintly,
"Why would you wait for me…? You could've gone with another group."
Goran stared at him in silence before speaking in a firm, unwavering voice.
"You were my first partner in the trials. And I will see them through with you."
"If you don't go, then I'll wait for you every single day—until you do."
Ryn was still catching his breath and barely paid attention to the words.
Alize spoke up with concern.
"Ryn, what's wrong with you? You're nothing like the Ryn I used to know."
"This is who I am,"
Ryn snapped back at once.
"Don't pretend you know me better than I know myself."
The words were laced with emotions that burst out against his will.
Alize didn't back down.
"That is the Ryn I used to know—the one who stayed calm no matter what stood before him.
But now, I barely say a word, and you lose your temper."
Ryn fell silent.
Beneath the tree, Richard remained still, having heard every word, yet choosing not to intervene.
Goran continued,
"Ryn… I don't know what you saw in that cave after I was ordered to leave. But you really have changed since then."
He paused.
"Hah… I don't even know how to explain it."
Goran sighed, his voice shifting in tone.
"You know, I've never had any confidence in myself. I may be big, but no one ever truly noticed me."
"I've trained here for over five years, and no matter how hard I tried, my master never once looked my way."
"Or maybe… I was never good enough to begin with."
"Those who came after me were accepted into the trials one by one. And eventually, my name was finally called."
"I was happy—truly. But on that first day, I was so nervous I couldn't even think straight."
Goran lifted his gaze to Ryn.
"Until I met you. A small man carrying a sword far too big for him."
"You were the first to see my worth. The first to believe in me."
"You trusted me with things I never thought I was capable of."
Goran clenched his fist.
"If one day I have to die, then I'll die for you."
He looked Ryn straight in the eyes.
"Do you understand?"
Ryn remained silent.
Alize pressed her lips together, then spoke with restrained anger.
"I don't know what you're going through. But if you choose to sit there in silence and let yourself wither away without purpose—then that's on you."
She drew in a sharp breath.
"As for me, I've already passed every trial. And today, I'm going to do what I've chosen for myself."
"If you want to quit and let everything you've endured become meaningless, I can't stop you."
Alize turned to Goran.
"Let's go."
Then she turned her back and walked away in frustration.
Goran hesitated for a moment before looking back at Ryn.
"I'll wait for you,"
he said in a low voice.
"No matter how long it takes, I'll wait."
Then he hurried after Alize.
Ryn stood there, watching his two friends disappear.
Richard spoke with a faint smile.
"You've got some fine friends. Well then—shall we continue?"
"Yes."
Ryn's reply was firm, his eyes once again burning with resolve.
And the training resumed—this time heavier, steadier, and more unwavering than before.
The next morning, Ryn returned to the recruitment grounds.
Goran was already there, waiting as always.
When he saw Ryn approaching, he burst into laughter.
"Hahaha! Took you long enough, hero!"
Ryn chuckled in response, and the two of them walked toward the notice board to sign up.
From a distance, Alize watched quietly.
Relief softened her expression as she saw Ryn standing tall once more.
Then she turned away, heading off to pursue her own path.
Ryn and Goran signed their names beneath a single notice:
60 Soldiers – 40 Mages
West Gate
2 Days
Morning
After that, the two went their separate ways to prepare.