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Morning came quietly.
A thin mist clung to the island, drifting along the treeline like a lazy ghost. The sun had barely risen, but Rael was already awake, sitting cross-legged atop the same boulder from last night. His eyes were half-closed, listening.
Footsteps.
Unsteady. Tired. But determined.
Good… they came on their own.
Robin appeared first, composed even though the dark circles beneath her eyes betrayed a sleepless night of practice. Vivi arrived second, stretching her arms and rolling her shoulders, her hair still damp from a quick wash. Kaya came last, clutching her cane, moving slowly but with purpose.
Rael smirked.
"You're early."
Robin raised an eyebrow. "You expected otherwise?"
"No," he admitted. "But it's good to see you proving me right."
He hopped off the boulder and clapped his hands.
"Stretch. Hydrate. Then we start."
The three nodded and followed his instructions.
They've changed already, he thought. Yesterday they were students. Today… they're acting like warriors.
Even if amateur warriors, they were becoming sharp.
Robin — The Growth of a Shadow
Rael began with Robin again.
"Show me the form," he said.
Robin took a breath. Arms blossomed from her back, shoulders, and the ground beneath her feet—forming that interwoven lattice he'd taught her.
But it was unstable. One chain collapsed.
She clicked her tongue softly.
Rael tapped her shoulder. "You're forcing it. Shadow Bind Flow works with rhythm. Think of it like dancing with yourself."
Robin glanced at him, a tiny smile ghosting her lips. "You compare many things to dancing."
"Because people overthink fighting," Rael shrugged. "Your fruit isn't brute force. It's elegance. Use it that way."
She tried again—slower.
This time the network of arms interlocked more smoothly, creating a shifting grid.
Still flawed. Still weak. But better. Much better.
Rael nodded. "Good. Again. Repeat it until you don't have to think."
Robin whispered, "I won't waste this."
"You won't," he said. "I didn't pick you because you're strong. I picked you because you can become terrifying."
Robin's smile widened faintly.
Vivi — The Sting of Precision
Vivi stood in front of three tree trunks Rael had marked with small circles.
She rubbed her fingers nervously. "I can't guarantee I'll hit them…"
"You won't," Rael said bluntly.
She froze. "H-huh?"
"Not yet. That's the point. Snap Shot isn't about aiming—it's about control."
He tossed her a handful of pebbles.
"Hit the marks."
Vivi took her stance, inhaled, then flicked a pebble.
Thunk.
It hit close… but not inside the circle.
Again.
Thunk.
Again.
Thunk.
Her frustration started to rise. "Why can't I—"
Rael stepped behind her and gently adjusted her wrist.
"You're hesitating. Your fingers know what to do. Your mind is slowing them."
She swallowed, then tried again.
This time the pebble flew smoother—
Pak!
Right inside the circle.
Vivi gasped. "I hit it!"
Rael smirked. "Good. Now do it twenty more times."
"TWENTY—?!"
He patted her head. "You want to keep up with everyone else, right?"
Vivi blushed but nodded fiercely. "I will. I'll master it."
Kaya — The First Step Toward Survival
Kaya stood with her cane planted in the sand. Rael walked circles around her like a wolf assessing prey.
"Redirect Step is simple," he said. "But simple doesn't mean easy."
Kaya nodded nervously.
Rael suddenly tapped her shoulder.
She instinctively stepped back—
Too slow.
"Wrong direction," Rael said. "You shifted your weight left when the force came from the right."
"Sorry…"
"Don't apologize. Adjust."
He tapped her again, this time on her hip.
Kaya shifted lightly—just enough.
Rael smiled. "Yes. That. Minimal movement. You're not dodging—you're letting the attack miss by itself."
He attacked quicker this time, his hand almost a blur.
Kaya flinched—
But her foot slid just an inch to the side.
His hand passed her harmlessly.
She blinked. "I… I did it?"
Rael placed a hand on her head. "You did. And you'll keep improving. Remember: your goal isn't to overpower. It's to endure."
Kaya gripped the cane tighter. "I'll get better. I promise."
Afternoon Drills
Hours passed.
Robin's arms moved like a shifting web—still unstable, but holding longer.
Vivi fired pebble after pebble, her accuracy rising slowly but surely.
Kaya mastered a handful more Redirect Steps, her footing becoming lighter.
All of it was sloppy. Imperfect. Amateur.
But improvement was undeniable.
Rael watched from beneath a tree, sipping water.
They're pushing themselves harder than I expected.
And for the first time in a long while, he felt something warm stir in his chest.
Pride.
Not possession. Not ownership.
Just… pride.
Break Time
They sat under the shade, exhausted but satisfied.
Vivi was sprawled on her back, gasping. "My fingers hurt…"
Robin sipped water elegantly. "You're improving quickly."
Kaya lay face-down in the sand. "I'm dying…"
Rael chuckled. "You're fine. If you were dying, you wouldn't be complaining."
Robin glanced at him thoughtfully. "You look pleased."
"I am," he admitted.
Vivi sat up. "Do you think… we're actually getting strong?"
"Slowly," Rael said honestly. "You're still rough. Still lacking. Still far from ready."
He saw their faces fall—
Then he added:
"But that's normal. Skills aren't learned in a day. What matters is that you're improving—and you are."
Kaya smiled weakly. "Thank you… Rael."
Rael leaned back, hands behind his head.
"Rest. Because tomorrow we continue."
Vivi groaned. Robin smiled. Kaya whimpered.
Rael smirked.
Good. They're still alive enough to complain.
Tonight, they would rest.
Tomorrow, they would sharpen again.
And one day…
they would become strong enough to stand beside him without fear.
Not followers.
Not burdens.
But allies.
Rael closed his eyes, listening to the waves.
Soon.
---
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